Kris Jenkins, Ryan Grant Out for the Year

Added on Sep 14, 2010 by Eric Galko in

NFL

Not quite as frustrating as getting injured in the pre-season that leads to a season-ending injury, but losing your season in the first game of the season can’t be much better for the player or the team.

Kris Jenkins, nose tackle for the Jets, and Ryan Grant, running back for the Packers, are both out for the season after each team’s week one battle. Both Pro Bowl potential players for the past three years at least, there’s no question their respective teams will miss them.

Jenkins was out for much of the 2009 season from a similar injury, and contemplated retirement in the off-season. But as seen in the HBO show “Hard Knocks”, Jenkins returned this season as hungry and dedicated as he ever has, and with the leagues most talented defense behind him.

Now his season will be over, and the retirement talks between the team doctors, the coaching staff, and ultimately himself will start again this season and the off-season. I wish the best for Jenkins, but it will be a tough battle if he hopes to come back to the Jets, or the NFL, in his past prime Pro Bowl level ever again.

Ryan Grant has been a key part of the Packers high powered offense as Aaron Rodgers developed it into one of the best in the league. He keeps the defense honest to allow for big play-action plays, and takes advantage of mismatches in the defense to break off big gains.

Without him, the Packers will rely on Brandon Jackson to handle the load at running back. He was at one point viewed as the heir apparent to Ahmad Green at running back, but Ryan Grant’s emergence pushed Jackson to the bench. And now with Grant’s injury, Jackson will once again get the chance to shine as the feature back.