Nelson has broken ribs, source says
Green Bay — Green Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson sustained multiple broken ribs after taking a hard hit to his left side from New York Giants safety Leon Hall during Sunday’s NFC wild-card victory, a league source confirmed Monday.
The extent of Nelson’s rib injury was first reported by NFL Network.
Nelson spent Sunday evening in a local hospital being evaluated but was released and spent Monday at Lambeau Field, coach Mike McCarthy said.
McCarthy said Nelson “obviously has a rib injury,” but when asked whether the veteran receiver had any internal injuries, McCarthy would not answer. McCar-
thy has a long-standing policy of leaving it to players to disclose any further injury information.
Nelson will be held out of practice through the week until at least Friday, McCarthy said. Their goal is to have him practice Saturday before departing for Dallas, where the Packers will play the Dallas Cowboys in an NFC divisional playoff game.
“If he doesn’t practice Saturday,” McCarthy
said, “he won’t play in the game.”
Nelson played only 16 snaps against the Giants before leaving with 11:14 left in the second quarter. Nelson took a hard hit in his side from Hall near the Packers sideline. He hunched over on all fours before getting up from the field.
He stayed hunched over on the sideline bench before being carted to the locker room.
Nelson has been a major reason the Packers’ offense improved throughout the season. He was the NFL leader in the regular season with 14 touchdown
catches. He also finished fifth with 97 catches and sixth with 1,257 yards. He had one catch for 13 yards Sunday against the Giants.
Now, the Packers will wait and see whether Nelson’s rib injury will allow him to practice Saturday.
“Talking with the medical staff,” McCarthy said, “he’s going to be in the rehab group until Friday. Then Saturday, if he can practice, then he may have a chance. But we’re not going to do anything until Saturday. I’m probably going to know more about where Jordy stands come Friday.”