Tyler Ervin and Mike Weber worked out with the Giants on Tuesday.
The New York Giants took a closer look at a pair of former Green Bay Packers running backs on Tuesday.
According to the league’s transaction report, the Giants hosted a tryout for running back and returner Tyler Ervin and running back Mike Weber, who were both with the Packers during the 2020 season.
Ervin is an unrestricted free agent after playing in 12 games with the Packers over the 2019 and 2020 seasons. While in Green Bay, Ervin gained 172 total yards on 27 total offensive touches, operating mostly as the gadget weapon in Matt LaFleur’s scheme, and he also returned 16 kickoffs and 16 punts. The team did not pursue re-signing him this offseason and later drafted Amari Rodgers in the third round of the 2021 draft, likely providing a suitable replacement on offense and special teams.
Weber was released by the Packers earlier this offseason. He spent the final two months of the 2020 regular season on the Packers practice squad. The team felt comfortable with Kylin Hill, Dexter Williams and Patrick Taylor competing to be the No. 3 running back behind Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon.
The Packers could lose a versatile free agent to the Buffalo Bills.
The Bills are hosting RB/return specialist Tyler Ervin on a free agent visit. After Andre Roberts departed in free agency, Ervin could help fill his role. Ervin was productive for the Packers over the past season and a half.
The Buffalo Bills might be starting the process of stealing away one of the Green Bay Packers’ free agents.
According to Field Yates of ESPN, the Bills will host running back and returner Tyler Ervin on a free-agent visit.
Ervin, 27, was claimed off of waivers by the Packers in December of 2019 and has played 12 games with the team over the last two seasons. He’s an unrestricted free agent.
While with the Packers, Ervin carried 14 times for 77 yards, caught 13 passes for 95 yards and returned 16 punts for 126 yards and 16 kickoffs for 356 yards.
After sparking the team’s return game to life to end 2019, Matt LaFleur and the Packers expanded Ervin’s role and used him more on offense in 2020. He was on the field for 142 offensive snaps, both as a running back and receiver and also on fly motion plays. Injuries limited him to just eight games and could be one reason why the Packers eventually let him sign elsewhere.
If Ervin lands in Buffalo, the Packers would need to find a player capable of contributing on special teams in the return game and also in the gadget role on offense, an increasingly important one for LaFleur’s motion-heavy scheme.
It’s possible an explosive rookie receiver who can play in the slot and handle the jet motion looks could be an option for replacing Ervin in 2021.
Tavon Austin and Anthony Rush could be important role players with Ervin and Winn out for at least the next 3 weeks.
Meanwhile, #Packers return man Tyler Ervin is also likely headed to IR because of his foot injury. No surgery needed, per source, but he's expected to miss at least a month, so his season may be over. https://t.co/wThllVEmbJ
Two additions made last week suddenly look much more important for the Green Bay Packers.
According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Packers are expecting to place running back and returner Tyler Ervin and defensive lineman Tyler Ervin on injured reserve. The belief is that Winn will return in three weeks, although the recovery timeline is uncertain for Ervin.
The Packers’ decisions to sign receiver and returner Tavon Austin and claim defensive lineman Anthony Rush off of waivers last week look prudent, and potentially important.
Austin has played all the same roles as Ervin, who suffered his third different injury this season. He hurt his foot against the Philadelphia Eagles and didn’t return. This season, the Packers have used Ervin on returns and as the primary jet motion option on offense, but he’s missed four games with two previous injuries and will now miss at least three more.
Austin was inactive against the Eagles but could play a role both on both offense and special teams on Sunday against the Detroit Lions.
Rush, a gigantic human being at 6-4 and 361 pounds, may need to play snaps as a rotational defensive lineman with Winn out for at least three games.
Winn, who was on the field for 41 snaps on defense over six games this season, injured his triceps against the Eagles. His batted pass created an interception for Christian Kirksey against the Indianapolis Colts.
The Packers are getting thin along the defensive line with Winn and Montravius Adams both on injured reserve.
If Ervin and Winn are placed on injured reserve, the Packers will have 10 total players on injured reserve.
Tyler Ervin has been ruled out. #JAXvsGB https://t.co/gAoo22bha1 – Green Bay Packers (@packers) November 15, 2020 The Green Bay Packers won’t have running back and returner Tyler Ervin for the rest of the afternoon against the Jacksonville Jaguars. …
The Green Bay Packers won’t have running back and returner Tyler Ervin for the rest of the afternoon against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Ervin, who left the game with a rib injury in the second quarter, was ruled out to start the second half.
Ervin was injured at the end of a 3-yard catch in the second quarter. A hit from Jaguars linebacker Myles Jack might have caused the issue. He was able to exit the field and later walk to the locker room.
