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Clifton hurts ankle in first game back

GREEN BAY — The return of veteran left tackle Chad Clifton to the Packers’ starting lineup didn’t last long.

Clifton limped off the field with assistance late in the third quarter after re-injuring his right ankle.

He didn’t return to the game, and the extent of the injury wasn’t immediately clear.

“I’ll probably know more about him in the morning,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said.

Clifton played Sunday for the first time since suffering a severe sprain of the same ankle in a loss to Cincinnati on Sept. 20.

The injury occurred when quarterback Aaron Rodgers fumbled on a hit by Julian Peterson in Detroit territory.

Rookie T.J. Lang replaced Clifton for the rest of the game.

The Packers also were without projected starting center Jason Spitz on Sunday (back).

Flag day

Before Clifton left the game, he was guilty of four of the Packers’ season-high 13 penalties. The infractions amounted to 130 yards.

The Packers had four penalties on special teams, including a hold on rookie Evan

Dietrich-Smith that wiped out a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Jordy Nelson to start the game.

Changes at returner

Nelson took over as the Packers’ return specialist Sunday, but he bruised his knee in the first quarter and was held out of the game the last three quarters after coming back in briefly on offense. X-rays of Nelson’s knee were negative.

Nelson replaced Will Blackmon, who sustained a season-ending knee injury in the loss at Minnesota on Oct. 5.

Tramon Williams was the first to take over for Nelson and had a 45-yard punt return that led to a field goal.

It was Williams’ only chance, as fellow cornerback Charles Woodson took over on punt returns the rest of the game.