Tag: Receivers

Packers without top 4 wide receivers at Thursday’s practice

Packers WR Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, Sammy Watkins and Christian Watson all missed practice on Thursday.

The Green Bay Packers were without the team’s top four receivers at Thursday’s practice, the second of three practices this week before Matt LaFleur’s team goes to Tampa Bay to play the Buccaneers.

According to Rob Demovsky of ESPN, Allen Lazard (ankle), Randall Cobb (illness), Sammy Watkins (hamstring) and Christian Watson (hamstring) all missed Thursday’s practice and could be in jeopardy of not playing on Sunday.

Lazard played through his ankle injury in Week 2. Cobb missed Wednesday’s practice, while Watkins and Watson were newcomers to the injury report with hamstring injuries. The concerning part here: Watkins and Watson both practiced in a limited capacity on Wednesday, possibly suggesting the injuries occurred on Wednesday.

The three healthy receivers on the 53-man roster are rookies Romeo Doubs and Samori Toure and Amari Rodgers. Toure and Rodgers have combined to play one offensive snap in 2022. The Packers also have Juwann Winfree and Travis Fulgham (who was re-added on Thursday) on the practice squad.

It’s possible the Packers will need to elevate both Winfree and Fulgham from the practice squad come Sunday.

Veteran tight end Marcedes Lewis (groin) also missed Thursday’s practice.

Receiving weapons could be a focal point for both teams in Week 3. The Buccaneers are dealing with injuries to Julio Jones, Chris Godwin and Scotty Miller, and Mike Evans is suspended.

The Aaron Rodgers-Tom Brady showdown could quickly transform into a defensive battle.

There was good news: left tackle David Bakhtiari returned to practice after missing last Friday and Wednesday. He has yet to play in a game this season.

The Packers will release an updated injury report later Thursday and a final injury report on Friday. Inactives will be due 90 minutes before kickoff in Tampa Bay on Sunday.

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Packers rookie WRs play right away, Amari Rodgers doesn’t in season opener

Packers rookies Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs combined to play 75 snaps in Week 1. Amari Rodgers didn’t play a single one on offense.

While the Green Bay Packers didn’t hesitate to play a pair of rookie wide receivers in the 2022 season opener, second-year receiver Amari Rodgers didn’t see the field at all from scrimmage.

The absence of Allen Lazard (inactive, ankle) certainly opened the door for second-round pick Christian Watson and fourth-round pick Romeo Doubs to get on the field in a major way in Week 1.

Rodgers might be the primary returner but he’s buried in terms of the wide receiver depth chart and may not play any kind of meaningful role on offense for the Packers in 2022.

The snap counts for Packers wide receivers in Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings:

1. Sammy Watkins: 41
2. Christian Watson: 40
3. Randall Cobb: 37
4. Romeo Doubs: 35
5. Juwann Winfree: 9
6. Amari Rodgers: 0

Seventh-round pick Samori Toure was inactive. Winfree, who caught one pass, was elevated from the practice squad on Saturday.

Rodgers, last year’s third-round pick, was the only active skill position player who didn’t play a single snap from scrimmage. If he can’t get on the field with one of the starters out, it’s difficult to envision him being a factor this year.

While Watkins and Cobb were both on the field for over 60 percent of the offense’s snaps, the veteran pair combined for five catches on six targets for just 32 yards.

The Packers started Watson and dialed him up a deep shot to open the game, but he dropped the 75-yarder.

In their regular season debuts, Watson and Doubs combined to catch six passes for 71 yards. They were targeted nine times total; Cobb and Watkins saw six combined targets.

Yards per route run among receivers in Week 1, via Pro Football Focus:

1. Juwann Winfree, 1.89
2. Romeo Doubs, 1.48
3. Christian Watson, 1.17
4. Sammy Watkins, 0.64
5. Randall Cobb, 0.52

It will be interesting to track snap counts at receiver when Lazard returns. Does Watson or Doubs see less of the field? Watson’s speed is hard to keep off the grass. He’s a legit deep threat.

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Frustrating practices vs. Saints has Aaron Rodgers criticizing his receivers

Frustrating practices versus the Saints defense has led to Aaron Rodgers criticizing his receivers:

This may be a shocker, but the team that stunned Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers by a margin of 38-3 last year just spent a couple of days frustrating them again in practice. The New Orleans Saints defense is the real deal, and proof of that can be found in the criticism that Rodgers leveled on his receiving corps this week.

“The young guys, especially young receivers, we’ve got to be way more consistent,” Rodgers told ESPN’s Rob Demovsky after Tuesday’s joint practice session with the Saints. “A lot of drops, a lot of bad route decisions, running the wrong route. We’ve got to get better in that area.”

