When the Green Bay Packers battle the Oakland Raiders on Sunday, they'll face two particular defensive stars - one of whom they are very familiar with.
Jordy Nelson, the Packers' injured starting wide receiver, faced Charles Woodson many times in practice. Now, Woodson is 39 and still producing at Pro Bowl levels. He'll face his old Packers teammates in Oakland.
"It's inspiring. It's crazy to think, especially as a defensive guy to be able to do that, especially playing with Charles and being around him for six years, seeing the time he puts into his craft, physically and mentally, it was an honor playing with him," said Nelson on 620WTMJ's "Wisconsin's Afternoon News."
"It will be interesting watching the matchup between him and Aaron. It will be one of the high (priorities) on his list, to get Aaron one time just for good old time's sake. He'll be taking chances trying to get that. It will be interesting to watch that."
The other guy is the NFL's leading sacker, linebacker/defensive lineman Khalil Mack who had five sacks against Denver last weekend.
Nelson says the key on offense is balance, to make sure Mack has to respect Eddie Lacy, James Starks and company.
"It's going to be the run game. Get it going, put the defensive line on their heels. They have to respect the run," said Nelson.
"The moment you get into passing downs, a guy like (Khalil) Mack is going to take advantage of that, or try to."
Before he and the Packers left for Oakland a day earlier than normal, Nelson and fellow wide receivers joined in a gift exchange where each brought a major-value present, and each would receive one.
"I took a range finder for any golfer out there. We have some hunters in our room. They get into bow hunting. They could use that as well," said Nelson. "I walked away with a drone."
What will he do with it?
As he put it, "I have absolutely no idea. I can think of cool stuff back home on the farm."
