GREEN BAY — Clay Matthews still isn’t working with the No. 1 defense, but at this point, the Green Bay Packers’ first-round draft pick is just happy to be working at all.

After missing most of the team’s organized team activity practices with a strained hamstring, the rookie outside linebacker was in full swing Monday during the first day of the Packers’ mandatory three-day minicamp. He took part on a limited basis last Wednesday in the final open OTA practice, but his participation was far more extensive Monday.

Nonetheless, he remained with the No. 2 unit, working at right outside linebacker behind second-year player Jeremy Thompson, a converted defensive end.

“They haven’t told me,” Matthews replied when asked when he’ll work with the first-string. “I’m sure (it’ll be) once they feel comfortable enough to put me in there with the 1s. Rightfully, the starters playing ahead of me know what they’re doing and know it that much better than me. Hopefully, when we’re on the same page, we can start splitting reps.”

Asked if he felt he’d fallen behind with the time he missed, Matthews replied, “Not really. I was at ground zero. So, I feel like I’m just as far along with these guys as I would’ve been practicing. I’ve been following along every day that I was out with the script. But, now that I’m out there, I make fewer and fewer mistakes every day.”

One of the highlights for Matthews on Monday was his father, Clay Jr., was among the rookie parents watching the morning practice. The afternoon practice was canceled by coach Mike McCarthy in favor of a team-building exercise.

“Just to have our parents come out, especially being rookies, to have them come out and see what we’ve accomplished is a great deal,” Matthews said. “It’s nice to have a little family come out and support us and see what we’re going through.”

Taking attendance

Cornerbacks Charles Woodson and Will Blackmon were the only players missing from the first day of minicamp.

Woodson was excused for what McCarthy deemed a “personal (reason), a charitable event.” Blackmon had his formal wedding ceremony in California over the weekend — he and his wife had a quiet civil ceremony during last season — and was slated to arrive Monday night. McCarthy expects him to practice Tuesday.

Meanwhile, right tackle Breno Giacomini (ankle), center Scott Wells (shoulder), defensive end Alfred Malone (wrist), left tackle Chad Clifton (knees/shoulders), defensive end Cullen Jenkins (ankle), wide receiver Jamarko Simmons (back), tight end Carson Butler (leg), and safety Anthony Smith (groin) did not practice, while safety Atari Bigby (ankle) and inside linebacker Nick Barnett (knee) were limited to the jog-through.

Busy work week

While McCarthy opted to cancel the scheduled afternoon workout, he said the minicamp practices do serve a vital purpose after doing all the requisite installations during OTAs.

“Bring it all together. The offseason program is always about gaining knowledge, getting your whole football team on the same page,” McCarthy said. “Everybody throws that around, the ‘same page’ note, but we had a new defense, we had some new things on special teams. We feel the transition is over. ... It’s time to turn the page in the playbook. It’s not what we’re doing, but how fast we are doing it.

“It’s vital that this week that the quality of work as a group improves. We’re throwing everything at them.”