Tag: Sammy Watkins

Packers place WR Sammy Watkins, CB Keisean Nixon on non-football injury list

The Packers placed WR Sammy Watkins and CB Keisean Nixon on the active/non-football injury list on Tuesday.

The Green Bay Packers placed wide receiver Sammy Watkins and cornerback Keisean Nixon on the non-football injury list on Tuesday, according to the league’s daily transaction report.

The non-football injury list is used by teams for players who are injured outside of practices or team-related activities. A player can come off the list at any time once cleared.

Both Watkins and Nixon were acquired by the Packers this offseason. Watkins spent last season with the Baltimore Ravens; Nixon with the Las Vegas Raiders. If healthy, both could play important roles for Matt LaFleur’s team in 2022.

Watkins, who has missed 10 games over the last two seasons, knows he must stay healthy to create a career revival in Green Bay.

Nixon could be a key backup at cornerback and a core special teamer for Rich Bisaccia, who he played for in Las Vegas.

Watkins’ placement on the list underscores why the Packers signed receiver Osirus Mitchell on Tuesday.

Watkins and Nixon are joining rookies Rasheed Walker, offensive tackle Caleb Jones and linebacker Caliph Brice on the non-football injury list.

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NFL trainer says former Clemson WR ‘is going to have a big year’

Former Clemson wide receiver Sammy Watkins found a new home in the NFL over the offseason, signing a one-year, $4 million deal with the Green Bay Packers in April. Although Watkins has been plagued by injuries throughout his professional career – …

Former Clemson wide receiver Sammy Watkins found a new home in the NFL over the offseason, signing a one-year, $4 million deal with the Green Bay Packers in April.

Although Watkins has been plagued by injuries throughout his professional career — and got hurt again last season, when he had a career-low 27 catches, 394 yards and one touchdown in his lone season with the Baltimore Ravens — multiple members of the Packers’ organization have hyped Watkins up this offseason.

Wide receivers coach/passing game coordinator Jason Vrable said that he is “fired up” about Watkins, while general manager Brian Gutekunst said he believes the ninth-year NFL veteran has “some juice still left in him.” Packers head coach Matt LaFleur chimed in on Watkins as well, saying he doesn’t think Watkins’ game “has fallen off at all” since they were together with the Los Angeles Rams in 2017 when LaFleur was the Rams’ offensive coordinator and the team traded for Watkins. LaFleur added that he thinks Watkins is “going to be a big part” of the Packers’ offense this season.

Watkins was also recently talked up by Bert Whigham, the trainer of Buffalo Bills wide receiver Gabriel Davis.

Watkins, who has also worked out in Orlando with Davis, is poised to “have a big year” in the opinion of Whigham.

“That guy is going to be good for the Packers,” Whigham said, per Pro Football Focus. “He started working with us like seven weeks ago, and he said he wanted to be ‘college Sammy.’ Sammy is going to have a big year. He told me, ‘I want to be Clemson Sammy Watkins.’ And I was like, ‘OK, let’s do it.’ He’s just up there squatting 405 for eight right now like it’s nothing. He started around 218, and he’s at 225 right now, too. He’s going to go be a No. 1 in Green Bay.”

A three-time, first-team All-American at Clemson, Watkins had 240 receptions for 3,391 yards and 27 touchdowns over 36 games (29 starts) in his career as a Tiger from 2011-13.

–Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images 

Madden 23 ratings for every former Clemson player in the NFL

Madden 23 player rankings are here, which means over 30 former Tigers get to see how EA Sports rates their talent.

Since its first game in 1988, Madden has been one of the most famous and long-lasting video game franchises, allowing fans to play as NFL teams and players virtually.

Over the last few years, Madden overalls have become a topic of debate, as EA Sports rates certain players and teams much higher or lower than fans expected.

Set to release on Aug. 19, Madden 23 will feature over 30 former Clemson players that are now in the NFL, many of which received overall ratings that fans may consider to be inaccurate.

A handful of Tigers have not had their ratings released yet, such as offensive linemen Jackson Carman and Tremayne Anchrum.

Outside of those selected few, here are the Madden 23 ratings for each Tiger in the NFL, in order of overall.

The last 11 Clemson 1,000 receiving yard seasons

Often nicknamed “WRU,” Clemson has had eight 1,000 receiving yard seasons in the last 11 years, including two from the program’s all-time receiving leader.

Fans often nickname Clemson “WRU,” and it’s hard to argue against that sentiment.

From DeAndre Hopkins to Hunter Renfrow to Tee Higgins, the NFL is riddled with former Tigers whose talents translated from the college level to the biggest stage in sports.

As passing has become more and more prevalent in college offenses, receivers at Clemson have benefited more than most.

Add in the fact that Tajh Boyd, Deshaun Watson and Trevor Lawrence have been the Tigers’ predominant throwers the past decade, and it’s no wonder why Clemson has kept pumping out great pass catchers.

