Jordy Nelson out for 2015 season with knee injury
Around The NFL Podcast Co-Host
TheGreen Bay Packers lost one of their best players to injury on the opening drive of Sunday's24-19 preseason loss to thePittsburgh Steelers.
ThePackers announced on Monday that wide receiverJordy Nelson will miss the remainder of the 2015 season with a significant right knee injury.
NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported theinitial diagnosis on Nelson's knee injury was a torn ACL, via a source informed of the situation. Rapoport added Monday that it was a clean ACL tear, which could make rehab a bit easier.
Within aspan of four days in late August, the 2015 season lost two of the NFL's most valuable wideouts in Nelson andPanthers second-year starKelvin Benjamin.
Anunderappreciated difference-maker from 2011 to 2013, Nelson finally gained league-wide recognition as a first-team All Pro after posting career highs in receptions (98) and yards (1,519) in 2014.
Nelson is apremier route-runner, anacrobatic boundary receiver, a dangerous deep threat and a clutch possession receiver, teaming withRandall Cobb as theNFL's most prolific duo last season.
Just how productive has Nelson been?Aaron Rodgers' passer rating on throws intended for his go-to receiver has been 150.2, 130.3, 111.6 and 128.2 over the past four seasons, per Pro Football Focus. Their chemistry is perhaps unparalleled in today's NFL.
"It's difficult to lose a guy like that in a meaningless game," Rodgers said after Sunday's game.
On one hand, Green Bay is uniquely suited to withstand the loss of a premier talent at the position. The unofficial MVP of offseason practices,promising second-year wideoutDavante Adams will now become a full-time player as Nelson's replacement. When thePackers go to three-wide receiver sets, Adams and Cobb will be joined by athletic 2014 seventh-round pickJeff Janis or rookie training-camp sensationTy Montgomery.
On the other hand, coach Mike McCarthy believed his offense had the potential to becomethe greatest in NFL history with a healthy Nelson. Along with theSeahawks, thePackers were widely viewed as an NFL superpower and one of the top contenders to knock off theSuper Bowl championPatriots.
As long as Rodgers is running McCarthy's quarterback-driven attack, thePackers should remain a top-10 offense and a playoff contender. The shame is that there was legitimate potential to break NFL records while laying waste to the NFC with Rodgers and Nelson clicking on all cylinders.
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