Packers cornerback Nate Hobbs, 26, faced surgery to repair a torn meniscus on the right knee. As such, he will be out for the rest of training camp. The procedure went down Saturday morning and followed Hobbs’ last practice, which was Thursday. Packers Head Coach Matt LaFleur wasn’t specific, but did confirm that the surgery was necessary. It intended to give closure to a long-standing conflict that had plagued the player.
In truth, while Hobbs was probably able to continue playing with the injury, pushing it at that point could have made the condition worse. LaFleur cautioned against reading too much into this, saying, “I’m not going to put out a timetable on it. This choice demonstrates the team’s focus and priority on the long-term health of Hobbs, making sure that he returns at full strength next season.
Hobbs played his first four NFL seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders. Last season it was six games missed, 16 games missed over the last three seasons with different injuries. Given his track record, which has already led to concerns regarding his durability, this most recent injury is a massive cause for concern for the Packers.
Though the injury is unfortunate, the staff is still very excited about Hobbs’s potential impact once he returns to the field. LaFleur noted, “The thing you admire most about him is he’s passionate about the game and he loves to compete.” Hobbs’ passion has turned him into an integral part of the Packers’ defense.
The Packers are hopeful that Hobbs will be back in time for their September 7 regular-season match-up with the Detroit Lions. Prior to his injury, Hobbs was slated to open the year as one of the two starting outside cornerbacks. He would have paired with Keisean Nixon, who too has plenty of experience as a nickel and inside corner. Their team is even more confident that Hobbs can make the transition to playing on the edge, which would deepen their already stout defensive lineage.
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