USA TODAY International Edition
PACKERS’ NELSON SCORES IN RETURN
Chemistry with Rodgers pays off in victory
Jordy Nelson JACKSONVILLE didn’t even see the cornerback. The one between him and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The one whose left hand came inches from knocking away his first touchdown catch in 20 months.
In the back of the EverBank Field end zone, Nelson had been wide open. He was trying to settle in the soft zone, lifting his arms frantically for his quarterback’s attention. Rodgers noticed. So did Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Prince Amukamara.
Rodgers, dancing in the pocket, rifled his pass with linebacker Telvin Smith closing in. Amukamara lunged. All Nelson saw was the football.
“I didn’t really feel anyone else,” said Nelson, who missed last season because of a knee injury. “Aaron is seeing a lot more than I am. Everything was behind me, and I’m trying to stay stationary as much ( as possible) and kind of move with him. Obviously, he led me away from probably some stuff that he was feeling. With him moving, the ball is going to tail a little bit, too.
“So just adjusting to it, and to me it wasn’t hard at all. It was just adjusting to the ball that he threw. He’s going to put it in a spot for us to catch it and be safe about it.”
There’s the chemistry that was lacking in Green Bay’s passing game through much of last season. It returned in spurts Sunday when the Packers opened their 2016 season with a 27- 23 win against the Jaguars.
Nelson took time to get going. He wasn’t targeted in the Packers’ first three possessions. The first pass thrown his way opened the fourth drive, a three- and- out. He ran a quick out, an automatic play with Rodgers in 2014. This time, Rodgers misfired to the sideline.
So, yes, there was rust to knock off. Nelson played his first meaningful snaps since the 2014 NFC Championship Game, a 20month drought. He finished with six receptions, tying Randall Cobb for the team high, along with 32 yards.
Yet it was fitting Nelson caught Rodgers’ first touchdown pass of the season. The two- time MVP has his favorite receiver back. There were flashes Sunday of what that could mean for the Packers offense.
“It feels great having Jordy back,” Rodgers said. “He does so many things well out there. He had a great second and third reaction on that TD catch.”
Nelson was happiest with how his knee felt.
He said there were no scary moments Sunday. No low hits that spiked his heart rate.
“When I was out there,” Nelson said, “I wasn’t even thinking about it.”