Not that we would call Mark Chmura a definitive source, but the former Green Bay Packers tight end thinks Jermichael Finley’s career is over.
Finley injured his neck last month and the Packers put him on injured reserve last week. Finley has been adamant that he’s going to play again, but that decision is ultimately up to the doctors and the Packers… or some other NFL team, since Finley is in the final year of his contract.
Chmura says it isn’t happening.
“I got a chance to talk to Jermichael Finley before the game, and I would bet my bottom dollar his career’s over. Over. He needs surgery, and it’s herniated in [the C3 and C4 vertebrae]. . . . I think it’s gonna be a Nick Collins deal. He’s definitely not gonna play in Green Bay, I’d put my house on that.”
Collins suffered a similar injury and the Packers ended up cutting him. He hasn’t played in the NFL since then.
Finley, however, still seems to have hope that he will play again.
If Anyone Is Made For All This It's Me! #Road2Recovery
— Jermichael Finley (@JermichaelF88) November 12, 2013
Our guess is, like Collins, the Packers will be hesitant to clear Finley to play. That will leave them with somewhat of a hole at tight end, unless Brandon Bostick comes on as a pass catcher.
Finley’s health — and ability to walk — is a little more important than that, though.