Tag: Josiah Deguara

Josiah Deguara’s first NFL TD comes on incredible throw from Aaron Rodgers

The Packers closed the gap to 16-10 in Minneapolis on a terrific touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers to Josiah Deguara.

Josiah Deguara’s first NFL touchdown came on an incredible throw and play by Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Deguara, a third-round pick of the Packers in 2020, made a running catch in the end zone on a perfectly thrown pass from Rodgers, who was rolling to his left to escape pressure and extend the play.

The 25-yard touchdown brought the Packers to within six points of the Vikings in the first half on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Deguara, who missed most of his rookie season after tearing his ACL, got open against the coverage of linebacker Eric Kendricks. He has two catches for 37 yards so far on Sunday.

After struggling for much of the first, Rodgers has now completed 13 of 22 passes for 188 yards and one touchdown.

Deguara has become an increasingly important player for the Packers after tight end Robert Tonyan tore his ACL in Arizona.

The Packers trail 16-10 entering the half.

Here’s another look at the touchdown from ESPN’s Rob Demovsky:

Opportunities await eager Packers TE Josiah Deguara

The Packers’ third-round pick in 2020 suddenly became an important player for Matt LaFleur after the team lost Robert Tonyan to a knee injury.

“We’re going to do it for Bobby.”

Green Bay Packers Josiah Deguara was saddened when he heard Robert Tonyan suffered a torn ACL in a Week 8 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Deguara went through the same emotions when he tore his ACL during the early part of the 2020 season, an injury that subsequently ended his rookie year after just two appearances.

“My heart hurts for Bobby, said Deguara on Monday. “Obviously, I went through something similar last year, so when he heard the news and was going through those emotions, I offered my support for him. Anything he needs, I’m here for him.”

Deguara is well aware of the journey Tonyan faces. When Deguara injured his ACL last year against the Atlanta Falcons, it put a damper on what appeared to be a strong start to his first NFL season.

Early on, it was clear that Deguara was a great fit for Matt LaFleur’s scheme, which benefits from having a movable H-back, hybrid-style tight end. In a small sample size, Deguara has shown to be a trusted run blocker. He is also comfortable with catching the ball out of the backfield and lining up in the slot.

While Deguara was on the sideline last year, Tonyan went on to have a breakout season as he posted career-highs in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns. Injuries are an ugly side of football, but they can also create opportunities for other players.

“You have to take advantage when stuff like this happens,” said Deguara.

It didn’t take long for Deguara to make his presence felt when Tonyan exited the field during the third quarter. On the very next play, the Packers set up a tight end screen to Deguara for an 8-yard gain. The next time Green Bay’s offense took the field, Deguara made another grab on third down to bring his yardage total up to 20. Entering Week 8, he had just two receptions for eight yards.

Deguara may not possess the same receiving prowess as Tonyan, but there is a reason the team made him a third-round draft pick back in 2020. He has already proven to be a versatile chess piece, who can likely up basically anywhere on the field. Deguara said he feels more comfortable in Year 2 of LaFleur’s offense and is looking forward to more opportunities with Tonyan now out of the lineup.

“I’m just ready to go out and show what I can do,” he said.

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Packers lose TE Josiah Deguara to concussion vs. Saints

Packers TE Josiah Deguara was ruled out of Week 1 after suffering a concussion in the second half against the Saints.

The Green Bay Packers won’t have second-year tight end Josiah Deguara for the rest of Sunday’s showdown with the New Orleans Saints.

Deguara, a third-round pick in 2020, was ruled out of the contest after suffering a concussion early in the second half.

The injury occurred when Deguara attempted to complete a cut block on a run play in the third quarter. It appeared he might have taken a knee to the helmet. He was down in the field for several minutes before walking off.

The Packers will likely use Dominique Dafney in the H-back role with Deguara out.

Deguara missed all but two games as a rookie after suffering a season-ending ACL injury in October last year. He will have to go through the league’s concussion protocol before returning to the field.

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Packers TE Josiah Deguara ‘looks fantastic’ in return to practice

Packers coach Matt LaFleur on Josiah Deguara, who returned to practice recently: “He’s such a savvy, smart football player. There are so many things he does that are tough to coach.”

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Green Bay Packers tight end Josiah Deguara has hit the ground running in his return from a torn ACL.

Coach Matt LaFleur said his second-year tight end – who is now a few practices in after starting training camp on the PUP list – looks like the same versatile and intelligent player.

“Deguara looks fantastic,” LaFleur said Thursday. “Looks like he picked up right where he left off last season. It’s really good to see him out there.”

Deguara, who tore his ACL in Week 5 of last year, isn’t sure if he’ll be cleared to play Saturday in the preseason opener against the Houston Texans, but there should be no issues in terms of participating to start the season.

The Packers activated Deguara from the PUP list on Aug. 4. He sat out the team’s Family Night practice but is finally getting back into practicing during team periods.

He said “getting back into the flow” of just playing the game and “hitting somebody” were early obstacles during his return, but now he’s ready to go.