Green Bay moved on from Rodgers’ favorite receiver this offseason, trading Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders, and they didn’t adequately replace him. Plenty of ink has been spilled about his lack of first-round help at receiver over the years, so it’s gratifying to see him, say, chatting up Chris Olave between drills all week. Surrounding an aging quarterback who talks like he’s already got a foot out the door with past-their-prime receivers like Sammy Watkins and Randall Cobb is certainly a choice.

Rodgers spoke “extensively” in an early-morning meeting before Wednesday’s second practice session, sharing input on what rookies like Romeo Doubs and Samori Toure can do better, and it led to a few nice moments like a long touchdown reception and an end-of-day two-point conversion. But Rodgers still struggled on the whole — he completed just two more passes on Wednesday than he did during Tuesday’s practice. NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill charted the back-to-back league MVP with 26 completions against 54 pass attempts in team drills over two days. That’s a completion percentage of just 48.1%, well beneath his career rate of 65.3% and the impressive 68.9% and 70.7% numbers he posted the last two years.

Obviously these practices are not the same thing as a real game. Both teams are going to be scheming up differently and planning for each other as opposed to running basic plays and rotating starters in and out of the lineup. The stakes will be higher. But it’s really hard to not feel encouraged about this. Seeing all of the investments the Saints have made in their secondary pay off — big money deals with Marshon Lattimore, Tyrann Mathieu, and Marcus Maye, and premium draft picks spent on Paulson Adebo, Alontae Taylor, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson — is exciting. New Orleans is counting on its secondary to carry the defense this year, and while it’s early (it’s still August!), these results are exciting. Expectations are high as the regular season approaches.

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Aaron Rodgers discusses Packers wide receivers with NFL Network

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers specifically mentioned six different wide receivers in a sitdown with Stacey Dales and Steve Mariucci of NFL Network.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers sat down with Stacey Dales and Steve Mariucci of NFL Network after Saturday’s practice, and the obvious question came up: What does the four-time NFL MVP think of the current group of wide receivers in Green Bay?

“I like the guys we’ve got,” Rodgers said. “There’s gonna be the same amount of balls and yards and touchdowns to go around, so now it’s just a matter of who is going to be in those situations to make those plays.

Departed wide receivers Davante Adams, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Equanimeous St. Brown combined for 241 targets, 158 catches, 2,081 yards and 14 touchdowns last season.

Rodgers is confident in the current receiver group making the most of the opportunities available in the passing game.

He specifically talked about six of the wide receivers in his answer to Dales and Mariucci:

On Christian Watson: “Not having Christian out here has probably been tough for him, but I expect him back in a couple of weeks.”

On Romeo Doubs: “Romeo Doubs has had a really nice start to camp. Getting a lot of attention based on some of the plays he’s made. Like the approach, very understated kid, very humble kid…It’s surprising how many teams passed on him. Whatever the reason was, we all feel really good about Romeo and the start he’s gotten off to.”

On Allen Lazard: “Obviously, Allen Lazard is going to step into the No. 1 role and I think it’s going to be a very seamless transition for him. As a primary blocker and kind of a niche guy for us, to get an opportunity to get more throws, be the No. 1  in the progression more often.”

On Randall Cobb: “When Randall Cobb stays healthy, I think he’s still an excellent slot receiver.”

On Sammy Watkins: “Sammy Watkins just came back to us yesterday, but he has a lot of experience, he’s on a short deal, he’s got a lot to prove. I think those guys are a little more dangerous because there’s so much more to play for for those guys. Allen Lazard, on a one-year deal as well.”

On Juwann Winfree: “There’s a lot of opportunity behind them. Juwann Winfree has stepped up as he does almost every single training camp, and he’s off to a really nice start.”

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Aaron Rodgers: Packers rookie WRs ‘look the part’ physically

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers on Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs and Samori Toure: “Physically, they definitely look the part. All three of them.”

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers stressed patience with the team’s three rookie receivers but was also complimentary of the way Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs and Samori Toure looked physically early on in the process.

“Physically, they definitely look the part. All three of them,” Rodgers told “The Pat McAfee Show” on Tuesday. “All of them have physical gifts.”

In terms of size, Rodgers said Watson (6-4, 208) and Doubs (6-2, 204) are obviously “bigger,” but he cautioned ruling out Toure, who is 6-1 and 191 pounds: “The seventh-round pick got a lot of stuff to him.”

Watson, one of the top athletes in the draft class, is physically comparable to former Packers receiver Javon Walker. By size and overall athleticism, Watson has few real comparables.

Doubs wasn’t able to do much of the pre-draft testing, but he’s over 200 pounds and can run.

Rodgers was with the trio of receivers for the team’s mandatory minicamp last month and will reconvene with everyone when training camp kicks off in late July.

