Our regular season feature called "The silver lining" is back. Following losses, it's a bright spot from an otherwise gloomy game. After wins, it's an unexpected performance. This week's silver lining is:

Rookie starters

The Green Bay Packers had three rookie starters in the lineup for this past Sunday's game against the Dallas Cowboys, and all three contributed heavily toward the victory.

Clay Matthews has obviously been starting for several games now and has had the biggest impact of any rookie on the team. He already has won the defensive rookie of the week award once this season, and has been nominated once again after the Cowboys game in which he had a sack and two fumble recoveries.

The bookend linebacker, Brad Jones, also had a very good game in his first NFL start. It was practically his first NFL regular season action at the position. 

Jones was third on the team in tackles with seven and held his own against a Dallas team with a winning record. He didn't have impact plays like sacks or interceptions, but just playing solidly is about all you can ask from a seventh round draft pick making his first NFL start.

The left side rookie linebacker took blockers head on and did decently in coverage to boot. More than anything, he served notice that he's ready to hang on to the starting spot in the lineup should anything happen on the Aaron Kampman front.

And finally, T.J. Lang did a commendable job at right tackle despite only having only three practices to prepare for his outing. Like Jones, Lang is giving the coaching staff plenty to think about even when Mark Tauscher will be ready to play again.

Add in an improving B.J. Raji to the list of rookies making a contribution this season, and the 2009 draft class could grade out pretty well. The Packers could use bigger contributions from guys like Quinn Johnson, Brandon Underwood and Jarius Wynn, but we'll take what we can get. Especially from a bunch of rookies.