Excitement for the upcoming Green Bay Packers season has been replaced with trepidation thanks to the news that Jordy Nelson likely tore his ACL.
The injury occurred in the first quarter of Sunday’s pre-season game in Pittsburgh versus the Steelers. In what looked like an otherwise benign play, Nelson leapt for a pass and came down without being contacted by a defender. Nelson immediately fell to the ground and limped off the field with visible discomfort. (Link to the play)
Nelson is coming off a career-year where he caught 98 passes for 1,519 yards and 13 touchdowns. Of his many talents, Nelson is a deadly threat on deep passes that allow the Packers to be in scoring position anywhere on the field. To state the obvious: this is terrible news for Green Bay.
To be optimistic, the Packers have enough talent to absorb Nelson’s injury. Between Aaron Rodgers, Randall Cobb, Eddie Lacy, and arguable the best offensive line in the NFL, the Packers still have enough depth to put up lots and lots of points.
But oh my, this is a depressing development.