Green Bay Packers first-round draft pick Nick Perry was placed on injured reserve Wednesday, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported. The rookie linebacker out of USC underwent wrist surgery this week and is out for the season.
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Perry instantly stepped into the Packers' starting lineup after being drafted. The Packers drafted Perry after veteran linebacker Clay Matthews was held to a career-low six sacks in 2011.
Defenses loaded up against Matthews with no pass-rush threat from the other side. Perry had two sacks in six games, while Matthews returned to form with nine. However, Matthews has only one sack in the three games since Perry went down in Week 6.
Erik Walden was bumped up the Packers' depth chart opposite Matthews with Perry out.
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