Arguably the most productive receiver since Dabo Swinney took over the program, Sammy Watkins is Clemson’s all-time receiving leader with 3,391 yards in three years.

Watkins is one of six receivers since 2011 to surpass the three-digit receiving yard mark in a season, and he did it twice.

A handful of receivers will have a chance to join the group in 2022, but for now, here are the last 11 Clemson 1,000 receiving yard seasons.

Watkins blessed to be with the Packers

Former Clemson receiver Sammy Watkins says he is ‘blessed’ to be playing for the Green Bay Packers and Aaron Rodgers this season. NBC 2 caught up with Watkins at his camp where he talked about the upcoming season which he hopes ends in another …

Former Clemson receiver Sammy Watkins says he is ‘blessed’ to be playing for the Green Bay Packers and Aaron Rodgers this season.  NBC 2 caught up with Watkins at his camp where he talked about the upcoming season which he hopes ends in another chance for a Super Bowl title.

Due to a slew of different injuries, Watkins hasn’t played in more than 14 games in any of his NFL seasons with the Bills (2014-16), Los Angeles Rams (2017), Kansas City Chiefs (2018-20) and Ravens (2021), and he has only one 1,000-yard receiving season, which came with the Bills in 2015 (1,047).

Still, Watkins has had a productive NFL career overall, totaling 348 receptions for 5,059 yards and 34 touchdowns in 99 games (91 starts), and he was a member of the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIV championship team in 2019.

Packers WR Sammy Watkins primed for bigger role in 2022

The Green Bay Packers aren’t the only ones excited about Sammy Watkins’ potential this season. Pro Football Focus recently highlighted Watkins as a receiver primed for a bigger role in 2022. After signing a one-year deal, Watkins has been working …

The Green Bay Packers aren’t the only ones excited about Sammy Watkins’ potential this season. Pro Football Focus recently highlighted Watkins as a receiver primed for a bigger role in 2022. After signing a one-year deal, Watkins has been working out this offseason with Buffalo Bills receiver Gabriel Davis and his trainer Bert Whigham.

Unprompted, Whigham spoke highly of Watkins in a recent interview.

“That guy is going to be good for the Packers. He started working with us like seven weeks ago, and he said he wanted to be ‘college Sammy.’ Sammy is going to have a big year. He told me, ‘I want to be Clemson Sammy Watkins.’ And I was like, ‘OK, let’s do it.’ He’s just up there squatting 405 for eight right now like it’s nothing. He started around 218, and he’s at 225 right now, too. He’s going to go be a No. 1 in Green Bay.”

If Watkins can return to his college form, that would provide a huge boost to Green Bay’s offense. In three seasons at Clemson, Watkins totaled 240 receptions for 3,391 yards (14.1 YPC) and 27 receiving touchdowns. He would eventually be the fourth overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft to the Bills.

Watkins immediately became the number one receiver in Buffalo, finishing his first two seasons with a combined 125 receptions for 2,029 yards and 15 touchdowns. Unfortunately, a perpetual run of injuries has prevented Watkins from having WR1 production since.

The 29-year-old receiver has not played a full slate of games since his rookie season. Last season was perhaps his worst as a pro as a member of the Baltimore Ravens after posting career-lows in targets, receptions, and yards.

Now set to play for his fifth team, Watkins knows his back is against the wall.

“That’s been the knock on my career, staying on the field,” Watkins said in June.

“Just do everything in my might and power to stay on the field. When I’m on the field, I can ball, I can catch the ball, I can score. I’m a dominant player. But the key is staying on the field.”

Of course, catching passes from Aaron Rodgers will also help. Watkins did play alongside Patrick Mahomes for three seasons in Kansas City but was usually the third option behind Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill.

In Green Bay, Watkins has a chance to be a first or second option. During minicamp, head coach Matt LaFleur stated that Watkins would be a “big part of our offense.” The Packers do not have a clear-cut number one after trading Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders.

The team is high on Allen Lazard and second-rounder Christian Watson, but no one is ruling out Watkins from being a big part of this year’s offense if he can stay healthy.

Now with Green Bay, Sammy Watkins wants to play like ‘Clemson Sammy’

Former Clemson wideout Sammy Watkins is on his third team in three years, and he knows how critical this season is for his career.

Former Clemson wide receiver Sammy Watkins is entering his ninth year in the NFL, and coming off a season in which he had a career-low 394 receiving yards, he’s eager to prove he can still be a reliable weapon.

Speaking to PFF’s Doug Kyed, Watkins’ trainer, Bert Whigham, praised the Clemson product, who is now playing for the Green Bay Packers after stints with the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs.

“That guy is going to be good for the Packers,” Whigham said. “He started working with us like seven weeks ago, and he said he wanted to be ‘college Sammy.’ Sammy is going to have a big year. He told me, ‘I want to be Clemson Sammy Watkins.’ And I was like, ‘OK, let’s do it.’ He’s just up there squatting 405 for eight right now like it’s nothing. He started around 218, and he’s at 225 right now, too. He’s going to go be a No. 1 in Green Bay.”

