Here’s an interesting twist to the Green Bay Packers’ on-going dilemma at returner: The Oakland Raiders released former Packers receiver and returner Trevor Davis on Monday.
The Packers traded Davis, who will be a free agent after the 2019 season, to the Raiders for a sixth-round pick on Sept. 18.
Davis played in two games for the Packers before being dealt to Oakland. With the Raiders, Davis caught seven passes for 83 yards, rushed four times for 73 yards and a touchdown and returned 19 kicks for 411 yards and 13 punts for 111 yards.
If the Packers were interested in returning Davis at no cost, they could put in a waiver claim and hope he’s not claimed before the Packers’ slot. It’s possible Davis, who already knows Matt LaFleur’s offense, would provide the best combination of return ability and offensive potential at this point in the season, although it’s equally possible GM Brian Gutekunst and the Packers were simply done with him when they traded him away in September.
The Packers have struggled returning punts and kicks all season. In fact, the team’s longest punt return is just three yards, and they still have negative total punt return yards (-8) after 12 games. No other team has fewer than 90. The Packers are also 29th in the NFL in kick return average (19.5).
Bringing back Davis could certainly help.
The Packers are looking. Gutekunst swapped returners on his roster Monday, claiming Tyler Ervin off of waivers from the Jacksonville Jaguars and releasing Tremon Smith.
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