Packers confirm Nelson's season over with 'significant knee injury'
According to a report, the Packers initial diagnosis on Jordy was a torn ACL.
By
Will Brinson
•
2 min read
The Packers got a big dose of bad news on Sunday, with Jordy Nelson suffering what the team termed Monday a "significant knee injury" and what is believed to be a torn ACL. The Packers confirmed Nelson will miss "the remainder of the season."
Nelson went up to make a catch during the first quarter of the Packers-Steelers Week 2 preseason game and, despite making no contact with a defender, went down to the ground and clutched his leg.
So that Jordy Nelson injury really did involve a terrifying lack of contact. pic.twitter.com/w3pIy7uSbL
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) August 23, 2015
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, the Packers' "initial diagnosis" was a torn ACL. The team declined to speak about it on Sunday night and didn't specifically confirm the ACL tear on Monday but basically did.
Nelson's season is over before it began.
It looked bad on the field when it happened, what with Nelson not really appearing to roll his ankle and not touching a defender at all.
VIDEO: Jordy Nelson injured after 1st Quarter catch. #GBvsPIT http://t.co/gt1tODmAoG
— NFL (@NFL) August 23, 2015
If it is a torn ACL for Nelson, his season is likely done. We've seen guys come back in less than nine months from such knee injuries in recent years, but he's essentially playing for 2016 at this point.
The only "good" news for the Packers is having Aaron Rodgers means you're going to be competitive as long as he's healthy. Randall Cobb, Davante Adams and Ty Montgomery can still produce at a high level with Rodgers under center.
Green Bay's offensive line is stout, and Eddie Lacy is a stud in the running game. But you don't just magically replace the production and talent of a guy like Nelson. Losing him would be a massive blow.
Packers coach Mike McCarthy remained optimistic about the results of Nelson's tests on Monday in his remarks to reporters after the game.
"I'm not going to get into preliminary tests [and] opinions trying to beat someone to be first out there," McCarthy said. "Like I said, I'm hoping and praying for good news tomorrow. That's the way I look at it based on the information I've been given."
Rodgers, however, sounded somber following a preseason game where two starters on each team exited with injuries.
"It's difficult to lose a guy like that in a meaningless game," Rodgers said.
Rodgers' backup, Scott Tolzien, and starting guard T.J. Lang both were being evaluated for concussions.
