Jordy Nelson is Getting Closer to Return
The return of the best wide receiver on the Green Bay Packers’ roster is closer to making a return.
Jordy Nelson was in pads for the preseason game against the Oakland Raiders, but only participated in the pregame drills. Nelson is not expected to play in the preseason, but is closer to making a return by week one.
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“It’s great to get back out there,” Nelson said after the game on Thursday, via Packers.com “Obviously it’s a step in the right direction. It’s part of the process when you miss a whole season, to get used to getting dressed before the game again.
“It’s great to have these opportunities these next two weeks after this to do the same thing probably and be prepared going into Week 1, and don’t have to have that on my mind on how to get ready for a game again.”
Nelson will most likely sit out the rest of the preseason. If it were up to me, I wouldn’t have him play at all. Mostly because it was in the preseason last year that Nelson was injured. Additionally, the Packers have some fiddling to do with receivers for the 53-man roster.
If Nelson were to play in the offseason, I would have him play in the finale against the Chiefs on September 1. I wouldn’t have him play the entire game, but the end of the game when the third to fifth string is on the field.
Sure, the competition wouldn’t be what Nelson would face in the regular season, but that is not what’s important. What’s important is Nelson getting over the mental anguish that can come with a serious injury like he suffered last year.
Nelson can run drills all he wants and feel he’s ready, but until he gets the hit it won’t help him as much mentally. A good example is how he has dealt with an injury on his opposite knee because he was overcompensating for his previous injury.
As much as I would like to see Nelson play a little in the preseason, it seems that Nelson is anticipating sitting until Week 1 against Jacksonville on September 11.
“We’ve just been working through it. It’s nothing that I’ve been worried about,” Nelson said. “We can do a lot of work in here and inside the Hutson Center. Our goal is Week 1 and we’re right where we want to be and need to be, and we have time to get there.”
Whether he plays or not in the preseason, I think Nelson will be ready by Week 1. It will take him a few weeks but Nelson should be hitting his stride by Week 3.
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