GREEN BAY Cullen Jenkins knows that he almost missed all this.
Having pulled his left calf in pregame warm-ups before the teams Oct. 24 game against Minnesota and reinjured it at the end of the Dec. 5 game against San Francisco, the Green Bay Packers veteran defensive end was thisclose to being placed on season-ending injured reserve and joining the other 15 IR guys as spectators for Super Bowl XLV next Sunday in North Texas. In fact, injured reserve was one of the likely scenarios presented to him by team physician Pat McKenzie when the two talked shortly after that victory over the 49ers and again while Jenkins was sidelined for the final four regular-season games.
It was close. (We) had some conversations early about the seriousness of it and the possibilities, especially after the first couple weeks when I still couldnt do anything on it, Jenkins recalled this week as he prepared for Super Bowl XLV against the Pittsburgh Steelers next Sunday at Cowboys Stadium. So it was definitely up in the air there. But we had faith that if the team made it to the playoffs that it was a possibility I could be back.
I was real grateful that they didnt just say, Oh, the heck with it, well put him on IR and bring other guys up. They had faith in me to hold a spot there for me for the possibility of the playoffs, thats why I felt like if I was able to, I was going to try to be on the field.
Why was getting Jenkins back so important?
Oh, man, Cullen is the best pass rusher in the NFL, that's why, veteran defensive end Ryan Pickett replied. You can match him up with anybody and he's going to beat them one-on-one. Hands down. He just brings an extra dimension to our defense, no matter what defense we call, you've always got the possibility of Cullen beating his man and getting a sack. That's big for us."
Indeed, Jenkins back to being the difference-maker hed been before the injury. After finishing the regular season second on the team in sacks with seven in only 11 games, Jenkins returned for the Packers NFC Wild Card over the Philadelphia Eagles on Jan. 9. While he had a quiet two-tackle performance in roughly 30 snaps, his playing time and productivity have increased with each game since.
He was credited with two quarterback hits on Atlantas Matt Ryan in the teams NFC Divisional Playoff victory over the Falcons on Jan. 15, then had two more including a half-sack on Chicagos Jay Cutler in the Packers NFC Championship Game victory over the Bears last Sunday.
I think his play the last couple weeks speaks for itself, Packers coach Mike McCarthy replied Friday when asked what having Jenkins back has meant to his defense. I think Cullen is definitely a penetrator in our defensive scheme. He has the ability to beat the one-on-one block. Hes our best pass rusher, as far as a down lineman. Very productive player, and when hes healthy, hes as good as it gets. So its great to have him back.
The operative phrase with Jenkins, of course, is when hes healthy. And thats something he basically wasnt the entire year.
In the Sept. 12 regular-season opener, Jenkins broke his left hand while fending off a low block. He returned to the game with a bulky cast and registered a sack, then played until mid-November wearing the cast, which cost him, by his estimation, four or five sacks because he couldnt grab onto opposing quarterbacks with his left hand.
Its been huge, being able to work my pass-rush moves with my hands. Thats one of the big parts of my game, being able to use my hands, and then when you actually get to the quarterback being able to grab and hold onto him, Jenkins said. Its just nice to have them back.
Not long after shedding the cast, though, Jenkins aggravated the calf injury and missed the final four games. Being in a contract year, the timing couldnt have been worse for him.
This is definitely not the time for it right now. We still have a week and a half left in the season, and were four quarters away from accomplishing our ultimate goal. Were just focusing on that right now, said Jenkins, who is at the end of a four-year, $16 million deal and said there hasnt been any negotiations on an extension between his agents and the Packers. It can be (distracting) if you allow yourself. Even throughout the playoffs, its something Ive just kind of had to put away and come out and concentrate on playing.
That approach seems to be working just fine, and while the Packers could find themselves with an overabundance of good defensive linemen in 2011 Johnny Jolly could return from his NFL suspension, while rookie Mike Neal should be good as new after a season-ending shoulder surgery the hope in the locker room is that Jenkins returns because hes so vital to the defense.
Cullen, hes a leader he leads by example and he leads by (his) voice. And I believe hes one of the best pass rushers in this league from an interior position, nose tackle B.J. Raji said. I believe hes starting to get a little more notoriety, which hes been overdue for some time now. And if he plays next Sunday like we all know he can and probably will, hell get even more notoriety. I hope hes back (next year) for sure. But thats not in my hands, as you know. Well see what happens.
"Jason Wilde" wrote: