Ty Montgomery Illness: Updates on Packers WR’s Status and Return
Published by Joe Pantorno on October 30, 2016
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
Green Bay Packers wide receiver and fill-in running back Ty Montgomery is battling a kidney ailment related to his sickle cell trait. He missed the Packers’ Week 8 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, and his playing status for Week 9 against the Indianapolis Colts has yet to be revealed.
Continue for updates.
Latest on Montgomery’s Practice Status
Thursday, Nov. 3
Tom Silverstein of Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Montgomery was “working extensively” during Thursday’s session.
Montgomery Comments on Illness, Potential Return
Monday, Oct. 31
ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky noted: “Montgomery said the symptoms that kept him out were related to sickle cell trait. He said doctors told him it isn’t career-threatening and he even hopes to play this week against the Colts.”
Montgomery’s agent, Damarius Bilbo, later added more detail to his client’s illness in a statement to Josina Anderson of ESPN, which reads in part:
After that matchup, Ty discovered the presence of blood in his urine. The doctors informed me that this symptom could be connected to his kidney being impacted. While already traveling to Dallas, Texas to visit family, he went to a local hospital to be evaluated. Ty spent 16 hours under observation between late Friday night and Saturday. Although not proven, there could be a link between his physical activity in the contest against the Bears, the impact on his kidney, and his disorder.
Anderson and Ed Werder reported on Oct. 30 that Montgomery has a “kidney-related ailment” and is “doing better,” adding he did not play in Week 8 against the Falcons as a precaution.
Packers Struggling to Keep Playmakers Healthy
It’s a frustrating turn of events for the second-year man, who saw his rookie season cut short by 10 games due to an ankle injury that required surgery.
The versatile receiver showed plenty of promise in his six games in 2015, recording 15 receptions for 136 yards and two touchdowns while averaging 31.1 yards per kick return.
Thanks to his speed and agility, Montgomery found his best success as a receiver in the slot.
However, Montgomery became a sensation at running back for the Packers in Week 7 against the Chicago Bears, filling in for the injured Eddie Lacy and James Starks. He accumulated 60 yards on nine carries while adding 10 receptions for 66 yards, so Packers fans were looking forward to seeing him build upon that momentum.
The Packers will have to turn to Don Jackson in their backfield until Montgomery can return to a full workload.
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