Green Bay Packers rookie tight end Jace Sternberger sure looks due for a big play.
As noted by Ben Fennell of The Athletic, during each of the last two games, Sternberger was running open down the field, but quarterback Aaron Rodgers went elsewhere with the ball.
The rookie tight end could be a weapon the Packers want to unleash as they attempt to win the NFC North and secure a first-round bye over the final two weeks.
Against the Washington Redskins, Sternberger blew past his defender off a run fake and was available on a vertical route for what could have been a 50-yard touchdown. Rodgers hit his primary read, tight end Jimmy Graham, who was also left wide open after both linebackers got fooled by the run fake.
Last week, the Packers got Sternberger matched up one-on-one on another vertical route against the linebacker, and he once again ran right past his defender down the field. Aaron Jones, the first read, was covered, so Rodgers tucked the ball and ran for 17 easy yards.
Here’s the All-22 look of that play from Fennell:
Undefeated. 😉 pic.twitter.com/VzqTZ49KDv
— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) December 17, 2019
Sternberger has shown a few things in limited snaps since returning from injured reserve: He’s a willing in-line blocker, and he can really run.
The two work hand-in-hand. Teams are respecting the run when the Packers bring more tight ends on the field, but Sternberger is too fast and too athletic for most linebackers and safeties on vertical routes down the field.
Despite appearing in five games, Sternberger is still looking for his first NFL catch.
It could come soon. In fact, it wouldn’t be surprising if Rodgers and coach Matt LaFleur found a way to get Sternberger running downfield as the primary read during these final two weeks. The rookie tight end has played only seven snaps over the last two weeks, but he looks capable of providing a big impact in a limited role.