More than Big Plays that Packers will Miss in MVS’ Absence

The Green Bay Packers will be without their deep threat Marquez Valdes-Scantling for the next few weeks, as he is reportedly going to be placed on IR.

After leaving last Sunday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers with a hamstring injury, Valdes-Scantling would miss practice each day this week in preparation for the Pittsburgh Steelers. On Friday afternoon, he was ruled out of Sunday’s contest, and then a short while later, we learned from ESPN’s Jeremy Folwer that MVS was being placed on IR.

However, despite the news of the upcoming move, as Bill Huber of Sports Illustrated would report, a source told him that Valdes-Scantling had no idea that he was going to end up on IR.

https://twitter.com/MVS__11/status/1444085579944185858

Through three games, Valdes-Scantling is second on the team in targets with 14, according to PFF ($$). He had hauled in six of them for 76 yards, including a 47-yard reception against the 49ers and another that went for a touchdown.

The Green Bay Packers will miss more than just big plays in Valdes-Scantling’s absence.

With his 4.37 speed, there is the obvious home run ability that this Green Bay Packers offense is losing in Valdes-Scantling’s absence. While there are other big-play threats within this offense, no one can take the top off the defense quite like MVS can.

But in addition to those chunk plays that he can generate, Valdes-Scantling also draws plenty of attention from opposing defenses, which helps create for his teammates. With speed like his, MVS simply cannot be ignored.

There is also his ability as a blocker. On many of the Packers run plays that get bounced outside or the screens that take place, you will see Valdes-Scantling engaged with a defender and creating space for the ball carrier. His blocking grade from PFF reflects just how valuable he is in this area.

Valdes-Scantling will be out for a minimum of three games, and during that span, you can still expect to see a heavy dose of Davante Adams, Aaron Jones, and Robert Tonyan, while Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb should get more opportunities in the passing game as well.

Equanimous St. Brown will also likely be called up from the practice squad to fill Valdes-Scantling’s roster spot while he is on IR.

Hamstring injuries can be tricky, and the Green Bay Packers are trying to take the conservative approach — as they often do — to make sure their big-play receiver recovers fully and that he is ready to go for the remainder of the season upon his return.