The return of Jordy Nelson was supposed to give the Green Bay Packers offense a boost. That return is yet to happen.
Nelson, who hasn’t played or practiced since tearing his ACL last August, opened training camp on the physically unable to perform list. The Packers say Nelson injured his other knee sometime this offseason.
And that’s about all the information we have, although Ed Werder reported that the issue is tendinitis.
#Packers believe @JordyRNelson knee problem is tendinitis the result of overcompensating during rehab. Not viewed as serious currently
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) July 26, 2016
Nelson keeps stressing that it’s nothing to worry about.
“We put a timetable on the ACL and thought we’d be back,” Nelson explained, “but obviously something happened with the other knee. Again, not the ACL. No one needs to freak out. That’s what we’re trying to get out there. If we put a timetable on it and something else happens, then I lied to you. It’s something that we’ll just let progress, and as it gets better we’ll do more and get back as soon as possible.
“I’m not worried about it. That’s the great thing. If it was something more serious, I’d kind of be a little more nervous. It’s something that’s not a big deal. Obviously, everyone likes to be healthy, and I’ve already had a year off. So I don’t need any more time, but it’s part of the game.”
What’s perhaps more concerning is he said his only timetable now is week 1.
That doesn’t really make it sound like it’s nothing to worry about at all. Someone who’s sidelined for more than a month is someone who has a fairly significant injury.
On the other hand, the Packers are known to be extra cautious with injuries and this is certainly the time of year they can afford to do so.
May not be serious but the worry is that is can linger.@Packers smart to try to get rid of it now. https://t.co/lTS25zeloJ
— David J. Chao – ProFootballDoc (@ProFootballDoc) July 27, 2016
The scary thought is that players with lingering injuries rarely perform well. If this is something that doesn’t go away, we may not see the 2014 version of Jordy Nelson again anytime soon.
It’s probably best to temper expectations for what Jordy can provide the Packers and when he’ll provide it to them this year.