Ervin is the team’s primary returner, and he also serves as the fly motion man in the Packers offense. The Packers are also without Darrius Shepherd, who had been returning punts and kicks while Ervin dealt with a wrist injury.
Cornerback Josh Jackson handled the first punt return of the second half.
Ervin caught one pass for three yards, carried once for no gain and returned one kick for five yards in the first half.
Tyler Ervin has been ruled out. #JAXvsGB https://t.co/gAoo22bha1 – Green Bay Packers (@packers) November 15, 2020 The Green Bay Packers won’t have running back and returner Tyler Ervin for the rest of the afternoon against the Jacksonville Jaguars. …
The Green Bay Packers won’t have running back and returner Tyler Ervin for the rest of the afternoon against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Ervin, who left the game with a rib injury in the second quarter, was ruled out to start the second half.
Ervin was injured at the end of a 3-yard catch in the second quarter. A hit from Jaguars linebacker Myles Jack might have caused the issue. He was able to exit the field and later walk to the locker room.
Ervin is the team’s primary returner, and he also serves as the fly motion man in the Packers offense. The Packers are also without Darrius Shepherd, who had been returning punts and kicks while Ervin dealt with a wrist injury.
Cornerback Josh Jackson handled the first punt return of the second half.
Ervin caught one pass for three yards, carried once for no gain and returned one kick for five yards in the first half.
With the Jags taking a trip to Lambeau, Jags Wire got a little bit of intel on the Packers through Packers Wire’s Zach Kruse.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have arrived to the hardest point of their 2020 schedule and it will start with a trip to Lambeau Field to take on the Green Bay Packers.
At the midway point of the season, both teams are on opposite ends of the spectrum. Of course, the 1-7 Jags are enduring a seven-game skid and are in last place in the AFC South while the Packers are leading their division with a 6-2 record.
To help get some intel on Aaron Rodgers and company, we had a chat with Packers Wire editor Zach Kruse this week. Here are five questions he was kind enough to answer concerning the red hot Packers:
Jaguars Wire: Matt LaFleur is someone Jags fans are familiar with after his tenure with the Titans. How has he been for the Packers since becoming their head coach?
Zach Kruse: The Packers have won 20 of the 26 games coached by LaFleur over the last two seasons, so his career in Green Bay is off to a terrific start. He’s done a commendable job remaking the team in his image, and his new-age offensive scheme has been a big hit, especially with quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
The partnership between the two has been fantastic. Also, the Packers have scored on every single opening drive this season, which is usually a good barometer of coaching ability, especially for an offensive-focused coach, and they haven’t lost back-to-back games in either of his first two seasons. The hiring has been a big success so far.
JW: Aaron Rodgers is one of the best to ever do it obviously and will be for the next few years. Could you discuss the season he is having so far?
ZK: Rodgers said all offseason that he was finally comfortable in the offense, and it’s shown up in a big way on the field. He’s thrown 24 touchdown passes and is right in the hunt for the MVP at the midway point of 2020.
LaFleur’s offense has allowed him opportunities to get the ball out of his hands quick and on time but also opportunities to attack down the field. It’s been a good mix. Additionally, Rodgers has been deadly in the red zone. He’s also avoiding turnover plays (just two interceptions) and sacks. Through eight games, Rodgers leads the NFL in passer rating and is on pace for what would be a career-high 48 touchdown passes.
JW: What are some weaknesses with this Packers team that the Jags may can exploit?
ZK: The run defense is an obvious place to start. Physical, run-first teams have given the Packers problems in recent years. The personnel at defensive line and inside linebacker isn’t great, and defensive coordinator Mike Pettine generally prefers having more defensive backs on the field to protect against the pass.
The Jaguars will have to run the ball effectively to win the game on Sunday. Shorten the game, protect the ball, and keep Rodgers on the sideline. It might not be the most efficient football but it’s certainly one way to pressure one of the Packers’ stress points.
JW: Who are some under-the-radar names to watch from this Packers team on offense and defense?
ZK: On offense, watch for RB Tyler Ervin and TE Robert Tonyan. The Packers love using Ervin as the fly motion man in LaFleur’s scheme to stress defenses horizontally before the snap. He turned 12 touches into 72 yards against the 49ers and could play a big role again on Sunday. Tonyan is a big-play tight end with five touchdown catches in eight games. He can win down the field in this offense, especially if teams focus coverage on Davante Adams.
On defense, keep an eye out for safety Darnell Savage. He nearly had an interception of Nick Mullens last week. Expect the Packers to use him to prevent big plays vertically but also to help against the run. He might be the fastest player on the roster.
JW: What’s your final predictions for the outcome of the game?
ZR: The forecasted conditions at Lambeau Field for Sunday are starting to give me pause. It could be wet, windy and potentially even cold.
