GREEN BAY, Wis. -- You're skeptical about Nick Perry, and why wouldn't you be?

The Green Bay Packers' former first-round pick has teased you before. There was his two-sack game against the Detroit Lions in 2013 that also included a forced fumble followed the next week by another strip-sack against the Baltimore Ravens. Then he missed the next three games and five of the next six with a foot injury. Last season, he posted 2.5 sacks in a two-game stretch only to sit out the following game with shoulder and hand injuries.

So if you're still not buying into the hype after Perry finished last season with 3.5 sacks in two playoff games, including a dominating performance against Washington Redskins Pro Bowl tackle Trent Williams in the divisional round, then consider this: For the first time since the Packers picked Perry No. 28 overall in 2012, he opened training camp after participating in the entire offseason program without any rehab assignments from the medical staff. Perry missed all of the 2013 offseason following wrist surgery, all of the 2014 offseason with a foot injury and all of last offseason because of shoulder surgery.

"I feel bigger, I feel stronger, I feel faster," Perry said. "Just all of those things because I had the time to full focus on improving my craft and getting better as opposed to nursing an injury. When you're not really 100 percent, you can't give it all, so we're good now."

That, along with the Packers' decision to reduce the workload of 36-year-old Julius Peppers, has Perry in line for a major role this season. He and Clay Matthews have formed the top outside linebacker combination with the No. 1 defense so far in camp.

"I think Nick will play a bigger role in our defense clearly just from an opportunity standpoint," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "His opportunities will increase. I think that's something that's been evident since Day 1 in the offseason program. Going back to the postseason conversations that we had, this is the first offseason Nick has gone through. He's been coming off an injury each and every year and he looks like a whole different player. I look for Nick to be a prominent player in our defense this year."

The Packers paid Perry like they're expecting big things. Less than a year after declining the fifth-year option on his rookie deal, the Packers gave him a one-year, $5 million contract this offseason (although they did partially protect themselves against injuries) and decided not to re-sign Mike Neal.

At 260 pounds, about 10 pounds lighter than he was as a defensive end coming out of USC, Perry feels he can do everything defensive coordinator Dom Capers asks of his "elephant" position.

"I think the game has changed in a way that you have to be fast, especially the position we play," Perry said. "We have to be able to play tight ends, sometimes receivers and running backs in coverage. We also have to have some way to be able to pull down runners when you take on a big, 320 tackle. There's a balance. I think everybody finds that balance and works on their strengths and weaknesses to make sure they're all around balanced to play."

Perry thinks he can carry over his performance from the playoffs last year into this season and perhaps the best part is he's only 26-years-old. A career that once seemed derailed by injuries -- he missed 15 of his first 32 regular-season games -- appears to be back on track.

"We're not there yet; I'm not where I want to be," Perry said. "I'm going to continue to strive and be the best I can be and see if I can stay here a long time. That stuff is, I have no control over none of that. We're in the season now. I'm just ready to play."