Packers’ Nelson fighting his way through rib injury
Jordy Nelson is slowly making his way back from broken ribs, though the Green Bay Packers’ top receiver is far from sure about his chances of playing in the NFC championship at Georgia Dome against Atlanta.
Nelson missed practice again as he focused on rehab work, though he did catch some passes Wednesday.
“I don’t know. It’s obviously a long ways away,” Nelson said when asked about the odds of playing against the Falcons. “I’ve improved every day. Hopefully that continues.”
At least there is some progress compared to the pain that Nelson experienced two weeks ago after the helmet of Giants safety Leon Hall hit the receiver on left side of his body while he was jumping in trying to catch a high pass.
Nelson bent over in pain on the sideline. He was taken to the locker room on the front seat of a cart, where he was hunched over with his hands on his face.
“I’ve never been like that before. It was the worst pain I’ve ever felt. Hopefully, it doesn’t happen again,” said Nelson.
Chargers
Quarterback Philip Rivers seemed genuinely surprised by the frenzied cheers from the moment he stepped onto The Forum floor. Melvin Gordon and Joey Bosa shared their quarterback’s shock and gratitude when hundreds of screaming fans welcomed the Los Angeles Chargers to their new home. “All I heard the last couple of days was how nobody wanted us up here,” Rivers said. “But shoot, based on what I’ve seen, it looks like we’re going to be all right.” The Chargers formally celebrated their relocation from San Diego in a ceremony attended by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, owner Dean Spanos, new coach Anthony Lynn and players.
Raiders
Khalil Mack’s standout 2016 season was honored when the Professional Football Writers of America named him their defensive player of the year. Mack, who tied an NFL record when he recorded a sack in eight consecutive games, became the first Raiders player to receive that honor since the PFWA began awarding it in 1992. The third-year edge rusher finished the season tied for eighth in the NFL with 11.0 sacks. He had a career-high five forced fumbles and three recoveries and added the first interception and touchdown of his career.
Giants
All-Pro safety Landon Collins said the team’s defensive backs were asked to fly to South Beach the night of the regular-season finale with Odell Beckham Jr., Victor Cruz, Sterling Shepard and Roger Lewis Jr., but declined the offer. “We actually were invited, we decided not to go,” Collins said. “Just we wanted — there’s a receivers group and there is [defensive backs] group — so it was like, I’m going to go with my DBs. And we decided to do something different.”
Jaguars
Jacksonville retained Nate Hackett as offensive coordinator, providing some continuity for quarterback Blake Bortles. Had the Jaguars (3-13) not kept Hackett, Bortles would have had his fourth coordinator in four seasons.