Tag: Emanuel Wilson

Rumor: Packers ‘like’ RB Emanuel Wilson, who may have chance to earn RB2 role

A rumor from Matthew Berry coming out of the NFL Combine is that Emanuel Wilson may have a real shot of earning the Packers’ RB2 role this summer.

With the second running back role behind Aaron Jones vacant at the moment, Emanuel Wilson could get a real shot at earning those snaps.

In a recent article from Matthew Berry of NBC Sports, he went through 25 things he heard – or rumors – from the NFL Scouting Combine.

At No. 16 on Berry’s list was the Packers’ running back situation, in which he wrote that AJ Dillon was probably not returning, Jones is going to be back, and that the Packers like Wilson, which could result in Wilson having the opportunity to earn those secondary running back snaps.

Wilson, a 2023 undrafted rookie out of D-II Fort Valley State, came out of nowhere last summer, making the 53-man roster.

As the third running back on the roster, who also missed time with a shoulder injury, Wilson’s role was small last season, which was also to be expected as he still needed time to continue developing and adjusting to the NFL.

Wilson played 33 offensive snaps, according to PFF, and carried the ball 26 times, averaging 4.7 yards per carry, which included two runs of more than 10 yards.

What the Packers need in that second running back role is more juice behind Jones. Although Dillon was reliable, he lacked playmaking with the ball in his hands and the ability to create for himself, averaging just 3.4 yards per rush in 2023.

Although it was a small sample size, between the preseason and Wilson’s regular-season opportunities, he showcased his burst and some elusiveness.

“I’d say mentally, honestly,” said Wilson of where he saw the most growth in his first season. “Just sitting back, asking the guys questions about pass protection and really the running the scheme to. Having my mental reps is the most important thing for me.”

Having that ability in the backfield to pick up chunk plays changes how the defense defends an offense. It forces more defenders near the line of scrimmage, thus opening up opportunities in the passing game.

This was an element that was missing when Jones wasn’t on the field last season. With the Packers, once again, going to be mindful of Jones’ snap count in 2024, there will be a lot of plays where he isn’t on the field.

Along with what Wilson brings as a ball carrier, both Brian Gutekunst and Matt LaFleur have mentioned on several occasions the importance of the second and third running backs being able to hold their own in pass protection and has pass catchers.

Wilson was able to catch five of the six passes thrown his way last season for 34 yards, but this aspect, along with pass-blocking, were big factors in the learning curve that he was navigating as a rookie.

“I just think it’s, there’s a learning curve for every young player in this league,” said LaFleur in October prior to the Denver game, “and you just kind of have to prove it through practice. He’s a talented guy, no question about it. But it’s just that trust that he can go out there no matter what the defense gives us that he’s going to be able to go out there and execute.

“Because it’s not just running the football. It’s protections, it’s all that. I think he’s progressing nicely. We’ll give him more opportunities throughout practice in order for him to be able to go out there and do it in a game.”

Deservedly so, Jordan Love and the passing game garnered much of the attention during the Packers’ second half of the season, but an improved run game was a key element in unlocking the overall potential of the offense.

Along with Wilson getting a chance to earn playing time behind Jones, Berry added that the Packers may also be in the mix for adding a running back in the early portion of Day 3 of the NFL Draft.

Broncos signed one player after last year’s HBCU Legacy Bowl

After playing in last year’s HBCU Legacy Bowl, RB Emanuel Wilson signed with the Broncos as a college free agent.

The 2024 HBCU Legacy Bowl will be played at Yulman Stadium in New Orleans this afternoon (how to watch). Last year, the Denver Broncos scouted Fort Valley State running back Emanuel Wilson at the college all-star game.

Wilson only got three carries in the 2023 HBCU Legacy Bowl, but he must have stood out at practice and on film because the Broncos promptly signed him as a college free agent following the 2023 NFL draft.

Denver also signed fellow running back Jaleel McLaughlin, who ended up winning the team’s third-string running back job. The Broncos cut Wilson last May to make room for XFL signings, but his NFL career did not end there.

