Packers Starter Likely Out for Season with Injury
NFL coaches will tell you that a team can’t win the Super Bowl in July or August, but they can lose it.
For all the talk about implementing a new offensive or defensive set or seeing their players’ improvement, teams have one main goal during training camp:
Don’t get hurt.
In the week that practice began for the Green Bay Packers, they’ve already suffered what very well might be a season-altering injury.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter broke the news that linebacker Jake Ryan tore his ACL, and now Green Bay has to figure out a solution.
The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported Ryan went down during 11-on-11 drills Monday while trying to chase down a receiver.
He began pounding his fist, knowing the pop in his knee was not a good sign.
The report said Ryan underwent an MRI on Tuesday that revealed his right ACL was torn.
“Surgery will be scheduled soon for the fourth-year linebacker and he will face a 9-to-12 month recovery,” the Journal-Sentinel reported.
This is the second time the former Michigan star has torn his right ACL, after doing so in college as well.
Losing a key player so early can have a lasting effect on a team.
As ESPN’s Field Yates tweeted, it’s been a rough offseason across the league when it comes to ACL tears.
It's August 1st and at least seven players have already torn their ACL this offseason:
* Packers LB Jake Ryan
* Chargers TE Hunter Henry
* Eagles LB Paul Worrilow
* Panthers RB Fozzy Whitaker
* Rams DE Morgan Fox
* Bengals G Rod Taylor
* Lions FB Nick Bawden https://t.co/3bFvmym2kF— Field Yates (@FieldYates) August 1, 2018
Ryan has been Green Bay’s starting inside linebacker for the last two seasons, and the fourth-round pick has emerged as a defensive leader.
Blake Martinez, another inside linebacker, told the Journal-Sentinel he spoke to Ryan just after the injury.
“He was just devastated,” Martinez said. “Obviously, he was super-excited about the season. He’s been putting a tremendous amount of work in.
“He’s been awesome throughout OTAs and these past four practices. It’s been good for him. It’s just really tough.”
On the field, the Pack seem to have three options, starting with rookie third-round pick Oren Burks getting more playing time than anticipated.
Defensive back Quinten Rollins has been used in Ryan’s spot in some packages, and undrafted rookie Greer Martini out of Notre Dame will get some opportunities too.
It seems as though Green Bay will start with those possibilities, as new general manager Brian Gutekunst said the team isn’t looking outside the organization for help at this time.
There’s never a good time for a season-ending injury, but for Ryan, there’s a financial component to consider.
The fourth-year player is in the last year of his contract, earning $1.907 million in salary.
The Packers defense was already a bit suspect, and this news certainly won’t help them deal with what should be a high-flying Minnesota offense in the battle for the NFC North division title.
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