Green Bay Packers receiver Jordy Nelson has put together a phenomenal offseason in his third year, demanding attention with his play in organized team activity practices and minicamp.
Passes stuck to his gloves. Defenders couldn’t keep up. Any ball in his vicinity seemed catchable.
As quarterback Aaron Rodgers and his bag of offensive toys prepare for what the organization hopes is a lengthy playoff run, Nelson looks ready for a bigger role.
“Jordy has had, by far, his best offseason,” receivers coach Jimmy Robinson said. “He’s feeling so comfortable out there, that he’s making a ton of plays.”
The team prides itself on drafting and developing its own players and examples litter the roster: Aaron Rodgers, Donald Driver, Jermichael Finley, Greg Jennings, Nick Barnett. Putting Nelson in that group with proven commodities is premature after an offseason running routes in shorts and helmets, but no one denies the strides he has made.
“Thing about Jordy is, when he first came in you looked at him and said this guy has all the talent to be a great receiver,” Driver said. “Jordy just wants an opportunity.
“The good thing about it is our receiving group is so deep, (but) it’s hard for guys to get that opportunity.”