Wilson went on to sign with the Green Bay Packers and he ended up making their 53-man roster. He played in five games a rookie before being placed on injured reserve. After returning from IR, Wilson rushed 12 times for 36 yards and caught one pass for 11 yards during Green Bay’s two-game playoff run.

Wilson wasn’t able to beat out McLaughlin in Denver, but he’s a talented running back worthy of an active roster spot in the NFL. That’s the kind of talent the Broncos will be looking for at the HBCU Legacy Bowl today.

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Don’t expect RB Emanuel Wilson’s role to increase anytime soon

Given Aaron Jones’ return and Matt LaFleur’s recent comments, rookie RB Emanuel Wilson is unlikely to see a bigger role moving forward.

Green Bay Packers running back Emanuel Wilson was a standout during the 2023 preseason after leading the team with 38 carries for 223 yards (5.9 YPC) and two touchdowns. Green Bay didn’t want to risk cutting the undrafted rookie out of Fort Valley State and have him sign with another team, so they kept him on the active roster. However, Wilson has yet to carve out much of a role during the regular season, and based on Matt LaFleur’s latest comments, things are unlikely to change anytime soon.

“I just think there’s a learning curve for every young player in this league, and you just got prove it through practice,” LaFleur said Wednesday. “He’s a talented guy, no question about it. But it’s just that trust that he can go out there no matter what the defense gives us that he’s going to be able to go out there and execute.

“Because it’s not just running the football, it’s protections, it’s all that. I think he’s progressing nicely, and we’ll give him more opportunities throughout practice in order for him to go out there and do it in a game.”

Wilson proved he could be an effective runner in the preseason, but in three appearances this season, he has totaled just five carries for 11 yards. The Packers have also been without Aaron Jones for missed three games due to a hamstring injury, but Wilson played only 14 snaps on offense in his absence.

While Jones was sidelined, the team utilized all three of Patrick Taylor’s practice squad elevations in lieu of giving Wilson more opportunities. The reasoning can be found in LaFleur’s remarks.

For one, Taylor has a better grip on the offense, having spent two years in the LaFleur’s system. He also holds up well in pass protection, which Green Bay frequently asks of their running backs. Taylor knows where to be and is not afraid to take on a blitzing linebacker. The team clearly doesn’t have the same trust in Wilson.

Taylor also has special teams value, something every RB3 should possess, except Wilson has yet to play a single special team snap all season. In four games, Taylor appeared on special teams 31 times.

However, Taylor is no longer an option for the Packers now that he has no more practice squad elevations and has since signed with the New England Patriots.

This would appear to be a good sign for Wilson, but Green Bay signed veteran running back James Robinson to their practice squad on Tuesday. Robinson rushed for over 1,000 yards as a rookie with the Jacksonville Jaguars and could be called up like Taylor was when Jones was injured.

Hopefully, that won’t be necessary, as Jones is feeling much better coming out of the bye week and appears to be trending in the right direction for Sunday’s matchup against the Denver Broncos.

It obviously doesn’t bode well for Wilson, who has yet to give the team any reason to play him over backup AJ Dillon. His best bet is to continue to improve in practice and contribute on special teams if he hopes to get on the field more in 2023.

Six points with David Dorey

Friday’s quick look at six fantasy items to know

Week 1 is over, and now we have to decide about all those big and small performances, the unexpected changes, and more than a few disappearing acts. Was it real? No arguing that Week 1 was a slop-fest for most teams that just now are playing “for keeps” and not just to decide which 53 guys get a locker for the season.

We’ve already seen J.K. Dobbins’s much-hyped season turned into yet another disappointing trip to injured reserve. And the Aaron Rodgers era with the Jets only lasted three plays. There were a few surprises in various backfields, and running back is the position that always delivers several in-season surprise fantasy stars. Most often, it comes from injuries shaking up the depth chart.

Here are six players and situations that I’m watching this weekend on the hunt for fantasy opportunity.