Don’t be surprised if Deguara, a natural H-back candidate, plays a meaningful role for the Packers in 2021. The team thinks he can be an asset inline at tight end, in the slot and in the backfield, providing positional versatility and pre-snap deception.

“He’s such a savvy, smart football player. There are so many things he does that are tough to coach,” LaFleur said.

LaFleur mentioned a recent run play where Deguara was lined up in the backfield and he made an adjustment after the snap to get through the clutter and wall off the outside linebacker, completing his assignment despite an unexpected obstacle.

The Packers made Deguara a third-round pick in the 2020 draft. He played 24 snaps on offense during his NFL debut in Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings, highlighting how important he could be for LaFleur and the Packers this season.

Deguara caught one pass as a rookie. He left the University of Cincinnati as the school’s all-time leader in receptions by a tight end.

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Packers TE Josiah Deguara activated from PUP list

The Packers are getting back versatile TE/FB Josiah Deguara.

Green Bay Packers tight end Josiah Deguara passed his physical and was activated from the physically unable to perform list on Wednesday, according to the league’s transaction wire.

Deguara, a third-round pick of the Packers in 2020, tore his ACL in Week 5 of last season, missed the rest of his rookie year and started training camp on the PUP list.

Thursday’s practice should be the first action for Deguara since October of 2020. He missed roughly a week of practice while recovering.

Deguara’s return should provide the Packers with a versatile piece on offense. The team believes he can play in line, in the slot and in the backfield, making him the ideal H-back option in Matt LaFleur’s offense.

As a rookie, Deguara caught one pass for 12 yards while playing 31 total offensive snaps over two games.

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Packers place TE Josiah Deguara on PUP list to start training camp

Packers second-year tight end Josiah Deguara will begin training camp on the physically unable to perform list.

The Green Bay Packers will be without second-year tight end Josiah Deguara to start training camp.

The team placed Deguara on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list on Friday, according to the league’s transaction report.

Deguara, a third-round pick of the Packers in 2020, tore his ACL in Week 5 and missed the rest of his rookie season. He played 31 offensive snaps over two games, catching one pass for 12 yards.

During the offseason workout program practices open to reporters, Deguara worked off to the side in the rehab group.

The Packers can take Deguara off of the PUP list at any time. Players that start training camp on the PUP list and remain there throughout the preseason can start the regular season on the PUP list, which would mean missing the first six weeks of the season.

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Packers rookie review: TE Josiah Deguara

Reviewing the rookie season of Packers TE Josiah Deguara, a third-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft.

The Green Bay Packers made nine picks during the 2020 NFL draft and signed several others during college free agency, adding an influx of first-year talent to the roster. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be going through and reviewing the 2020 season for all of the Packers’ rookies.

Next up: tight end Josiah Deguara, the 94th overall pick and the Packers’ third-round draft pick in 2020:

Season stats

Appearing in just two games, Deguara caught one pass on two targets for 12 yards. The lone catch came in Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings. The Packers placed him on injured reserve on Oct. 13.

Snap counts

Deguara played 31 total snaps on offense and eight more on special teams. The majority of his snaps (17) came from a backfield alignment, per Pro Football Focus. He started in Week 1 and was on the field for 24 offensive snaps, or 31 percent of the offense’s total. He missed three games with an ankle injury before returning in Week 5. He played seven more snaps but suffered a significant knee injury while blocking on the punt team against the Atlanta Falcons, ending his season. Of his 31 offensive snaps, 14 were as a receiver, 14 more were as a run blocker and three were as a pass-blocker.

PFF grade

56.6. Deguara received average to below average grades as a receiver and blocker over his two games as a rookie. However, he was the Packers’ 10th highest-graded offensive player during Week 1 against the Vikings.

Best game

Week 1 vs. the Vikings. Deguara caught his only pass of the season, gaining 11 yards after the catch on a 12-yard gain and converting a first down. He also had one of the team’s best blocks of the season when he led in front of an end-around and took out both the cornerback and safety with an effective cut block, allowing Allen Lazard to race around the corner for a 15-yard gain. Several times, the Packers tried to spring him open on wheel route concepts, but Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks was up to the task. On one completion to Davante Adams, Deguara handled the blitzing linebacker.

Season recap, future outlook

A pair of injuries robbed Deguara of an opportunity to play an important role as the offense’s top H-back option. In Week 1, the rookie lined up all over the formation, including inline, in the backfield and in the slot, showcasing how versatile the Packers think he can be within Matt LaFleur’s scheme. He could be a valuable player as an athletic tight end who can run, block on the move and catch the football in the short to intermediate areas. LaFleur loves using the tight end position to create advantages based on the defensive look, and Deguara looks like an ideal player to handle the role. He is strong but probably lacks the length and overall power to be a full-time inline player, making him more of the “F” tight end. Robert Tonyan is a restricted free agent and will likely be back, but Marcedes Lewis is unrestricted and facing an uncertain future, so Degaura’s role could evolve entering Year 2, assuming he’s healthy and ready to go by the summer. The Packers will likely plan for Deguara to be a key part of the offense in 2021.

