AJ Dillon Isn’t Cut, But He Is Out

In this week's episode of The Wisconsin Sportscast, it’s cut down day for the Packers, and while one big name player isn’t cut, he is out for the season. The team announced that AJ Dillon is out for the season due to a neck injury. That’s a blow to the Packers, especially since this might mean Dillon is done not just for the season, but for the Packers.  The green and gold still have Josh Jacobs to rely on, along with Marshawn Lloyd and Emmanual Wilson, so they do still have options.We may not have seen much of Jacobs, Oates says, but he’s still a high quality player. Wilson is a grinder, says Lucas, and while still a step down from Jacobs he’s still a good asset. As for Lloyd, we just haven’t seen enough, and who knows, he could come through and surprise us. But Tuesday was still cut day for a lot of Packers, including both Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt, who were both vying for a spot as Love’s backup quarterback. That leaves Malik Willis as the backup QB by default, unless they pick up someone cut from elsewhere Tuesday. But that situation, Oates says, is dire. Those weren’t the only cuts Tuesday. Kicker Anders Carlson is out, in a blow to the special teams. So is linebacker Kristian Welch. But of course, Tuesday was cut down day, and someone had to go. Turning to college football, the Badgers are set to face off against Western Michigan in their first game Friday night. Tyler van Dyke will be starting as quarterback, and while the question of who was going to fill that role was up in the air for a while, that doesn’t mean he didn’t earn it.  But sticking with injuries, defensive lineman James Thompson Jr. could be missing the entire season due to an upper body injury. As one of the most senior players on the team, that hurts. But Oates says that the defense will still take a step up this season.  The Wisconsin Sportscast with Lucas & Oates is a Cap Times podcast produced by Nate Wegehaupt. Find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.