Packers tight end Josiah Deguara is treated after getting injured against the Atlanta Falcons during their football game Monday, Oct. 5, 2020, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Dan Powers-USA TODAY NETWORK

Packers rookie TE Josiah Deguara out for season with torn ACL?

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 10/6/20

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur confirmed Green Bay's worst fears on Tuesday when he told reporters that rookie tight end Josiah Deguara suffered a significant knee injury in Monday's 30-16 win over the Atlanta Falcons.

Multiple reports, including one from Rob Demovsky of ESPN, claim Deguara tore his left ACL and won't play again this season.

The Packers selected Deguara in the third round (94th overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft, in part, because of his blocking ability, and the 23-year-old went viral when he cleared out a pair of would-be tacklers during Green Bay's season-opening 43-34 win over the Minnesota Vikings:

Rookie third-rounder Josiah Deguara takes out two Vikings with one block and springs Allen Lazard for a 19-yard run. pic.twitter.com/zV17zsdbk0
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) September 14, 2020

Deguara caught one of two passes for 12 yards in that victory but missed the following two games because of an ankle problem. He returned for Monday's home game against Atlanta but hurt his left knee while blocking on a punt late in the fourth quarter.

"I hurt for Josiah," LaFleur said on Tuesday. "I love what he's all about, the mentality he brings and certainly somebody we were really excited about.

"It's been a little bit of a roller-coaster in terms of I thought he had a great game vs. Minnesota in Week 1 and then he goes out with the ankle injury. It's just been tough, but we expect him to bounce back from it. We still think he has a really bright future in this league."

Green Bay was without tight end Marcedes Lewis and wide receivers Davante Adams and Allen Lazard for Monday's game. Adams made headlines earlier in the day when he tweeted "I guess I don't know my body as well as others," an apparent dig at Green Bay's medical staff and/or coaches after he learned he wasn't cleared to face the Falcons.

Adams later deleted the tweet.

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