Overcoming the loss of a great player almost always requires a collective effort.
While All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams (COVID-19 reserve list) likely won’t play on Thursday in Arizona, the Green Bay Packers could return speedster Marquez Valdes-Scantling from injured reserve and both Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb are veterans with the experience to step into bigger roles.
Two young players should get a bigger opportunity, too.
Cobb believes Equanimeous St. Brown and Amari Rodgers both have the talent and understanding of the offense to take advantage of the situation.
“It’s an opportunity for those guys to really come into their own,” Cobb said Tuesday. “I remember, and I was telling Amari this, my second year in the league when we had some guys get injured, and I stepped into a role and had more of an opportunity. I tried to use it as an opportunity to make them play me. I think that’s the attitude you have to take into a game where you have more of a chance, to prove why you should be on the field.”
Stuck in a loaded receiver group during the 2012 season, Cobb took advantage of the opportunity afforded by injuries to Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson to establish himself as a go-to player for Aaron Rodgers.
Can St. Brown or Rodgers start down a similar path on Thursday night?
St. Brown began the season on the practice squad but has since been elevated to the 53-man roster. He’s played at least 11 snaps on offense in each of the last four games, and Rodgers hasn’t been shying about targeting him in big spots, including in the red zone in Chicago two weeks ago. Matt LaFleur dialed up a jet sweep for him on Sunday against Washington.
Rodgers, a third-round pick, has only two catches while playing a sporadic role to start his rookie season. His responsibilities are starting to expand, mostly as a jet sweep decoy, but it’s possible the Packers could use him more to create easy completions in the quick passing game on Thursday night. Cobb said Rodgers has shown “flashes” but a bigger opportunity could be what he needs to finally impact a game.
The Packers are 6-0 with Adams since 2019, a fact both Rodgers and Cobb reiterated on Tuesday. Winning without a star player requires others to step up, and coaches to put those players in positions to succeed. Cobb will be part of the equation on Thursday night. So will Lazard, who had a career-high 146 receiving yards in a win without Adams in New Orleans last season.
Just don’t be surprised if St. Brown and Rodgers are also important for the Packers while trying to replace Adams’ production against the Cardinals.
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