The Packers didn’t handle poor conditions a couple of weeks ago against the Vikings, and more bad weather could help level the playing field on Sunday. I still like the Packers to win, probably comfortably. If conditions are manageable, the Packers could score a lot of points on the league’s 31st ranked scoring defense.
The Packers could be without Aaron Jones, Jamaal Williams and A.J. Dillon on Thursday night against the 49ers.
Adding to the difficulty for the #Packers: There is pessimism that RB Aaron Jones (calf) will be back for Thursday, I’m told. GB is cautious. The current plan seems to be going with Tyler Ervin and Dexter Williams vs the #49ers. Ervin has 10 career carries and Williams has 5.
With A.J. Dillon on the COVID-19 reserve list, Jamaal Williams out due to a high-risk designation and Aaron Jones still battling a calf injury, the Green Bay Packers may have to rely on the very bottom of the running back depth chart on Thursday night against the San Francisco 49ers.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, “pessimism” exists about Jones’ ability to play Thursday night, leaving Tyler Ervin and Dexter Williams as the team’s two remaining running backs.
Dillon and Jamaal Williams won’t play after Dillon tested positive for COVID-19 and Jamaal Williams was deemed a high-risk contact based on contact tracing. Jones has missed two straight games after injuring his calf in practice on Oct. 22.
If Jones can’t go, the Packers would have only just running backs left.
Ervin has been used primarily as a receiver and returner and as the offense’s go-to jet-motion option, but he did play running back at San Jose State and wouldn’t be in over his head if he needed to play a significant role there on Thursday night.
Dexter Williams, who is currently on the practice squad, has played in five career games since entering the NFL as a sixth-round pick in 2019. He has five career carries for 11 yards. Elevated from the practice squad after Jones’ injury in Week 7, Dexter Williams didn’t receive a carry against the Houston Texans but did miss a block on a blocked punt.
The Packers also have fullback/tight end John Lovett, who could play snaps in the backfield in certain formations.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Packers wouldn’t be able to sign a running back and have him available in time before Thursday night.
Although the Packers didn’t practice on Monday, Jones was estimated as a limited participant.
It’s November and one thing is on everybody’s minds: fantasy football. It’s that time of the season to either hit the panic button or make that addition that will take your team to a championship.
With more injuries piling up with big-name players, you might think that all is lost. When you take a closer look at the waiver wire, you can see there is still a lot of value out there.
Here are eight players you should consider adding to your fantasy roster for Week 9:
Swervin’ Tyler Ervin is an explosive weapon that Packers coach Matt LaFleur might want to use more in 2020.
The Green Bay Packers might have a unique player capable of wearing many hats for Matt LaFleur in 2020.
Running back Tyler Ervin, who revived the team’s return game and then provided a few splash plays on offense to end the 2019 season, has played all over the field during his first few training camp practices to start 2020.
The Packers are test-driving what Ervin could do in a bigger role.
“He displayed that last season in the return game. He’s an explosive player. He’s pretty elusive,” LaFleur said Monday. “We have Adam Stenavich, who was his o-line coach for a year at San Jose State. He’s been in our ear about what kind of playmaker ‘Swerve’ can be. We’re just going to continue to give him opportunities to see what he can do.”
Ervin arrived in Green Bay in December of last year and was a special teams revelation, averaging 9.6 yards per punt return and 26.7 yards per kick return after the Packers return groups provided next to nothing the first three months of the season. LaFleur also used him as a gadget-type player, primarily on jet sweep motions and as a receiver out of the backfield. During the postseason, he produced an 18-yard run – helping set up a touchdown – in the first half of the Packers’ win over the Seattle Seahawks.
The Packers may attempt to build on those flashes and expand his role on offense this season, possibly providing more opportunities in the passing game and more opportunities to create with the ball in his hands.
Reporters at practice the first two days noted that Ervin has been working with the receiver group at times during position drills. Of course, he opened camp as the heavy favorite to return punts and kicks, too.
Ervin said the return game is still his “priority” but he’s excited about what could be in front of him as a weapon on offense.
“I think there’s a great opportunity. I just have to go out there and work hard and try and earn a spot,” Ervin said Monday. “I think I can contribute any way possible.”
The Packers got a lot of Allen Lazard, Chandon Sullivan and Tyler Ervin in 2019. They’ll need even more in 2020.
The Green Bay Packers will likely need three players who stood out over small sample sizes during the 2019 season to step up and star once again in bigger roles in 2020.
There’s one player for each phase of the game: receiver Allen Lazard, cornerback Chandon Sullivan and returner Tyler Ervin.
Lazard, Sullivan and Ervin are all favorites to play an important role for Matt LaFleur’s team in 2020.
For Lazard, an opportunity to become the No. 2 receiver behind Davante Adams is wide open and available. Undrafted in 2018 and cut by the Packers before the start of the regular season last year, Lazard made his way back onto the active roster and eventually broke out in October, providing another effective option in the passing game.