Season grade

The flashes from Deguara were encouraging. He played 24 snaps as a rookie starter in Week 1 and looked comfortable handling a variety of roles within a complicated scheme. Even without a true offseason, LaFleur and the Packers clearly trust him as the move tight end, an important role in the offense. Two unfortunate injuries make grading his season an impossible task. Grade: Incomplete.

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Packers place rookie Josiah Deguara on IR, make pair of practice squad moves

The Packers made three moves to the roster and practice squad on Tuesday.

The Green Bay Packers announced three moves to the roster and practice squad on Tuesday.

The team placed rookie tight end Josiah Deguara on injured reserve, placed rookie center Jake Hanson on injured reserve-practice squad and signed receiver Kalija Lipscomb to the practice squad.

Deguara, the Packers’ third-round pick, tore his ACL against the Atlanta Falcons and will miss the rest of the season.

The Packers now have three open roster spots, although two could be filled by linebacker Kamal Martin and receiver Equanimeous St. Brown, who both began practicing on Monday after going on injured reserve last month.

Hanson, who has spent the entire season on the practice squad, is dealing with an unspecified injury.

The Packers also filled one of their practice squad spots by adding Lipscomb, who originally signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted rookie in April. He spent the first three weeks on Kansas City’s practice squad. The former Vanderbilt star caught 198 passes for 2,356 yards and 22 touchdowns at the SEC school. He will wear No. 18 with the Packers.

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Packers rookie TE Josiah Deguara out for season with torn ACL

Packers rookie Josiah Deguara tore his ACL against the Falcons and will miss the rest of the 2020 season.

The Green Bay Packers will be without rookie tight end Josiah Deguara for the remainder of the 2020 season.

Coach Matt LaFleur revealed that Deguara suffered a “pretty bad” injury during the Packers’ win over the Atlanta Falcons on Monday night, and ESPN’s Rob Demovsky reports the injury is a season-ending torn ACL.

LaFleur said the Packers still think Deguara, who played in two of the Packers’ first four games, still has a “bright future” in Green Bay.

A third-round pick of the Packers, Deguara played in 24 snaps during the season opener against the Minnesota Vikings, then missed two games with an ankle injury before going down with the knee injury on Monday night on his seventh snap against the Falcons.

Deguara caught one of his two targets for 12 yards. The Packers used him in an H-back role to start his rookie season.

He’ll be expected to go on injured reserve.

The Packers will move forward with a combination of Robert Tonyan, Marcedes Lewis, Jace Sternberger and John Lovett at tight end.

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Packers coach Matt LaFleur touts Josiah Deguara’s versatility again

The Packers certainly think they have a versatile and valuable player in rookie Josiah Deguara.

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The same word keeps coming up over and over again when Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur is asked about rookie Josiah Deguara.

Versatility.

Once again on Thursday, LaFleur touted Deguara’s ability to line up just about anywhere in the formation and help the Packers as a blocker or receiver.

“I just think the versatility he showed as a player,” LaFleur said when asked about why he thought Deguara would be a good fit as an H-back or tight end. “You could definitely see his ability to run routes. We just thought he’d be a good movable piece whether we have him in the backfield or on the line of scrimmage or you could even put him in some positions where he’s pretty much a wide receiver. We just like the versatility he brings.”

The Packers surprised many by taking Deguara with the 94th overall pick in the third round of the 2020 draft.

Clearly, LaFleur believes he has a player who can line up at several different spots and help expand the team’s ability to be deceptive before the snap. He often talks about the “illusion of complexity,” or the idea that an otherwise simple offensive concept can look complex by disguising intentions during the pre-snap phase with versatile players who can do multiple things in the run and pass game.

LaFleur said something similar about Deguara right after the draft.

“I love Josiah,” LaFleur said in April. “He is extremely versatile. The thing he brings to our offense is, we can be in the same personnel grouping and we can line him up on the line of scrimmage or in a wing alignment or in the backfield. I think that adds stress on the defense. When you watch Josiah, you see such a gritty, tough player.”

At Cincinnati, Deguara caught 92 career passes, the most in school history as a tight end. He also featured heavily in the team’s many blocking schemes, both as an H-back and as a traditional inline tight end.

The trick now for the Packers will be getting Deguara up speed in time to contribute in a versatile role as a rookie. Playing tight end as a first-year player in the NFL is a difficult task, and the difficulty will be multiplied if he needs to learn to play several positions. But his ability to line up in the backfield, in the slot or just off the ball will give LaFleur and the Packers options for how to best use him as he learns the offense and gets comfortable as a professional player. Just last year, third-round pick Jace Sternberger played an H-back-like role in a few games after he returned from injured reserve.

LaFleur said earlier this month that Deguara is a “pretty smart guy” who is picking up everything well during the walkthrough periods.

The real stuff starts Saturday when the Packers officially start practice. Deguara will get his first chance to show off the trait that drew LaFleur and the Packers to him during the draft process.

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