When Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson injured his knee in a 2015 preseason game it was a huge blow to the Packers offense. Nelson was coming off a season that saw him catch 98 passes for 1,519 yards and 13 touchdowns. That production earned Nelson All-Pro honors. Not only did the Packers have to replace that production but it also meant that quarterback Aaron Rodgers would be without his favorite target for the 2015-2016 season.
Packers Wide Receiver Jordy Nelson Puts 2015 Knee Injury in Rear View Mirror
The 2015 Packers offense slumped without Nelson. The Packers passing attack, which had been one of the top passing offenses going into that season, finished 25th overall in passing. The two wide receivers who were pegged to replace some of Nelson’s production, Randall Cobb and Davante Adams, also floundered in 2015. Playing opposite of Nelson the previous season, Cobb had 79 receptions for 829 yards and six touchdowns. But in 2015 without Nelson, Cobb had just 60 catches for 610 yards with just four touchdowns. Adams replaced Nelson as one of the starting wide receivers and struggled mightily with the promotion. Adams finished the 2015 season with 50 catches for 483 yards and only a single touchdown reception. It didn’t take an expert to understand that not only did the Packers miss Nelson’s production, but that they also missed his presence as well.
The Packers didn’t know what to expect from Nelson this season after missing all of 2015 and sitting out all of this season’s preseason action. But Nelson’s play has surprised many this season. Going into their last regular season game this week against the Detroit Lions, which will determine who wins the NFC North and give the winning team a playoff berth, Nelson has 91 receptions for 1,191 yards and 14 touchdowns. Nelson has gone over 100 yards receiving five times this season and has caught at least one touchdown in 11 games. One of the most important stats for Nelson this season is that he has played in every Packers game this season.
Not only has Nelson been productive this season, his presence has also helped with Adams production. With Nelson back in the starting lineup, Adams has caught 69 passes for 966 yards and ten touchdowns. Adams has become the Packers number two option, with Cobb battling injuries throughout the season.
Nelson might be hitting his stride at the most important time for the Packers. In the Packers past two games, victories over the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings, Nelson has combined for 16 receptions for 278 yards and two touchdowns. During that two-game span, Nelson has averaged 17.4 yards per reception, giving the Packers the much needed deep threat they had been missing in 2015.
This week against the 16th ranked Lions passing defense, Nelson and his deep play ability will be needed. Only behind Rodgers, Nelson might be the most important player on the Packers offense going into this matchup. The Packers will need to attack the Lions secondary and to do that, Nelson will need to get open deep. Nelson has shown that he is close to where he was before the knee injury and if he can come up big once again, it might mean that he has made a full recovery.
