| Injuries have kept Packers WR Jordy Nelson from equaling last season's production. (US Presswire) |
Green Bay Packers WR Jordy Nelson missed four games this season, the most of his five-year career, so maybe he knows a little something about expectations and the media.
In that, maybe he knows something about not providing any specific expectations to said media.
Nelson, who injured his knee in the Packers’ Week 17 loss at Minnesota last week, sounded optimistic about playing in the wild card-round rematch Sunday against the Vikings, but he couched his comments with uncertainty.
“We’ll be good. We’re good,” Nelson said Wednesday. “I feel good. I honestly do. As of today, I would say I plan on playing. But there’s a lot of time between now and then. I don’t want to come out and say I am playing and then something happens and you guys are all going to come back at me and say I lied.”
It has not been an easy year for the receiver who caught 15 touchdowns last year. He missed the three games prior to the season finale with a pesky hamstring injury and, according to coach Mike McCarthy, is still not cleared to play on Sunday.
"I thought Jordy ran well in the workout that he did (indoors),” McCarthy said. “He looked pretty good in the routes on air. I know (team doctor) Pat McKenzie wants to evaluate him again tomorrow, he wants to make sure ... he has some concerns. It will probably take until tomorrow to see where Jordy is."
In the Packers’ 37-34 loss to the Vikings last week, Nelson caught three passes for 87 yards, including a 73-yard reception. He was injured in the second half but returned to haul in a game-tying fourth-quarter touchdown.
In good spirits at his locker, Nelson, who has 49 catches for 745 yards and seven touchdowns this season, first suggested that reporters discuss such medical concerns with the team doctor. But he then reiterated it was a day-by-day rehab process and expressed confidence he’d be able to play against the Vikings on Sunday.
“I was out there a little bit today, running routes, felt good, so we’ll continue to rehab and treat it and just continue to see how it feels,” Nelson said. “They always say they need to see how it reacts the next day. I think it’ll be fine. There’s a lot of time between now and then, and luckily it’s a night game so I get a few more hours.”
Follow Packers reporter James Carlton on Twitter: @CBSPackers and @jimmycarlton88.