The Green Bay Packers have made their final roster cuts to get down to 53 players, like the rest of the NFL. After signing a deal that could be worth essentially nothing if he did not make the 53-man roster, the writing was on the wall for running back AJ Dillon. While he won’t play for Green Bay this season, the reasoning was a bit unexpected.
AJ Dillon Placed on Season-Ending IR With Neck Injury
The 26-year-old AJ Dillon has failed to live up to his physical attributes (and draft investment) in Green Bay. While he appears to be an intimidating force on paper, Dillon’s inability to finish runs or fight for yardage has made him a bust during his first several seasons. In fact, his inability to finish runs on the goal line was the reason the Packers missed the playoffs in Aaron Rodgers’ final year with the team. However, the Packers gave AJ Dillon a cheap contract this offseason, giving them a bit of safety in case they could not draft a running back they liked.
In the end, the Packers drafted MarShawn Lloyd, meaning Dillon’s days were numbered anyways. While he was not officially released from Green Bay, Dillon was put on season-ending IR due to a neck injury. It’s possible the injury is related to the stinger suffered last season, but the details are being kept mysteriously quiet.
Dillon will get the NFL benefits of missing an entire season due to injury while the Packers get Dillon off of the team in a rare win-win situation.
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Green Bay Packers Depth Chart
So, what does the Green Bay Packers’ depth chart look like in the backfield now? After letting Aaron Jones walk this offseason, the Packers made a big investment by signing veteran running back Josh Jacobs. He will be the clear-cut starter and will likely see as many snaps as he can handle.
Backing him up is Lloyd, the talented rookie out of USC. However, Lloyd is dealing with an injury of his own. While he avoided IR to start the season, the rookie’s status for Week 1 is unknown due to a hamstring injury.
The only other running back on the active roster is Emanuel Wilson who has played well in each of the past two preseasons. He could be asked to play a decent role in Week 1, as the Packers travel to Brazil to face the Philadelphia Eagles.
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