Rashan Gary had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day feast at Ford Field in Detroit, and he later received a special reminder of why he had even more reason to be thankful.
In the Packers’ 29-22 victory over the Lions, the Green Bay Packers linebacker sacked Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff three times and forced two fumbles, one of which led to a defensive touchdown.
However, in the locker room following the game, head coach Matt Lafleur presented Rashan Gary with a “special game ball.” Gary not only had possibly his best game of his career, but it also came one year after he suffered a season-ending injury on the same field.
“He had a career-high three sacks.” Hey, and more importantly, you’re correct. This happened a year ago, and we all remember it. One year ago. You returned. “You returned with a vengeance, man.”
And, to the delight of his Packers teammates, Lafleur gave an emotional Gary a big hug.
“I’m tired of crying around y’all,” Gary explained.
Rashan Gary returns from injury
Rashan Gary tore his ACL in his right knee during a 16-9 loss to the Packers last November. However, the 6-foot-5, 277-pound Michigan linebacker worked his way back and was ready to play by the start of the season.
The Packers began by playing him only 16.2 percent of the defensive snaps in Week 1, gradually increasing his workload each week. In fact, he had three sacks in a 17-17 win over New Orleans in Week 3.
Gary, on the other hand, received his retribution on Thursday. The Lions were driving with 2:22 left in the first half Thursday, with the Packers leading 14-6.
Gary sacked Goff, jarring the ball free. Green Bay took a 20-6 lead after Jonathan Owens scooped up the loose ball and ran 27 yards for a touchdown.
Gary recovered his own forced fumble early in the fourth quarter, when he sacked Goff on a fourth-and-7 play in Packers territory, halting yet another Lions drive.
Rashan Gary’s day was capped off by being awarded a game ball in the locker room following the game.
