Running back AJ Dillon’s season is done before it even started.
After suffering a stinger last week in a joint practice with the Broncos, the Packers put Dillon on the injured reserve with no return designation on Tuesday, effectively ending his season.
The issue was a continuation of the same one that ended his 2023 campaign early, and head coach Matt LaFleur told reporters when the injury cropped up again that “absolutely there’s a concern.”
Dillon, 26, himself understood the concern over the latest neck injury last week when reporters asked him about it.
“They’re a lot different,” he said about the injury, per Green Bay Packers on SI. “Some are common; a lot of guys reference getting a stinger at some point. I’ve had stingers in the past before the incident last year. As you know, certain things happen. Some are more severe than others. You kind of look at it differently but, like I said, we’re waiting to get opinions back. See all the information before we make any statements that are untrue.”
The Packers will be down to Josh Jacobs, MarShawn Lloyd and Emanuel Wilson at the running back position.
Dillon rushed for 613 yards and two touchdowns last season while playing in 15 games in Green Bay.
After suffering a cervical neck stinger in Week 17, Dillon missed the final regular season game and both of the Packers’ playoff contests.
The Packers opted to keep Dillon around, giving him a four-year-player qualifying offer.
Green Bay is coming off a season in which they went 9-8 in the regular season before making it to the NFC Divisional Round.
They upset the Cowboys, 48-32, in the first round before falling 24-21 to the 49ers.
The Packers open this season against the Eagles on Sept. 6 in Brazil.
