After Breaking Thumb on ‘Routine Play,’ Can AJ Dillon Play vs. Buccaneers?
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Green Bay Packers running back AJ Dillon, who had been carrying the load of the running game in Aaron Jones’ absence, suffered a broken thumb during the fourth quarter of Monday night’s loss to the New York Giants.
“Football is a crazy game,” Dillon said, a protective wrap enveloping his thumb and part of his right hand.
Nearby in the locker room, Jones asked Dillon how he was feeling.
“You know me, man,” Dillon said.
With Jones out with a knee injury, the fourth-year back had just hit his stride. While the rushing totals were nothing spectacular, with Dillon averaging 3.5 yards per carry vs. the Giants, 4.1 vs. the Chiefs, 3.1 vs. the Lions and 2.1 vs. the Rams, he had a 20-plus-yard catch in three of the last four games. His 35-yard catch-and-run in which he ran through three tacklers was a highlight against the Giants.
However, on Green Bay’s final drive on Monday night, Dillon gained 8 yards on first down and 1 yard on second down. On third-and-1, with the thumb already injured, he moved the chains.
“I don’t ever like to miss any time, whether it’s practice or a game or even the possibility of it,” Dillon said. “If you’re looking for a silver lining, that could be, but I feel like with that, I’m playing at a level consistency-wise where I’m helping out the team at a high level.
“So, I’m trying to keep doing that and keep building upon that, because there’s still areas where I’m like, ‘Man, I could’ve done that better.’ Trying to be out there as much as possible, trying to help the team win as much as possible and taking it day by day.”
Dillon didn’t provide any specifics on questions ranging from whether he could play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday or if he’d need surgery.
Can Dillon, who hasn’t fumbled this season, run with good ball-security with one healthy hand?
“That’s a great question. Something I’m trying to figure out,” he said.
Could he make the injury worse by playing through it?
“We’ll deal with that when it gets there. I’m not trying to talk too much about what-ifs,” he replied.
What’s undeniable, whether it’s carrying the ball, pass protecting or catching a pass, a thumb is pretty darned important.
“Especially when every other team you’re going against is going to know it’s hurt,” he said.
Dillon has never missed a game in his NFL career due to injury; his only five missed games came after a bout with COVID during his rookie season of 2020. Since then, he’s played in 54 consecutive games – 51 regular season and three postseason.
“The first thing is always just making sure I’m putting myself in the best position I can as far as, if there’s something hurt, not making it a bigger issue than it is down the road,” Dillon said. “And then the next question is will I be able to go out there and positively impact the team with me being out there. We’ve still got some days left in the week.
“Those questions, I’ve got to figure out myself. If I can go, I’m going to go. I’ve played through some stuff in the past couple years or whatever that, obviously, I’m hurting but I’m good enough to go. I try to be out there if I can. That doesn’t change right now.”
