AJ Dillon Placed on Season Ending IR

AJ Dillon Placed on Season Ending IR

The NFL’s roster cutdown day has officially passed and with it came many unexpected roster moves from various teams around the league. However, few were as surprising as the Green Bay Packers placing Running-Back AJ Dillon on season-ending injury reserve. I always wondered why some people do their fantasy football drafts before the preseason has ended/ before roster cut day, for reasons exactly like this. I just know there are some people out there kicking themselves for drafting AJ Dillon this year. 

Dillon was drafted by the Packers in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft. Before that, he had a successful career at Boston College. He and Aaron Jones formed a ferocious 1-2 punch in the Green Bay backfield for 4 seasons. AJ Dillon had his least productive year since he was a rookie last season. He rushed for a measly 613 yards and 2 touchdowns in 15 games.

Free Agency Surprise

When free agency started back in March, most Packer fans expected Dillon to be gone as he wasn’t the bruising back that was once promised or expected. Then, the Packers cut fan favorite Aaron Jones and gave AJ Dillon a 1-year extension. This had fans rightfully confused and pissed off. For a second, the Packers looked like they had an all-time great backfield with Jones, Dillon, and the recently acquired Josh Jacobs from the Las Vegas Raiders. The dream trio lasted about 2 hours before the team cut Jones, who later signed with the Minnesota Vikings

The Green Bay front office is making a mistake by sticking with AJ Dillon, as they announced he was placed on season-ending IR with a neck injury. He suffered a cervical neck stinger back in Week 17 of last season, and apparently, it didn’t improve over the off-season. It’s safe to say that Dillon’s future in the green and gold is murky at best. 

Packer Backfield Post Dillon Injury

With this roster move here is the current landscape of the Green Bay backfield. Pro-bowl running back Josh Jacobs will clearly be the starter but after that it is uncertain. The Packers brought back Emanuel Wilson from last year, who was an undrafted free agent. In his 7 games played last season, he had 14 carries for 85 yards and no touchdowns. Wilson is an unknown at this point, but what is for sure is that he will be getting more than 14 carries this year. The only other running back on the roster is third-round pick MarShawn Lloyd from USC. There is a lot to be excited about with Lloyd. If you watched any USC games last year you know that he is an absolute stud. He is a speedy, yet patient back whose running style reminds me of a prime Le’veon Bell.

Nobody really knows what the future may hold for AJ Dillon and if he will be a Packer for much longer. But, Green Bay is going to work with what they got, Which is a former pro-bowler who when healthy is one of the best running backs in the game (Jacobs) who was acquired earlier this off-season, a rookie with loads of potential (Lloyd), and an unknown (Wilson). There is still lots to be excited about for Packers fans this year as they look to make another deep playoff run, but this is certainly not great news to hear before the season has even begun.

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