The bye week came at an ideal time for Green Bay Packers receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who battled through injury to catch just one pass for four yards over the team’s last three games.
Both coach Matt LaFleur and receivers coach Alvis Whitted recently explained how injuries suffered during the Packers’ win over the Detroit Lions have affected Valdes-Scantling over the last month.
The Packers’ second-year receiver hurt both his knee and ankle in the first half against the Lions on Oct. 14. He eventually returned to that game, and he’s played through the injuries each of the last four games.
LaFleur said Monday the issues have “definitely slowed him down,” while Whitted admitted Valdes-Scantling is still learning how to play through an injury.
“Quite honestly, he’s been battling through some injuries,” Whitted said, via Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. “It’s the first time he’s had to go through some adversity like that as a player. I think it’s good for him to understand that this is the National Football League and you’re going to go through adversity as far as playing through stuff.”
Valdes-Scantling played a season-low 11 snaps during Sunday’s win over the Carolina Panthers. He’s been on the field for roughly 50 percent of offensive snaps the last four games, compared to over 80 percent the first six games.
Although the Packers haven’t listed Valdes-Scantling on the final injury report the last two weeks, a chance to rest up during the bye week could give the young receiver a real chance to get closer to 100 percent for the final stretch run of the 2019 season.
Over 10 games, Valdes-Scantling has 22 catches on 42 targets for 420 yards and two touchdowns. The offense could use more of his deep speed and big-play ability during the final six games.
LaFleur said the Packers will take a closer look at how they’re using Valdes-Scantling during the self-scout portion of the bye week.
“We also have to look critically at ourselves and what we’re asking him to do and making sure we’re putting him in position to get some of those balls,” LaFleur said. “He does have a great talent. He’s a guy that, when he rolls off the ball, he is tough to defend because he runs so well. We have to put him in position where he can use that to his advantage. You can’t coach or teach that speed.”
Two healthy legs and a better plan for maximizing his abilities could help Valdes-Scantling re-write the narrative on his second NFL season over the last month and a half of 2019.
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