  1.  RB Melvin Gordon (BAL) – The first name mentioned here last week was J.K. Dobbins but he didn’t last long. The Ravens also used Gus Edwards (8-32) and Justice Hill (8-9, 2 TD). Hill was scraped off the waiver wire in every league after those two touchdowns, but the player who appears most likely to benefit from the Dobbins injury is Melvin Gordon. HC John Harbaugh said they would not add any backs but promote Gordon up from the practice squad. Gordon is no longer special, but Hill and Edwards have never been. Hill enters his fourth season with the team, and Edwards is in his fifth. Neither have done much in the past. It is a great offensive line in Baltimore and a decent schedule. The committee will persist, but Hill and Edwards have long been just depth players. Gordon could end up with reliable weekly value, though not as a difference-maker. One more name gets thrown into the ring next month – the rookie Keaton Mitchell who is on IR for now.
  2. RB Emanuel Wilson (GB) – Aaron Jones was productive in Week 1 but injured his hamstring and has missed practice. He has not been ruled out, and if he was, the expectation is that AJ Dillon becomes the primary with a significant chunk of carries. But also watch for Wilson if Jones is out. The rookie was a scratch in Week 1 but is the only other back on the active roster. The OC Adam Stenavich said that Wilson was a potential replacement for Jones if needed. He made the team as an undrafted free agent after rushing for 223 yards during the preseason.
  3. RB Kareem Hunt, Leonard Fournette – The Colts lost Evan Hull to injured reserve but may have Zack Moss ready for this week as he returns from a broken arm in the summer. But they’ve also contacted Hunt and Fournette this week and are “monitoring the market.” The Colts’ only other backs are Deon Jackson and Jake Funk, which isn’t optimal for the next 16 games. Jackson ran for 14 yards on 13 carries last week versus the Jaguars. Both Hunt and Fournette will end up somewhere this season, and yet they are already being dumped in fantasy leagues. This all goes away if Jonathan Taylor returns, but there is hardly any certainty that he will. 
  4.  RB Kendre Miller (NO) – The Saints 3.08 pick was inactive in Week 1 due to his hamstring strain. He returned to practice on Thursday and may make his debut this week. Jamaal Williams (18-45) wasn’t very effective rushing against the Titans and suspended Alvin Kamara is still out for three more games. The Saints have an out in Kamara’s contract next year, so any playing time that Miller gets could help him make the case that he should become the starter at least next year.
  5.  RB Roschon Johnson (CHI) – The rookie may be stuck in a committee, but he’s made the most of it. In his first NFL start, his seven targets tied for the highest on the team, and his six catches was the leader. Add in that he ran five times with a touchdown and a 4.0-yard-average, and Johnson already looks better than Khalil Herbert (3.0 yards per carry) and D’Onta Foreman (3.2 yards per carry). The Bears face a tough defensive line in Tampa Bay, but Johnson’s role as a receiver could lift him above the other two backs. No Chicago back had more than four catches in any game last year – Johnson just caught six.
  6.    WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (NE) – The ex-Chief signed a three-year, $25 million contract with the Patriots and then laid an egg in Week 1 with only four catches for 33 yards. Kendrick Bourne (6-64, 2 TD) became a waiver wire darling this week. The Pats offense looked better already with the addition of an actual offensive coordinator, except for Smith-Schuster, who was only on the field for 54% of the offensive snaps. He was on the sideline on the final drive. There is speculation that his knee injury of last year still lingers, even though they let Jakobi Meyers go. Bourne is in his seventh season and third with New England, and he is no sudden star. This week versus the Dolphins should give plenty of reasons to use Smith-Schuster, and if they don’t, there are problems that they haven’t been public with. DeVante Parker may return if only to face his old team, but Smith-Schuster is the one to watch.

And about last night…

Vikings 28, Eagles 34

At halftime, it was 13-7 in favor of the Eagles, and it appeared the standard sloppy play of last week, and too many Thursday night games had shown up again. It became a great game in the second half, with the Eagles leading 27-7 and then the Vikings putting on a show for the final quarter and a half – although too little, too late.

The Vikings offense is very good. Kirk Cousins threw for 364 yards and four touchdowns, and Justin Jefferson showed up in the second half with 11 catches for 159 yards and inches away from a touchdown. Jordan Addison (3-72, TD) scored for the second week, breaking free on a 62-yard touchdown down the middle. T.J. Hockenson (7-66, 2 TD) is getting a lead on all other fantasy tight ends.

