The Green Bay Packers are looking for more consistency out of talented wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks following a two-drop, two-touchdown performance against the Minnesota Vikings last week.
Consistency is often the difference between good and great.
Wicks couldn’t hang on to or complete at least four targets thrown his way in the 31-29 loss at Lambeau Field, but he also caught a pair of touchdown passes in the fourth quarter — highlighting both his incredible ability to get open and the obvious need for down-to-down improvement.
“I’m excited about him and what he can become, because we all see the talent,” coach Matt LaFleur said Wednesday. “He is tough to guard on the line of scrimmage. I know what he’s capable of doing, we just have to get it out on a consistent basis.”
Wicks has caught only eight of 22 targets this season, including five of 13 on Sunday. He caught almost 70 percent of his targets as a rookie. Pro Football Focus has charted Wicks with three drops and an 0-for-5 start on contested catches.
LaFleur said the Packers are looking for more consistency “across the board” on offense. It comes down to how players practice and prepare, and he’s confident Wicks — who has seven touchdown catches in 19 career games — will “embrace” the challenge.
A chance to rebound arrives Sunday in Los Angeles. Wicks will likely be a starter and near full-time player with Christian Watson on the mend from an ankle injury. Wicks said it’s a “next man up” situation.
LaFleur said catching the football is typically more mental than physical.
“We’ve seen him catch the ball and make some great catches,” LaFleur said.
Getting open hasn’t been an issue. In fact, PFF charted Wicks as the most consistent receiver in football at gaining separation to start 2024. Now he has to work on the finish.
On Sunday, Wicks had a third-down target go off his hands in the red zone, two sliding catch attempts ruled incomplete and a fourth-down heave from Jordan Love dropped nearly the goal line. All four could be described as difficult catches, but NFL receivers have to make tough catches.
LaFleur isn’t worried about Wicks’ hands. He even mentioned a difficult catch Wicks made on a bubble screen against the Vikings that forced the young receiver to adjust and then get up the field. What could have been an incomplete pass or even a loss turned into a 13-yard gain.
“We’ve got complete confidence (in him),” LaFleur said.
Wicks said he’s been taking his eyes off the ball too early on some of his drops.
“Just like everybody else, I’ve had some drops, I’ve had some good catches. Try to critique myself on the bad plays, and seeing what was the reason for them. The drops are just taking my eyes off the ball before I finish the catch.”
Drops can be a discouraging even for a position who is asked to catch the football. But no one — from the coach to the quarterback to the player — is even slightly worried about Wicks, a talented young receiver who can get open consistently and now must find the overall consistency that differentiates a good player from a great one.