The 6-foot-1 wideout played for the Tigers from 2011 to 2013, having one of the most prominent careers in Clemson football history. In his three years of college, Watkins had a combined 3,391 yards, a program record that still holds to this day.

Whigham also said that Watkins hadn’t trained as hard as he is now since college, so he is certainly a player to keep an eye on as the 2022 season rapidly approaches.

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Relative of former Tiger, current NFL standout had ‘great experience’ at Clemson

The younger cousin of a former Clemson standout, who has seen his recruitment take off at such a young age and has already collected multiple Power Five offers, participated in the Dabo Swinney Camp last month. Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy’s Winston …

The younger cousin of a former Clemson standout, who has seen his recruitment take off at such a young age and has already collected multiple Power Five offers, participated in the Dabo Swinney Camp last month.

Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy’s Winston Watkins, Jr. — a 5-foot-10, 172-pound rising sophomore in the class of 2025 — camped at Clemson on June 2.

“It was great,” Watkins told The Clemson Insider last month. “I had a great experience. I saw a lot of stuff while I was touring the campus and I loved it. I liked the facility a lot. I loved the slide. It’s a pretty good facility and they had a lot of construction going on, so some parts you couldn’t get to, but it was pretty great.”

What type of feedback did Watkins get from Clemson wide receivers coach Tyler Grisham?

“He says that I’m a great player and loves how I play the game,” Watkins recalled. “He’s just gonna keep recruiting me. He loves the way I look right now, but he knows I’m gonna keep developing over time.”

“Me and (Coach) Grisham have a pretty decent relationship,” Watkins continued. “I talk to him a decent amount for him to be a college receiver coach, to the point we’re just building our bond together.”

Watkins also had a chance to talk at length with Dabo Swinney

According to Watkins, Clemson’s head coach told him that he loved him and liked what he saw during that particular session of Swinney Camp. Swinney said that he’s going to keep watching Watkins over the years and that every time he sees him, he continues to grow and get better.

“He says I’m gonna be the next best Watkins,” Watkins said of Swinney.

While Watkins committed to Texas A&M on Dec. 20, 2021, he’s still trying to enjoy the recruitment process as a rising sophomore on the recruiting trail. Talking about his pledge to the Aggies, Watkins said that Texas A&M “felt like a great place to be” and got a great feeling when he was on campus. 

He’s made several visits to some top Power Five programs this summer, including Clemson, and added offers to his list from schools like Texas, Ohio State, Alabama and the University of Miami.

Watkins appreciates that Clemson wants to take the time and build a relationship with him, but he said that he believes they should pull the trigger on offering some prospects earlier than others.

“I’m glad that they’re building a connection with me and getting to know me,” he said.

Dear Old Clemson’s first event is July 24. Now there is a new way to support Clemson student-athletes. Come out and meet the freshmen football players at this meet and greet autograph session. If you sign up for certain club levels you get free access to all Dear Old Clemson events. Purchase your tickets today at Dear Old Clemson.

Poll: More receiving yards in 2022, Sammy Watkins or Christian Watson?

Who will have more receiving yards for the Packers during the 2022 season, veteran addition Sammy Watkins or rookie Christian Watson?

The Green Bay Packers lost All-Pro Davante Adams and speedster Marquez Valdes-Scantling at wide receiver this offseason but responded with a flurry of moves, including the signing of veteran Sammy Watkins and the drafting of Christian Watson in the second round.

Both Watkins and Watson should have a golden opportunity to become a go-to target for Aaron Rodgers during the 2022 season.

Watkins has the experience edge, but Watson is the team’s highest draft pick at wide receiver since Javon Walker in 2002.

It all begs the question: who will have more receiving yards this season, Watkins or Watson? We’ll present the case for each, and you can vote on Twitter.

Fantasy football preview: Green Bay Packers wide receivers

Post-Davante Adams, how will Green Bay’s receiving corps shake out?

For the past four seasons, the connection between Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and wide receiver Davante Adams was arguably the best in football. A year ago, it seemed that partnership might dissolve amid Rodgers’ drama with the team.

While those fences were mended, Adams was dealt to the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason after not coming to terms on a long-term pact. In addition, No. 2 receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling departed in free agency, signing with the Kansas City Chiefs.

With his longtime safety net and premier deep threat both gone, Rodgers will need to adjust on the fly to a group that’s primarily a mix unproven and past-their-prime options. The biggest additions are second-round pick Christian Watson, who rated as one of the best pure athletes at receiver in the past 30-plus years, and Sammy Watkins, the talented but oft injured veteran. Holdovers include Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, and Amari Rodgers.

While it’s always possible that a second-year jump from Rodgers or unexpectedly quick ascension from someone like fourth-rounder Romeo Doubs could shake things up, for now we’ll focus on the quartet of Lazard, Watson, Cobb, and Watkins.

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