The Green Bay Packers are inching closer and closer to setting a new NFL record for punt returning futility.
Through 12 games, the Packers have -8 punt return yards. The NFL record in a single season is 27 yards, set by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1965.
That means the Packers need 36 punt return yards, or nine a game over the final four games, to avoid tying or setting the NFL record.
Additionally, the NFL record for the lowest punt return average in a season is 1.3, also set by the 1965 Cardinals. The Packers are averaging -0.9 yards per punt return in 2019.
Even quarterback Aaron Rodgers is aware of how unproductive the Packers have been returning punts this season.
“Yeah, I did see a stat about our return yardage being low, historically,” Rodgers said Wednesday. “We just have to do a little bit better in our own return game.”
Entering Week 14, the Packers trail the Washington Redskins – Sunday’s opponent – by 98 yards for the 31st spot in the NFL in punt return yards.
Trevor Davis, Darrius Shepherd and Tremon Smith have returned nine total punts. Of the nine, only two returns have netted positive yards. Shepherd, who was released and signed back to the practice squad in October, returned two punts for -9 yards.
Smith delivered the team’s longest punt return on Sunday against the New York Giants. It traveled three yards. Smith also fumbled at the end of the return, and the Packers released him on Monday.
Next up? Tyler Ervin, who was claimed off of waivers from the Jacksonville Jaguars on Tuesday. He’ll assume primary punt and kick return duties from Smith.
The Packers face the Redskins, Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions to end the season. Washington and Chicago are both among the top-6 in the NFL in punts per game, so there should be opportunities to get the 36 yards and avoid the record over the season’s last month.