Green Bay Packers’ Jordy Nelson: The comeback kid
Jordy Nelson: A standout and go-to guy
When Ted Thompson drafted Jordy Nelson out of Kansas State University in the second round (#36 overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft, we probably didn’t get too excited.
More from Lombardi Ave
- Packers: Picks in NFL.com mock draft would be a home run
- Packers salary cap update following second week of free agency
- Packers’ cornerback depth chart after second week of free agency
- Packers’ edge rusher depth chart after second week of free agency
- Packers’ tackle depth chart after second week of free agency
He was a big receiver who had speed and could jump, but he wasn’t one of those guys who made headlines and were being touted the by draft experts as someone who could become one of the best in the league.
Since then, things have changed a bit.
Nelson has earned the number one receiver spot with the team and has become one of Aaron Rodgers’ most reliable and favorite targets.
His absence in 2015 was a big reason for the Packers’ less-than-stellar season.
We all know how good the duo of Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb was in 2014, with both receivers going over 1,000 yards and helping to lead the Green Bay Packers to the franchise’s fourth straight NFC North Division championship.
It was a helluva year for the two Packers stars, but was also a record-breaking individual year for Nelson.
In fact, with Nelson’s six catches for 86 yards in the season’s finale, he officially surpassed Robert Brooks‘s all-time single season record of 1,497 yards on 102 catches.
Nelson finished his 2014 season with 98 catches for 1,519 yards (15.5-yard average) and 13 touchdowns.
The Manhattan, Kansas, farm boy has long been overlooked as one of the best in the game, despite the fact that he’s caught pass after pass and had big game after big game.
In addition to his single season franchise record, Nelson also registered seven touchdowns in 2014 of 40-plus yards. that’s better than the likes of Elroy Hirsch, Bob Hayes and Jerry Rice – all Pro Football Hall of Famers.
That’s some pretty good company.
It will most likely be some time before another Packers receiver registers more than 1,500 yards in a single season like Nelson did.
In fact, he was the first Packers receiver to surpass 1,500 yards. That’s a pretty special accomplishment.
Nelson caught passes for more than 100 yards in seven games in 2014, with his best performance coming in Week 2 against the New York Jets, when he caught 209 yards in passes.
In Week 10 against the Chicago Bears, Nelson caught six passes for 152 yards and then in Week 14 against Atlanta, he caught passes for 146 yards.
Those were his three best days.
Nelson, in his patented “aw shucks” demeanor, isn’t about to boast about his accomplishments, but he is clearly an elite receiver.
In his career, Nelson has caught exactly 497 passes for 7,366 yards (14.8 yard average), and 63 touchdowns .
If that’s not elite, I don’t know what is.
One of the biggest reasons Nelson was so successful once again in 2016 is the chemistry he has with quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
With Nelson’s strong season once again in 2016, he helps give the Packers another run at the Super Bowl – and crystallizes his comeback of the year award.
If Nelson’s ribs improve, we could see him on the field in Atlanta this season and if the Packers win he would most likely be ready to play in the Super Bowl.
But what’s really great is that it appears Rodgers and Nelson will be together for at least the next couple of seasons.
Next: Shutting down the Falcons
Things can only get better.