Rodgers said “deep breaths” will be necessary for all involved, and he pleaded with outsiders to trust the coaching staff, the veterans in the receiver room and the rest of the supporting staff to develop Watson, Doubs and Toure into contributors for the Packers.

Facing Joe Barry’s defense – and the team’s starting three cornerbacks, to be specific – will be a serious challenge for the Packers’ young and evolving passing game this summer.

“It’s going to be great. There’s no better teacher for them than going up against our top three corners,” Rodgers said. “So those guys will get a real quick initiation into the NFL.”

In fact, Rodgers freely admitted it “could be a long training camp for the offense. I like the way our defense is looking and playing.”

“It’ll help us get better,” Rodgers said.

The Packers will eventually need contributions from the rookies.

“Let’s, everybody, take a nice, deep, long breath,” Rodgers said. “Trust the training camp time we have. Trust the coaching staff. Trust the relationships. Trust the guys in the room, like Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb and Sammy Watkins to help these guys out.”

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6 things to watch as Chiefs begin OTAs

Keep an eye on these six things as the #Chiefs begin their Organized Team Activities (OTAs).

The Kansas City Chiefs begin Phase 3 of the offseason workout program with Organized Team Activities (OTAs) starting on Wednesday, May 25. This will be the first of three groups of OTA practice sessions. In total, there will be 10 individual OTA practices during the course of Phase 3.

While the players won’t be putting on pads quite yet, they’ll be getting back to team drills, which is a big step forward in offseason workouts. It’s basically the most extensive football work for the full team since the end of the 2021 NFL season.

Here are six things to keep an eye on with OTAs about to begin for the Chiefs:

Packers rookie wide receivers need to be quick learners

Matt LaFleur on his rookie WRs: “They’re all eager to learn, we’ll just see how much they can handle and how fast they can acclimate themselves to our offense.”   

This week, Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur is getting a first look at his new players at rookie minicamp. That includes three freshly drafted wide receivers that may have to play large roles in this year’s offense.   

“They’re all are their own type of receiver, but I do think they all offer some versatility whether we want to put them inside or outside,” LaFleur said Friday. “They’re all eager to learn, we’ll just see how much they can handle and how fast they can acclimate themselves to our offense.”   

Naturally, most of the attention is on second-rounder Christian Watson, but fourth-rounder Romeo Doubs is an interesting player that could surprise people this season. Meanwhile, seventh-rounder Samori Toure has a good shot at making the team if he can stand out on special teams.   

However, the first hurdle for the rookie receivers will be learning the ins and outs of LaFleur’s offense. After that, it’s anyone’s ball game.   

The Packers do not have an established number one receiver and may not even know who their number two is, for that matter. They have three veteran guys in Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, and Sammy Watkins on their depth chart, but all three fall under the WR3 tier. It will be crucial for them to help get the younger guys up to speed.  

“I’m excited to learn and grow,” said Watson. “There’s a lot of guys who have been doing it for a long time and have a lot of knowledge to pass down. And obviously, with Aaron (Rodgers) at the helm, there is a lot to learn from everybody in the offense, so I’m really just excited to learn and grow and see how much of a step I can take at this next level learning from those guys.”  

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Watson has the best chance to distinguish himself from the group. Green Bay traded away two second-round picks to take Watson at No. 34 and make him their highest drafted player at wide receiver since Javon Walker was selected 20th overall in 2002.   

Of course, learning the playbook and building chemistry with the starting quarterback won’t happen overnight.   

“I’m just taking it one day at a time,” Watson said. “I’m trying to go and learn as much as I can as soon as possible, and I know the other guys are doing the same thing.”  

The Packers have a whole summer and training camp to gauge who will be capable of doing what next season. Still, it’s no secret that at least one of their young receivers will need to step up so the offense can play to its highest potential. The expectations in Green Bay haven’t changed despite a disjointed receiver room.    

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Aaron Rodgers had no issue with Packers passing on WRs in first round

Mad about the Packers not getting a WR in the first round? Aaron Rodgers isn’t.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers had no issues with the team bypassing the wide receiver position and taking two defensive players during the first round of the 2022 NFL draft.

The four-time MVP joined “The Pat McAfee Show” for the “Draft Spectacular” for his reaction during the first round on Thursday night.

“I’m sure Packer nation will be wondering why we didn’t take a receiver or trade up or whatnot, but at this point, you just gotta have some faith in the organization,” Rodgers said.

Rodgers said he’ll “put in the time to make it work” with whomever the Packers bring in at receiver. He even mentioned the high bust rate for receivers in the first round and the Packers’ high hit rate for receivers on Day 2.

“We’ve had a lot of success with second- and third-round receivers in Green Bay. Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, James Jones in the third round. Davante Adams in the second round. Those guys turned out pretty good,” Rodgers said.

