One play can derail a season.
Still scarred from Jordy Nelson losing a year of football on one meaningless preseason catch, Green Bay Packers fans weren’t thrilled by Matt LaFleur’s hint that the starters will play on Saturday.
LaFleur said there’s data to suggest preseason snaps can prevent regular-season injuries, but if he needs a counterpoint, look no further than Thursday night’s games.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson suffered a dislocated finger on a sack in the first quarter, and it’s unclear how much time he will miss. It should give LaFleur at least some pause about starting Jordan Love in the preseason opener against the New York Jets.
Packers need to reconsider the plan to play Jordan Love vs. Jets in preseason
Injuries can happen at any time, even on the practice field. It’s impossible to prevent them entirely, although LaFleur used data to suggest preseason playing time can actually reduce injuries later on.
That’s a fair argument, but it’s still a gamble.
Injuries can wreck entire seasons, and when they occur in a “meaningless” preseason game, it’s about as sickening as it gets. It only takes one play, as Love found out when he suffered an MCL sprain in last year’s regular-season opener.
LaFleur might be correct that preseason snaps can help avoid injuries later on, but is a series or two going to make a difference? It’s hard to imagine Love or the starters playing much beyond the first quarter, if that.
Fans will forever remain split on this subject. If LaFleur rests the starters and the Packers make a slow start to the regular season, he will get blasted. If they play in the preseason but lose key players to injuries, he will get blasted.
Just stay healthy and win your games. That solves everything, right? Unfortunately, there’s no way to guarantee that, so LaFleur must make a decision.
Love isn’t just important to the Packers’ championship hopes. He is their championship hopes. Preseason snaps are beneficial, but the risk of injury is far too great. LaFleur should learn a lesson from the earlier games this week and keep No. 10 on the sidelines.
