Packers’ AJ Dillon Will Play Against Panthers With Broken Thumb
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Green Bay Packers assistant Ben Sirmans has been coaching running backs for almost three decades. He could not remember any of his backs playing with a broken thumb.
That will change when AJ Dillon faces the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
“It’ll be a different experience for me from that standpoint,” Sirmans said.
As anticipated based on the lack of roster moves made at running back on Saturday, Dillon will be back in action against Carolina after missing one game with the broken thumb sustained a couple weeks ago at the Giants. The team did not elevate Kenyan Drake from the practice squad, nor did it activate Emanuel Wilson from injured reserve.
The Packers will need Dillon, Aaron Jones and Patrick Taylor to be at their best against a Panthers defense that ranks fourth in yards allowed per carry over their last eight games and just limited Bijan Robinson and the Falcons to 1.7 yards per carry.
But can Dillon be at his best – or reasonably close to it?
“I think a big part of it is just pain tolerance,” Sirmans said. “Obviously with the running back position, having both hands is pretty important, so it really comes down to see what he can do just with the injury, how much stuff he can do and see if that’ll make him viable for Sunday.”
Dillon was drafted by the Packers in the second round in 2020. Other than some games due to COVID as a rookie, he hadn’t missed a game in his career due to injury until last week.
“That was a really, really not-fun experience,” Dillon said. “As a competitor, my mindset when I’m playing football or anything, whether it’s Chutes and Ladders or Connect 4, is I want to be playing, I want to be part of it. To not be out there with the team was definitely really frustrating. We’re doing everything we can to put me in the best position to be beneficial for the team.”
Dillon was limited participation at all three practices this week. While reporters were present on Thursday, he went through pass-protecting drills and caught a pass.
“Really just testing it out, seeing what aggravated stuff, what didn’t, how I can do certain things,” Dillon said. “We’re just taking it day by day. I’m always going to do as much as I can within reason to get back out there. Last week was not a fun feeling.”
The two big factors are pain tolerance and ball security. Ball security is one of Dillon’s best assets. He’s fumbled three times in his career, with his last being in November 2022. His only lost fumble came in October 2021.
“Without question” it’s a concern, Sirmans said. “Situations like this, a guy would have to carry the ball just in one arm and use the other arm to protect like when it comes to double-wrapping the football.”
The Packers have lost two in a row, their playoff hopes hanging by a thread with a 6-8 record. They will close the season with three winnable matchups, with Sunday’s game followed by next Sunday night at the Minnesota Vikings and the finale against the Chicago Bears.
“It’s a lunchpail mindset,” Dillon said. “Everyone’s ready to go to work. We know what we’ve got in front of us. You can’t win all three of these games in one week but we can win the one in front of us right now.”