Unfortunately, Alexander Mattison flopped for the second week, gaining just 28 yards on eight rushes and catching three passes for 11 yards. He also lost one of the four team fumbles. At some point, maybe soon, the Vikings may be rethinking the whole “let’s just use our second string” approach to the backfield.

Jalen Hurts has not thrown much this year. He totaled just 18-of-23 for 193 yards and one touchdown to DeVonta Smith (4-131, TD), who provided nearly all of the receiving yards, much to the dismay of A.J. Brown owners (4-29). Brown caught a score but was called back on a holding penalty. Hurts ran in two scores to pump up the fantasy points on his 12 rushes for 35 yards. Kenneth Gainwell picked a bad week to be out, since D’Andre Swift (28-175, TD) has to have leapfrogged the career depth running back.

Emanuel Wilson’s growth and upside land him on the Packers 53-man roster

The Packers loved Emanuel Wilson’s growth during the preseason and upside as a running back.

It was Emanuel Wilson’s upside as a ball carrier and growth as a pass blocker and special teams player over the course of training camp and the preseason that landed him on the Green Bay Packers 53-man roster.

“His growth and certainly where his upside is was certainly a part of the decision,” said Brian Gutekunst on Wednesday about Wilson.

As a ball carrier is where Wilson really stood out. He averaged 5.9 yards per rush, which was bolstered by an 80-yard touchdown against Cincinnati. His 11 forced missed tackles were the most among all running backs during the preseason, and he tied for first in rushes of 10 or more yards with five.

“He’s got really good vision,” said Matt LaFleur. “I thought he ran with really good contact balance. He was able to make people miss and showed some speed in the open field.”

While there is a certain prerequisite that each player battling for that third running back role must meet as a ball carrier, both Gutekunst and LaFleur were pretty adamant throughout training camp that special teams, pass-blocking, and pass-catching would determine who won that job behind Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon.

With those requirements playing such a key role in the decision, it felt like both Gutekunst and LaFleur were telling us that Taylor was going to be the third running back without being so direct. Taylor finished second on the team this preseason in starting special teams snaps. He had more targets in the passing game than Wilson – nine to four – and is a more experienced blocker. LaFleur would even mention at one point that blocking and special teams are areas where Wilson has to be more consistent.

Right now, it’s still possible that Taylor is the better player in those aspects at this moment. But Wilson was able to show progress as a blocker and on special teams throughout the summer, giving the Packers confidence that he can continue to improve in those areas.

“He was significantly, probably far away early from the special teams and some of the other nuances of playing running back,” said Gutekunst, “but he really progressed through the last few weeks. He showed some special things in his opportunities.”

Perhaps the Packers were fearful of Wilson getting claimed on waivers if they were to release him and try to sneak him onto the practice squad. He’s a 225-pound back who’s a natural as a ball carrier in a running back market where teams are looking for inexpensive, high-upside players under team control. Wilson checks all those boxes.

Looking ahead to 2024, there are some unknowns within the Packers running back room. AJ Dillon is set to be a free agent as of now, while Aaron Jones could be in his final season as he comes with a cap hit next year north of $17 million. Wilson could be someone that the team leans on quite heavily at that time.

I wouldn’t rule out seeing Taylor at some point this season, especially early on, to help in those other areas with the roster flexibility teams have with the practice squad elevation rules. Wilson absolutely made the most of his opportunities this summer and now has the chance to make an impact right away on special teams and potentially take on a much larger role down the road.

“He’s still got a long way to go,” said LaFleur. “In terms of all that other stuff, adding value on teams and in pass pro. Just making sure that the trust is there that he will be able to pick up all the exotic pressures that you may see throughout the course of a season. But he’s a guy that’s worked hard since day one, and he’s learned from a good group in front of him.”

UDFAs Malik Heath, Brenton Cox Jr. and Emanuel Wilson force their way onto Packers initial roster

There was no denying undrafted rookies Malik Heath, Brenton Cox Jr. and Emanuel Wilson.

There was no denying undrafted rookies Malik Heath, Brenton Cox Jr. and Emanuel Wilson this preseason, and now all three will begin the 2023 season on the roster of the Green Bay Packers.

