Green Bay Packers 2022 season review: Rashan Gary
Rashan Gary was on course for a breakout season before tearing his ACL. The Green Bay Packers‘ star edge rusher had been dominant in the first half of the 2022 regular season.
Today, we continue our Green Bay Packers 2022 season review, with the focus on one of the team’s most important players.
We’ll also look ahead to what’s next for Gary.
2022 season review
After dominating throughout training camp, expectations were sky-high for Rashan Gary, who had improved each season in the NFL.
And the former first-round pick was well on his way to a huge season. Gary had made six sacks and 11 quarterback hits in the opening eight games of the year. That put him on track for career-best numbers.
However, Gary suffered a torn ACL in the Packers’ loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 9.
Despite playing in less than nine full games, Gary still ranked second on the team in sacks at the end of the season, and was only 2.5 sacks behind Preston Smith.
It highlights Gary’s importance to Green Bay’s defense, and also how much the team missed him in the second half of the season.
What’s next?
The most important thing for Gary right now is his recovery from injury. It’s unclear whether he will be ready for training camp or the season opener, or whether Gary may have to miss some time early in 2023.
When he does return, he will again play a crucial role on defense for the Packers.
Gary will enter a contract year in 2023 as the Packers picked up his fifth-year option last offseason. He will become a free agent in 2024.
The Packers must re-sign him. It won’t be surprising if they work out a long-term deal at some point during the 2023 season.
Gary is still only 25 years old and is one of the league’s top pass rushers. The Packers need to re-sign him.