Green Bay Packers: It’s Tavon Austin Time with Tyler Ervin Injury

It sounds like the Green Bay Packers will be without Tyler Ervin for the foreseeable future, which means it’s now Tavon Austin time.

One week ago, it was reported that the Green Bay Packers had signed the speedy return man, Tavon Austin, after having him in for a workout a few days prior. At the time, it was a move that gave them more depth at the receiver position as well as another experienced return man on the roster–something the Packers desperately needed.

However, with Tyler Ervin suffering another injury against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, this signing looks to be even more important than what was originally thought.

After missing the last two games with a rib injury — the second stint that Ervin had missed this season — he left Sunday’s game with an injured ankle. In Monday’s Zoom call with reporters, Head Coach Matt LaFleur called the injury a “concern.”

With it sounding like Ervin is going to be out for the foreseeable future, and potentially longer, it’s now Tavon Austin time here in Green Bay.

Austin was listed as inactive during the Eagles’ game but will immediately step in as the team’s primary punt return man in Ervin’s absence. Since entering the NFL in 2013, Austin has 185 career punt return attempts, averaging 7.9 yards per return — a solid average — and has taken three back for a score.

We will have to wait and see if he’s used on the kick return team, given his little experience there in recent years. While Austin does have 25 career kick return attempts, 18 of them came during his rookie season in 2013, and he hasn’t had one since 2017. If Green Bay doesn’t have Austin returning kicks, then that will likely be Malik Taylor’s job moving forward.

When LaFleur was asked about Austin’s ability to fill Ervin’s role on offense, he was non-commital but mentioned that his main job here with the Green Bay Packers is going to be as the return man:

"“He’s got to be ready to go, and I think he was ready to go last week,” LaFleur told Bill Huber of SI. “Can he fulfill that role of Swerve? We’ll see where he gets throughout the week but, as a returner, that’s one of the main reasons he was brought here and he’s got to be ready to go. I know he’s excited for his opportunity and he’s a guy that I’ve got a lot of familiarity with being with him in L.A. (with the Rams) and got a lot of confidence in his ability. So, we’ll see how the week of prep goes and practice and we’ll see where we’re at for Sunday.”"

With 4.34 speed coming out of Oklahoma and 196 career rushing attempts in the NFL, Austin is a prime candidate to fill Ervin’s role as the motion-man on offense. But given what we’ve seen from LaFleur in his short time as Head Coach, I would keep my expectations for Austin’s impact on offense low at this point.

Last year when Ervin was claimed off waivers, he saw a little action here and there on offense but was primarily used on special teams. I expect a similar usage for Austin as well, at least through his first few games. As exciting as his skill-set is, his career receiving stats are a bit underwhelming, and there is a reason that he’s been unable to stick with a team in recent years.

And as important as the motion-man is in this offense, we’ve seen in Ervin’s absence that LaFleur will use Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Allen Lazard, Equanimeous St. Brown, and Davante Adams in that role. So with Ervin out and Austin primarily on special teams, it’s not as if the Green Bay Packers don’t have someone to take those duties over.

After saving an abysmal Packers’ return unit in 2019, this season hasn’t panned out as hoped for Tyler Ervin as he’s battled injuries for much of the year, with it sounding like the most recent injury is going to keep him off the field for a significant amount of time. That means it is time for the recently signed Tavon Austin to take over as the return man and perhaps see some action on offense as well.