Coming off of a loss in the NFC Championship Game against the Seattle Seahawks, the future was still very bright for the Green Bay Packers. Many viewed the Packers as a legitimate Super Bowl contender, and they had one of the NFL‘s best offenses led by superstar quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Unfortunately for Green Bay, things did not go according to plan in 2015. While the Packers still made the playoffs, they failed to win the NFC North for the first time since 2010 and lost to the Arizona Cardinals in the Divisional Round of the playoffs.
One of the main reasons for Green Bay’s struggles was due to the loss of star receiver Jordy Nelson in the preseason after he suffered a torn ACL. Before his injury, Nelson was one of the biggest playmakers on the Packers offense, and in 2014 he racked up over 1,500 receiving yards to go along with 13 touchdowns. Nelson was a model of consistency within the offense, as he started all 16 games for the Packers in both 2013 and 2014. Now healthy for the 2016 season, it is undeniable that Nelson will have a major impact on the Packers offense, but the question still remains as to how much he will be used in 2016.
Expectations for Jordy Nelson in 2016
At age 31, Jordy Nelson still is in the prime of his career. That being said, his effectiveness coming off the injury is still unknown. While many players such as Adrian Peterson and Jamaal Charles have thrived after tearing their ACLs, there are still a large amount of players who have been ineffective and simply unproductive after such an injury. The physical and mental toll that a torn ACL can take on an athlete is insurmountable to some, and this is what prevents a player from ever being the same again. These players become too timid and shy away from physical contact, both of which cannot be traits of an NFL receiver.
However, Jordy Nelson should not be permanently scarred from this injury. Nelson is one of the scrappiest players in the NFL, and his identity as such has led to his success. Throughout his career in both the NFL and at Kansas State University, Nelson has never shied away from contact nor has he been one to avoid going for receptions with defenders charging nearby.
Injury History
Although Nelson’s scrappy play has led to him thriving in the NFL, it has also led to a few injuries along the way. In 2012, Nelson missed four games, along with parts of two games, due to a nagging hamstring injury. While that was his only other injury suffered in the NFL, Nelson also missed a majority of his junior season at Kansas State due to a variety of injuries.
When it comes down to it, as long as Nelson can avoid injuries and remain as scrappy as he was before his injury, he should play a major role in the Packers offense. While his usage may be lower than it was in previous seasons, he will still be a key playmaker in the offense that Aaron Rodgers missed dearly in 2015.
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