GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP)– The Green Bay Packers’ fear that Jordy Nelson sustained a season-ending knee injury on Sunday was confirmed.
The Packers announced Monday afternoon that Nelson will miss the entire season. While the team did not specify Nelson’s injury, a source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter that a MRI revealed Nelson tore his ACL, but everything else in his knee was intact.
“It was determined that WR Jordy Nelson sustained a significant right knee injury in yesterday’s game at Pittsburgh,” the Packers said in a statement. “He will miss the remainder of the season.”
Coach Mike McCarthy said after Sunday’s game that he had hoped for good news after Nelson underwent additional tests Monday.
Nelson will need reconstructive surgery but should be back for the start of the 2016 season.
That it was Nelson’s right knee was a bit of a surprise, considering he appeared to land awkwardly on his left knee after a short reception on the game’s opening drive. He limped off the field after the noncontact injury and walked to the locker room under his own power, but he did not return.
“It’s difficult to lose a guy like that in a meaningless game,” quarterback Aaron Rodgers said after the game.
Nelson led the Packers last season with 98 catches for 1,519 yards and 13 touchdowns. He underwent offseason hip surgery but was cleared in time to start training camp last month. Nelson will be 31 before the start of next season. He’s under contract through the 2018 season.
His injury leaves Randall Cobb as the Packers’ leading receiver. He caught 91 passes for 1,287 yards and 12 touchdowns last year. Davante Adams, who caught 38 passes for 446 yards and three touchdowns last season as a rookie, likely will become the team’s other starting receiver.
