Green Bay Packers receiver Jordy Nelson will not play Sunday in the divisional round against the Dallas Cowboys due to a rib injury.
Jordy Nelson won’t play in Cowboys vs. Packers playoff game
Nelson took a hard hit to the ribs in the Wild Card round against the Giants.
Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images
During the Packers victory against the New York Giants in the Wild Card round, the veteran receiver suffered the injury while trying to make a catch on the sidelines in the second quarter.
As he tried to corral the pass, Giants cornerback Leon Hall hit Nelson in the ribs with his helmet, and Nelson went to the ground in pain. He was eventually carted off to the locker room and didn’t return. It was later reported that Nelson had fractured two ribs.
Nelson finished the game with one catch for 13 yards.
The day after Packers’ victory, head coach Mike McCarthy offered a little hope that Nelson would be able to suit up against the Cowboys.
“Saturday if he can practice, he may have a chance,” McCarthy said. “If he doesn’t practice Saturday, he won’t play in the game.”
Even though Nelson is Green Bay’s top receiver, the offense clicked on all cylinders without him against the Giants. Sure, this is a huge loss for the Packers, but receivers like Randall Cobb and Davante Adams performed really well against New York’s defense.
Adams caught eight passes for 125 yards and a touchdown. Cobb finished with five receptions for 116 yards and three touchdowns, including Aaron Rodgers’ 42-yard Hail Mary to give the Packers a 14-6 lead going into halftime.
The Packers will need Adams and Cobb to step up again against Cowboys now that Rodgers’ favorite target this season is out. Nelson hauled in 97 passes for 1,257 yards and 14 touchdowns this season. He missed the 2015 season due to an ACL tear in his right knee.
See More:
