Report: Nelson only has 'small chance' to play in NFC title game

Jordy Nelson will have to make some significant progress to be cleared for the NFC Championship Game in Atlanta.

The Green Bay Packers receiver, who sat out the divisional round with broken ribs suffered the week prior, only has a "small chance" to play against the Falcons, a source told ESPN's Rob Demovsky.

Packers officials will presumably leave Nelson's availability up in the air throughout the week, holding out hope that he can return to practice and eventually be cleared to suit up Sunday.

The high-powered Green Bay offense overcame his absence in a thrilling win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, but the veteran wideout missing a second consecutive game would be a major loss.

Coming up against a Falcons team that finished the regular season ranked first in scoring and second in total yards, the Packers will almost certainly find themselves in another shootout from the opening kick.

Geronimo Allison would continue to see work alongside Randall Cobb and Davante Adams in the event Nelson is forced to miss another game. The undrafted rookie has made the most of his opportunities thus far, including a three-catch, 46-yard performance against Dallas.

Nelson led the team in receptions (97), receiving yards (1,257), and receiving touchdowns (14) throughout the regular season before suffering the injury in a wild-card win over the New York Giants.