Rodgers pointed to Jameson Williams as the most NFL-ready receiver in the draft. The Detroit Lions traded up to No. 12 to get him.

The Packers stayed put after all the receivers came off the board and picked defensive players.

Rodgers said Quay Walker, the 22nd overall pick, looks like a great fit at linebacker alongside All-Pro De’Vondre Campbell.

“He fits the bill, he’s 6-3, 230. Pair him with Dre in the middle, I think that’s pretty good for our defense,” Rodgers said.

Six picks later, the Packers got defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt.

Rodgers said he thought the Packers had six first-round grades on receivers, and all six were gone by the time the team came on the clock on No. 22. He also didn’t think there was a sure-fire future Pro Bowler in the group like Justin Jefferson, the 22nd overall pick in the 2020 draft.

Instead of forcing a receiver pick, general manager Brian Gutekunst “shored up” two spots along the defensive front.

“Obviously, our defense is going to be really good, and defense wins championships, as David Bakhtiari tweeted,” Rodgers said.

The Packers have two second-round picks and one third-round pick during Day 2 of the draft.

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Patrick Mahomes shares his first impression of Chiefs’ new receivers

#Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes shared his thoughts on his new crop of wide receivers after throwing with them for the past few weeks.

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While the offseason workout program for the Kansas City Chiefs just kicked off on Monday, QB Patrick Mahomes has already begun working with his newest teammates.

All of the Chiefs’ newly-signed receivers, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Corey Coleman joined Mahomes in Texas for some throwing sessions over the past few weeks. They’re getting a jumpstart on building up their chemistry ahead of OTAs, mandatory minicamp and training camp.

Asked about his early impression after throwing to his new teammates, Mahomes had a unique takeaway from the experience.

“I think the biggest thing you see, actually from throwing to all these guys really, we have a lot of size in that receiving room that we haven’t necessarily had in the past,” Mahomes told reporters. “We’ve done it different ways with speed and beating guys deep. But to have big, physical receivers that can still run and still catch the ball over the top, there have been balls that I’ve thrown out there during routes on air, I’ve thrown in high thinking it was an overthrow and those guys are catching it easy. Having that size, I think will be different. I’m excited for it and I think it will be something that will be useful for us during the season.”

The biggest difference that Mahomes seems to be noticing is the size of new receivers like Smith-Schuster (6-1) and Valdes-Scantling (6-4). In scenarios where he thought he might have thrown the ball too high, these guys are plucking it out of the air with ease.

Mahomes didn’t just lose Tyreek Hill this offseason, but he also lost veteran guys like Byron Pringle and Demarcus Robinson. They had years of chemistry coming up through the Chiefs’ system together and now he’s having to start from scratch in a sense. The time he’s spending with his new teammates during the offseason is setting the foundation for what will be built throughout the entire offseason program.

“First off, it’s about me building that timing with those guys,” Mahomes said. “I’ve got to make sure I’m on that same timing that I was with Tyreek, (Byron) Pringle and D-Rob (Demarcus Robinson) these last few years. That’s why we’re doing what we are doing now.”

As for what will be different with the offense next season, Mahomes seems to expect a more balanced approach. He doesn’t think that teams will be able to take away the things they want to do quite as easily as they did in 2021 with such a diverse group of weapons to utilize. It’s not just the receivers either, but also the tight ends and running backs.

“Just having the different variety is going to be huge for us,” Mahomes continued. “The defense doesn’t know where the ball is going to. We have so many different guys that can make plays and do stuff out there. I’m just excited to be able to go out there and spread the football around. Be able to run the football, I think our offensive line last year was one of the best, if not the best, offensive lines in the league. Being able to run the football with them as well will make our offense more diverse and more successful in the long run.”

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Auburn Football: The top 10 all-time receivers in program history

Auburn has had some great receivers, here are the 10 best in program history.

Auburn is more known for their running backs but they have also had some impressive receivers.

The first to come to mind is [autotag]Terry Beasley[/autotag] who was part of an unstoppable connection with [autotag]Pat Sullivan[/autotag]. Beasley’s records will be tough for anyone to break but [autotag]Tyrone Goodson [/autotag]and [autotag]Karsten Bailey[/autotag] came close back in the 1990’s.

[autotag]Seth Williams[/autotag] has been Auburn’s best recent receiver before he left for the NFL. Other notable receivers this millennium include [autotag]Emory Blake[/autotag], [autotag]Darvin Adams[/autotag], and [autotag]Courtney Taylor[/autotag].

While none of Auburn’s current receivers are likely to wind up on this list, the Tigers have some talented but unproven targets who are looking to breakout during the 2022 season. Here is a look at the 10 leading receivers in Auburn history.