Packers: Grading Preseason Week 2 loss at Pittsburgh
By Phil Watson
Aug 23, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy reacts on the sidelines against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
The Green Bay Packers lost a 24-19 decision to the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday at Heinz Field to fall to 1-1 this preseason.
But the loss of a preseason game was not the story.
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Rather it was the likely loss of Pro Bowl wide receiver Jordy Nelson for the season to what was being reported initially as a torn ACL, sustained on a non-contact play. Nelson landed awkwardly while making a catch and grabbed his leg when the play was over.
VIDEO: Jordy Nelson injured after 1st Quarter catch. #GBvsPIT http://t.co/gt1tODmAoG
— NFL (@NFL) August 23, 2015
The initial diagnosis on #Packers WR Jordy Nelson is a torn ACL, source said. Horrible news. Awaiting MRI results to confirm.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 23, 2015
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While coach Mike McCarthy was being evasive, quarterback Aaron Rodgers didn’t hide his disgust with the situation.
“It’s difficult to lose a guy like that in a meaningless game,” Rodgers said, via the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
“I’m just in a position of listening to all the information,” McCarthy said. “Until we get back to Green Bay and do scans and things like that …”
Rodgers took off on the NFL for its scheduling of four games that don’t count, saying he could not play a down in the preseason and be ready for the regular season and claimed he’s not alone in favoring a reduction in the number of what I have often called scrimmages with uniforms and ticket sales.
“I think a lot of players around the league probably do, at least cut it down a couple.”
If Nelson is lost for the season, that bumps second-year man Davante Adams into a much larger role opposite Randall Cobb and it puts rookie Ty Montgomery in the position of having to produce as the No. 3 receiver.
It also opens up a spot for a plethora of young receivers in camp such as Jeff Janis, Myles White, Larry Pinkard and Ed Williams.
As of right now there are not a lot of veteran options available, but former Packer James Jones may be a cutdown casualty when the New York Giants trim their roster to 53 players in early September.
As for the rest of how Sunday went, here are the best and worst player grades on offense, defense and special teams.
Next: Offense