-- Green Bay Packers linebacker Nick Perry was rather secretive about the ankle injury on Friday that kept him out of the team's offseason program, not sparing much detail.

He did, however, tell reporters outside his locker after the team's second camp session of the summer that he did, in fact, undergo surgery on said ankle after the end of last season.

"I won’t get into those specifics," Perry said. "It was after the season, yep. … It was something that lingered on, just had to go in there and clean it up. Regarding that, I’m fine. Main thing is just for them to give me the green light to go."

Perry was placed on the PUP (physically unable to perform) list along with offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga when the team reported to camp earlier this week, keeping him out of practice and instead slowly rehabbing his way back to full health.

If you ask Perry, he'd tell you he's ready to run with the first-team right this second. Of course, that's what most players on the cusp of returning from injury would tell you.

"For me, it’s not about what I want right now," Perry said. "Just getting cleared by the doctors and everything just to make sure I’m ready to go is the biggest priority, so I’m just taking things one day at a time.

"I’m ready to go, but we just gotta ease into this one."

Both Bulaga and Perry are reportedly expected to be ready for the team's season-opening meeting with the Chicago Bears on Sept. 9, but a conservative team doctor such as Pat McKenzie could say otherwise.

The Packers didn't address the outside linebacker position in the draft until their No. 248 overall pick in the seventh round -- Kendall Donnerson -- and didn't sign a free agent to beef up the depth behind Perry and Clay Matthews, who is also coming off minor knee surgery he had after last season.

Alternatively, they hired Mike Pettine to replace Dom Capers as defensive coordinator, which could be the equivalent to adding an under-the-radar edge rusher to the depth chart if the talent is there to work with, and it certainly is within the Packers' front seven.

"I’m excited. New scheme, new defense. Everybody knows that they can be a playmaker in this defense. Accountability is there on everybody, and I think everybody has an edge and is working towards that success that they want to prove to be this year."

Pettine has most notably constructed pressure on the opposing quarterback through his schemes, whether it be through blitzes via the cornerback or through a potent defensive line. General manager Brian Gutekunst even signed defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson, a former player of Pettine's with the New York Jets.

"We have a great opportunity to be a top defense, and we’ve got to prove it each and every day out there on the field. So I’m very excited for what [Mike] Pettine is bringing and all of the additions that we’ve made."

The situation isn't bleak behind Matthews and Perry, but it doesn't offer too much reason for optimism either.

Vince Biegel -- entering his second season and getting a full, healthy offseason under his belt for the first time -- and Reggie Gilbert -- entering his third campaign -- are two names projected to rotate as the primary backups, depending on what happens with Kyler Fackrell, also entering his third season.

Both Biegel and Gilbert enter what is very likely the most important month of their careers. Depending on how things shake out on the practice field and in the preseason, both could see extended roles during the regular season.

Until then, Perry's journey back to the field is only beginning.

"For the long haul, I think it’s important that my body feels good. Just because you don’t know how things can happen throughout the season because it’s a long season. There’s a lot of load on us. I just want to be able to carry that load through and throughout the season.

"The body is the most important thing, that’s what keeps us going. Just want to make sure we take care of any issues before we take the field."