Obviously, any injury to the lower half of the body is especially troublesome for an NFL running back, whose job is to, as the name suggests, run. But he also must carry the ball, and that’s where a hand injury can be almost as difficult—especially a thumb injury, because it most directly affects the back’s ability to hold onto the ball. And that’s what makes the AJ Dillon injury so tough for the Green Bay PackersDillon broke his thumb on what he called a “routine” play in Week 14 when the Packers fell to the Giants on Monday night. He’s not sure what that means for Week 15, but he’s trying everything he can to get on the field.”The first thing is always just making sure I’m putting myself in the best position I can in terms of, if something is hurt, not making it a bigger issue than it is down the road.” The next question is whether I will be able to go out there and positively impact the team by being there. So, you know, we still have a few days left in the week,” Dillon said Thursday at this locker.
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This AJ Dillon injury is extremely awful since not only is his thumb broken and his grasp may be impaired, but the entire NFL is now aware of it.
“It’s up there,” Dillon said of the significance of a thumb injury. “Especially when every other team you’re going against is going to know it’s hurt.”
Dillon has taken satisfaction in his four-year career for never missing time due to injury—he missed five games as a rookie, but that was due to Covid-19. He’d like to maintain his track record.
“If I can go, I’m going to go,” he said. “I’ve been playing through some stuff in the last couple years or whatever that obviously hurts, but I’m good enough to go.” As a result, I try to be present whenever possible. That is not changing right now. … “I don’t like missing any time, whether it’s practice, a game, or even the possibility of missing time,” Dillon said. “I guess if you’re looking for a silver lining, that could be it.”The timing of AJ Dillon’s injury was unfortunate.
One of the most encouraging aspects of the Packers’ comeback in the last month and a half has been Dillon’s play, who many expected to go elsewhere next season after he became a free agent. However, with starter Aaron Jones out, Dillon has proven to be a trustworthy option.In the last five weeks, he has averaged 77.6 yards from scrimmage per game out of the backfield. That won’t land him in Canton, but it’s provided adequate run support for Jordan Love’s attack, and Dillon has proven to be a reliable option in short-yardage situations. He has also not fumbled this season and has only three in his career.
That sums up the AJ Dillon injury’s problem. On the one hand, he wants to remain dependable for the Packers. On the other hand, he wants to be known for not turning the ball over throughout his four years in the NFL.
“I feel like with that, I’m playing at a level consistency-wise where I’m helping out the team at a high level,” he said.
“So I’m trying to keep doing that and building on it, because there are still areas where I think, ‘Man, I could’ve done that better.'” I’m trying to be out there as much as possible, to help the team win as much as possible, and to take things one day at a time.”