Lazard played only 479 total snaps but still finished second on the team in receiving yards.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers called Lazard an “ascending” player who made big plays in big moments. LaFleur mentioned him first nearly every time a receiver question was asked this offseason. And the numbers from his 2019 season are nothing if not encouraging.
– Lazard caught 67.3 percent of his targets and averaged 9.2 yards per target
– Rodgers had a passer rating of 115.6 when targeting Lazard
– Lazard produced 12 third-down conversions on just 35 catches
– Lazard ranked 18th among all qualifying receivers in the NFL in DVOA, a metric developed by Football Outsiders that compares the per-play value of a player to the average player at the position
– Lazard averaged 1.62 yards per route run, per Pro Football Focus, ranking 44th among qualifying receivers
– Lazard’s overall receiving grade at PFF ranked 51st among all receivers
– Among receivers with at least 40 targets in 2019, Lazard ranked 12th in passer rating when targeted (117.9), per PFF
– All three of Lazard’s touchdowns were over 20 yards, including two on third down
Lazard’s primary competition for snaps opposite Adams will come from third-year receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling and veteran addition Devin Funchess. Valdes-Scantling is a vertical threat but mostly one-dimensional as a receiver, while Funchess is a similar player as Lazard but with more established flaws. The Packers will likely be more versatile in both formations and personnel in 2020, but Lazard will have a real chance to play 700 or more snaps and see at least 70 targets as the No. 2 receiver.
[lawrence-related id=45264]
Green Bay Packers defensive back Chandon Sullivan (39) drops a potential interception during the fourth quarter of their game Sunday, December 15, 2019 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The Green Bay Packers beat the Chicago Bears 21-13.
On defense, the absence of veteran cornerback Tramon Williams – who remains unsigned – has left the door open for Sullivan to take over as the defense’s primary slot cornerback. It’s a big job. In today’s NFL, it’s a starting job. Even at age 36, Williams played almost 800 total snaps during the regular season.
Sullivan’s emergence during the 2019 season might have provided the Packers with confidence that he can handle the slot role in 2020.
He played 350 defensive snaps and was terrific in coverage, allowing completions on just 35.5 percent of targets while breaking up seven passes and intercepting one. Opposing quarterbacks averaged 3.9 yards per attempt and had a passer rating of 34.3 when targeting Sullivan in 2019.
Again, the sample size was small. He faced only 31 total targets. But Mike Pettine plugged him in all over – mostly in the slot but also out wide and at free safety – and Sullivan still earned the fourth-highest coverage grade on the team, according to Pro Football Focus.
He has decent size and excellent burst, and he flashed the kind of instincts all slot cornerbacks need to survive. Spending an entire year in the same room as Williams no doubt helped develop some of these instincts. In 2020, Sullivan may need to assume Williams’ role and become the Packers’ third starting cornerback. And he’ll need to do it for a defense that should be ready to take a step and become one of the NFL’s best, especially against the pass. It might only be possible if Sullivan can handle being a full-time player.
[lawrence-related id=37758,32412,47292,44914]
Photo by Mike De Sisti/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
On special teams, Ervin should get the first crack at being the Packers’ punt and kick returner, a role he thrived in to end the 2019 season. Just when the team’s return units looked dead, Ervin arrived off waivers and shocked the entire operation back to life. He returned 11 punts for 106 yards – pulling the Packers back above zero for the season – and six kicks for 160 yards, including a 45-yarder. Ervin isn’t a flashy returner, but he catches the football consistently, gets up the field in a hurry and understands how to manipulate blocks and angles.
Also, LaFleur and the Packers offense liked using Ervin as a gadget player, especially over the last few games of last year. He added value on jet sweeps and in the screen game, both when he had the ball and when he was used as a decoy. LaFleur believes he’s explosive, and his return skills work to his advantage on gadget plays.
It’s unclear who the Packers would use on returns if Ervin isn’t the guy. His roster spot might not be guaranteed, but it would be surprising if he doesn’t make the team as a reserve running back and the top returner. A full year of having Ervin return punts and kicks could provide a significant boost to the special teams.
The worry here is that small sample sizes can be deceiving. A player can stand out over a limited number of plays only to be exposed as a replacement-level option once the volume of workload ramps up and the rest of the NFL catches up. It happens all the time. It’s certainly possible Lazard won’t be as efficient as a receiver, Sullivan won’t be as sticky in coverage and Ervin won’t be as impactful as a returner. In fact, it’s probably likely that at least one of those three things will happen in 2020.
Still, the Packers are certainly banking on the trio of young standouts returning in 2020 and making the most out of bigger roles earned last season. With important jobs on the line, Lazard, Sullivan and Ervin have a chance to help power internal improvement this season or be part of the reason why some level of regression is probably unavoidable for LaFleur’s team.
