Jordy Nelson runs routes for Aaron Rodgers in practice, could play in a game now

The Green Bay Packers' offense struggled without the services of wide receiver Jordy Nelson in 2015. The inability of the receivers to get separation and threaten the deep middle of the field has been well-documented, and Aaron Rodgers' lack of chemistry with several of his young receivers also appears to have hurt the team's production.

Fans hoping for a bounce-back performance from both Nelson and the offense as a whole should be encouraged by the news out of Packers OTAs on Thursday. Following practice, Nelson spoke to the media, and ESPN's Rob Demovsky noted that the eight-year veteran will not participate in any team drills until training camp.

However, that decision is apparently only a precaution, as Nelson said the following:

"But if there was a game on Sunday I'm playing."

This is great news for Packers fans. It's especially good when you combine it with the fact that the one-on-one work Nelson did with Aaron Rodgers during practice today (alluded to in the tweet above) included running several in routes and out routes. As the Green Bay Press-Gazette's Ryan Wood notes, those routes involve sharp cuts on both directions; the fact that Nelson continues to feel confident on his surgically-repaired knee suggests that he is indeed on schedule to be at full strength by training camp.

With a healthy Nelson playing both on the boundary and in the slot this season, the Packers should have their most potent receiving weapon back on offense to threaten defenses deep. Considering he's already feeling like he could play this weekend, there seems to be no reason to doubt that he'll be 100% when training camp opens in late July.