The Green Bay Packers' roster has been changed quite a bit over the last couple of months, with notable longtime players departing this offseason. One of which, of course, is former Pro Bowl wide receiver Jordy Nelson, who was cut from the final year of his deal. It didn't take long for Nelson find work elsewher,e as he inked a two-year, $15 million deal to join the Oakland Raiders.
During a recent interview on 102.9 FM The Hog's “Bob & Brian,” Packers star quarterback Aaron Rodgers continued to lament about his close friend's departure from Green Bay after 10 seasons, according to Jason Wilde of ESPN.
“It's the tough part of the business; when you get close to guys and spend a lot of time with them and play with them a long time and [you're] not able to finish up with them,” Rodgers said. “Jordy and I had a really good feel for each other and obviously made a lot of plays over the years.”
Nelson shared similar sentiments.
“Not fun. I think both of us wanted to end our careers [together],” Nelson said in the ESPN Wisconsin interview. “He always gave me a hard time when I tore my ACL [in 2015] that I owed him an extra year because I missed one with him. So I told him after he broke his collarbone that he owed me an extra year now. But it's tough. All the calls are tough.”
There is a strong bond between both players that extended off the football field, as the two became close friends. This helped contribute to their success together on the field, as the two hold the franchise mark for most touchdowns by a quarterback-receiver duo with 65.
Nelson also established himself as the top receiving option for Rodgers that made for a few highly productive seasons. In the process, he notched over 1,200 receiving yards four times. In fact, he notched threes straight seasons with at least 85 catches, 1,200 receiving yards, and eight touchdown receptions prior to the 2017 campaign.
It has become evident that Nelson's absence is being felt strongly by the team, as he was a beloved teammate and fan favorite in Green Bay. All of this could seemingly come full circle down the road if an opportunity lines up for him to be back in a Packers' uniform alongside Aaron.