The Packers lost their fifth straight game yesterday, but any turnaround of their season will come without one of their top defenders. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported this morning that edge rusher Rashan Gary was feared to have suffered a torn ACL.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network confirms that that is indeed the case, meaning Gary will miss the remainder of the season. An MRI will be conducted to determine if any further damage has been caused.
Gary was one of several Packers who had to leave Sunday’s contest early, leaving the team with a number of question marks from a health perspective. Gary was seen on crutches after the loss to Detroit, joining cornerback Eric Stokes and wideout Romeo Doubs in that regard, according to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky.
Green Bay will be hard-pressed to replace Gary, 24, for the remainder of the season. He was in the midst of another productive campaign off the edge, recording 6.0 sacks and seven tackles for loss. That marked a continuation of last season, during which he broke out with 9.5 sacks while taking on a full-time starting role. The former first-rounder drew plenty of scrutiny during his first two campaigns, as he showed only flashes of the athleticism he was renowned for coming out of college.
After things turned around in 2021, however, it came as little surprise when the Packers picked up Gary’s fifth-year option this spring. That move will keep him on the books for 2023 at a cost of just under $10.9MM. Given his play last year, and his continued career ascension until yesterday, the Michigan alum was setting himself up as a prime extension candidate this offseason.
That held especially true since the Packers released Za’Darius Smith in a cost-cutting move in March. The veteran ultimately landed with the division rival Vikings as a high-priced free agent. So far, he has enjoyed another productive season, and he ranks second in the NFL with 8.5 sacks. Gary had filled in for Smith (as he did last season, with the latter sidelined through injury), with fellow veteran Preston Smith chipping in with 3.5 sacks on the campaign.
Now, the Packers will need to regroup defensively with the elder Smith leading the way in terms of pass rushers. Green Bay is also rostering Day 3 draftees Kingsley Enagbare and Jonathan Garvin, along with former UDFA Tipa Galeai as potential Gary replacements.
As mentioned, Green Bay lost a number of key players on both sides of the ball yesterday. Joining Gary, Stokes and Doubs are lead running back Aaron Jones (who was seen in a walking boot, per Demovsky) and rookie wideout Christian Watson, who exited to be evaluated for a concussion after suffering one last week. As crushing as the Gary diagnosis is for the team, then, there could very well be more bad news coming today as the Packers continue reeling.
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