Together, Heath, Cox and Wilson give the Packers three undrafted rookies on the initial 53-man roster, the most kept by the team since 2018. They also extended the team’s streak of at least one undrafted free agent on the initial roster to a staggering 19 years.

Even during a year in which general manager Brian Gutekunst made 13 draft picks, college free agents got a legitimate shot to make the roster in Green Bay. The trio of Heath, Cox and Wilson made the most of the opportunity.

Heath caught a team-high 12 passes for 146 yards over three preseason games. He finished third in yards per route run (per PFF) among receivers with at least 14 targets this preseason while making four contested catches without a drop. He also blocked like a madman, embracing the “goon” role Matt LaFleur likes at wide receiver and allowing him to beat out seventh-round pick Grant DuBose for a roster spot. Depending on the injury situations for Romeo Doubs (hamstring) and Dontayvion Wicks (hamstring), Heath could be on the field and playing snaps for the Packers come Week 1 in Chicago.

Cox led the Packers in pressures (seven), hurries (six) and batted passes (two). One of his batted passes resulted in an interception. He also had a tackle for loss against the run. His win rate as a pass-rusher was 15.4 percent, the fourth-best among rookie edge rushers during the preseason. Despite having five outside linebackers they liked, Cox forced the Packers to do something rare and keep a sixth. If he stays out of trouble and focused on the job, Cox has the talent to become a pass-rushing asset in time.

Wilson led all NFL players in rushing yards (223) and was tied for first in rushing touchdowns (2). He forced 11 missed tackle attempts, the most among running backs, and his 80-yard run was the longest in the NFL during the preseason. He also caught four passes and displayed some potential as a pass protector. Signed in May, Wilson entered training camp as a roster long shot. He exited as the winner of the No. 3 running back spot, giving him a real chance of factoring into the future of the position past 2023.

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Rookie RB Emanuel Wilson says he made Packers’ 53-man roster

Rookie RB Emanuel Wilson posted on Instagram that he’s made the Packers’ initial 53-man roster.

Rookie running back Emanuel Wilson has made the 53-man roster of the Green Bay Packers, according to a post on his Instagram account.

Wilson, an undrafted rookie out of Fort Valley State, led the NFL in rushing yards during the preseason. He carried 38 times for 223 yards and two touchdowns, including a preseason-long run of 80 yards for a score against the Bengals in the preseason opener.

Per PFF, Wilson also led all running backs in forced missed tackles (11) and runs of 10 or more yards (5) during the preseason.

Wilson might need to get better as a receiver and blocker and find a role on special teams, but his running talent — namely his physicality and contact balance — was too much for the Packers to risk on waivers.

For now, Wilson, Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon will make up the Packers depth chart at running back. It’s unclear as of this writing if Patrick Taylor will make the 53-man roster, but keeping four running backs on the 53-man roster might not work for the Packers.

Wilson will join edge rusher Brenton Cox Jr. and Malik Heath as the undrafted rookies making the Packers’ initial 53-man roster.

The Packers originally signed Wilson, a DII All-American in 2022, on May 22. He spent time with the Denver Broncos before joining the Packers. At Fort Valley State, Wilson rushed for 2,206 yards and 24 touchdowns.

Consistency on special teams key for Emanuel Wilson in Packers RB3 battle

Packers RB Emanuel Wilson proved he can run the ball in the preseason opener. But can he block, catch and play special teams?

Green Bay Packers running back Emanuel Wilson is coming off a very impressive preseason debut, totaling 111 rushing yards and two touchdowns against Cincinnati. However, if he is truly going to compete for that third running back role, he will have to be a consistent contributor on special teams and as a blocker.

“Those are areas that we are going to have to see improvement,” said Matt LaFleur on Sunday. “Not that he’s done a bad job, but you want to see the consistency of that, obviously.”

Both LaFleur and Brian Gutekunst were asked recently about the third running back battle, specifically, what they are looking for in that role. Both gave almost identical answers, mentioning that special teams contributions are going to be a must. This player also must be reliable as a blocker and as a pass catcher. Although, of course, there is a certain prerequisite that this player must meet as a ball carrier, basically everything but that will be the deciding factors.

With Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon handling pretty much all of the offensive workload, if the third running back is going to contribute, that player will have to do so primarily on special teams.

With that in mind, along with Wilson’s impressive performance on the ground against the Bengals, he did not play any special teams snaps. He was on the field for five snaps in the passing game, including two where he was lined up on the boundary and two that were passes off of play-action. In all instances, the play-call was never designed to get him the ball, or at the very least, he was the last read or close to it. Wilson did not have any snaps as a pass blocker, either.

“Whoever the third back is has to have a role on teams,” said LaFleur. “I haven’t been on too many teams where they’re not a key contributor in that facet of the game. That’s usually a big learning curve for a lot of young players, especially when you were the star player at your school, you’re not getting a lot of those reps.”

Patrick Taylor may not have the same flash as a ball carrier or upside on offense that some of the other running backs on the roster possess, but he is sound in blitz pick-up, as a blocker as a whole, and played 121 special teams snaps in 2022 with the fourth-highest PFF grade on the team.

Moving forward, Wilson is going to have the opportunity to show that he can be effective in these key areas as well. His performance in Cincinnati not only earned him that opportunity, but Tyler Goodson left Friday’s game with a shoulder injury and was in a sling during Sunday’s practice. Lew Nichols has been sidelined for over a week now as well, with a shoulder injury of his own. Based on what I saw Sunday, Wilson is now the fourth available running back, behind Aaron Jones, AJ Dillon, and Taylor.

“We have to put him in those situations in practice (special teams and blocking scenarios),” added LaFleur, “and hopefully, he can continue to improve and grow and be a force there.”

Packers rookie RB Emanuel Wilson races 80 yards for TD vs. Bengals

Packers rookie RB Emanuel Wilson scored an 80-yard rushing touchdown in his preseason debut against the Bengals.

Undrafted rookie Emanuel Wilson is having the night of his life on Friday night in Cincinnati. The Packers running back scored twice in the second half of Green Bay’s preseason opener against the Bengals at Paycor Stadium, including an 80-yard score in the fourth quarter.

On the first score, Wilson found a hole off the left side of the offensive line and raced into the end zone from 11 yards out. Later, he bounced outside and sprinted past the Bengals defense for an 80-yard touchdown.

The latter score gave the Packers a 36-19 lead in the fourth quarter. Wilson has six carries for 111 yards and two scores.

Here’s the second Wilson touchdown:

The Packers signed Wilson on May 22. The rookie out of Fort Valley State previously spent time with the Denver Broncos. Standing 5-10 and weighing 226 pounds, Wilson runs hard and brings some straight-line speed to the table.

Could Wilson make some noise in the running back roster battle behind Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon? Tyler Goodson left Friday night’s game with an injury, and rookie Lew Nichols is still out with a shoulder injury, so the door is open.

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Packers sign undrafted rookie RB Emanuel Wilson

The Packers signed running back Emanuel Wilson, an undrafted rookie from Fort Valley State.

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The Green Bay Packers signed running back Emanuel Wilson on Monday.

Wilson (5-10, 226) went undrafted out of Fort Valley State and was briefly with the Denver Broncos following the 2023 draft.

In 2022, Wilson was named a Division II All-American after rushing for 1,371 yards, scoring 17 touchdowns and averaging 6.6 yards per carry. He produced seven games of 100 yards or more in 10 appearances. Twice he rushed for 200 or more, including a season-high 262 yards against Tuskegee. Wilson also caught 24 passes for 269 yards and two more scores in 2022.

Overall, Wilson scored 26 career touchdowns at Fort Valley State.

The corresponding roster move was releasing kicker Parker White, leaving only rookie Anders Carlson on the roster at the specialist position. Wilson joins Aaron Jones, A.J. Dillon, Patrick Taylor, Tyler Goodson and Lew Nichols III on the Packers roster at running back.

At his pro day, Wilson hit 34.5″ in the vertical leap, covered 10-0 in the broad jump, finished the 40-yard dash in 4.55 seconds, finished the three-cone in 7.29 seconds and the short shuttle in 4.39 seconds. His Relative Athletic Score is 6.84.