Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jeff Janis out 4-6 weeks after hand surgery
Jeff Janis has been more about potential than production over his first two NFL seasons, and a recent hand injury hurts his chances to change that in 2016.
Jeff Janis has largely been buried on the Green Bay Packers’ wide-receiver depth chart over the last two seasons. But a breakout game in a Divisional Round loss to the Arizona Cardinals last season, where the former DII standout snagged seven receptions for 145 yards and two touchdowns, made him an early front-runner to be Green Bay’s No. 3 wide receiver heading into 2016.
Early training camp reviews of Janis’ performance were not great, with Janis missing Green Bay’s preseason opener with a right-hand injury. A report of at least one broken bone in the hand, followed by head coach Mike McCarthy stating Janis would not practice this week, only added to the uncertainty surrounding Janis’ future prospects.
On Tuesday, reports surfaced indicating that Janis is expected to miss 4-6 weeks after undergoing surgery to repair broken bones in his index finger. At that point Janis’ progress will be evaluated, but it’s safe to say his status for the season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars is in serious doubt.
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With Jordy Nelson returning from a torn ACL (assuming no setbacks between now and Week 1), Green Bay’s wide receiver pecking order can fall back into place. Randall Cobb is entrenched as No. 2, with Davante Adams, Jared Abbrederis, Ty Montgomery, and rookie Trevor Davis vying for roster spots and roles. Janis will now fall behind in that competition, and his roster spot is far from guaranteed.
If the Packers want to keep Janis around while he recovers, they do have some options: placing him on the PUP to start the season; or putting him on injured reserve-designated to return list. A new league rule for this year would allow Janis to be placed on traditional IR, and then maintain the option to return if he has been out at least eight weeks.
The last option seems the least likely, based on the eight week criteria. But all three scenarios assume a belief from the Packers that Janis can be a meaningful contributor, and that is — at best — unclear as of right now. But assuming no other significant injuries, and a relative status quo otherwise, carrying seven wide receivers on the 53-man roster at any point in the season seems far-fetched.