Green Bay Packers v. Seahawks: 4 Big Things from Shutout Win
By Paul Bretl
Some good news on Aaron Jones and Rashan Gary for the Green Bay Packers
The hits just keep coming on the injury front. Green Bay has been able to overcome a number of key injuries this season, but they were dealt a few more on Sunday.
Whitney Mercilus, who has provided this defense with a boost at edge rusher on passing downs, left the game with a bicep injury. Aaron Jones would leave with a knee injury and then Rashan Gary an elbow injury. We have since learned some additional info on Jones’ and Gary’s injuries—both of which came with good news.
According to Adam Schefter and later confirmed by Tom Silverstein, Jones suffered a sprained MCL in his right knee. As Tom would also mention, Jones has suffered this injury on three separate occasions in the past.
The first time came in 2017 and he would miss two games. The other two MCL sprains occurred at the end of the non-playoff years during 2017 and 2018, so Jones was held out and his seasons were over. In all three previous instances, surgery was not required.
When it comes to Gary, Tom Pelissero would report that Gary did not suffer any break or ligament damage in his elbow. Excellent news for the rising star.
We still don’t know how much time either player could miss, but the initial reporting for both Jones and Gary is positive considering what each injury could have been.
While Green Bay has done a terrific job of overcoming injuries and COVID-related absences, trying to replace Jones and Gary will be an incredibly tall task—and perhaps a nearly impossible one at that.
Although Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams draw much of the attention, this unit is at its best when going through Jones and the run game. He makes plays on the ground, through the air, he’s an effective pass-blocker, and when he’s on the field, his mere presence helps create for his teammates with the attention that he draws.
"“Yeah, that’s a big blow,” LaFleur said via Sports Illustrated. “It’s hard to replace a guy like that. Just everything he brings to this football team on a daily basis. Just watching him out at practice, the effort that he plays with. Here’s a guy that, he’s always the same. He’s super-consistent in his approach, his work ethic, his attitude, his energy. Yeah, you miss that when somebody’s not in the lineup. But other guys are going to have to step up.”"
In Gary’s case, he has not only been the Green Bay Packers’ best pass-rusher but one of the most productive pass rushers in football. According to PFF ($$), he entered Sunday’s game with 42 pressures, which was the fifth most among edge rushers, and his 11 quarterback hits were the second-most.
Losing either Jones or Gary for the year are the type of injuries that can alter a season. Fortunately, it sounds like both players received some good news. Hopefully, Gary and Jones will be back sooner than later, but it looks like the Green Bay Packers are still going to have to overcome their absences in the meantime.