Packers have depth concerns at wide receiver once again
By Paul Bretl
This past Sunday in Detroit was the healthiest that the Green Bay Packers had been at the receiver position in several weeks, with Randall Cobb being the only one on the 53-man roster not available.
Unfortunately, that didn’t last. Throughout the game, the Packers lost Romeo Doubs to an ankle injury and Christian Watson to what at the time was ruled a concussion.
Health is far from the only or even the biggest issue that this Packers’ flailing offense has had to contend with this season. Many of their issues simply stem from poor play. But on top of that, not having all of their top available receivers each week hasn’t helped either. In fact, Cobb, Allen Lazard, and Sammy Watkins have only been on the field together once this season, and that was back in Week 2 against Chicago.
Now looking ahead to the Packers’ meeting with Dallas, the receiver position is once again dealing with injuries and is potentially going to be very thin on Sunday.
Due to the aforementioned ankle injury, Doubs has already been ruled out of Sunday’s game. Cobb, meanwhile, is still on IR, and Amari Rodgers was added to Friday’s injury report as questionable with a hamstring injury.
Although Rodgers hasn’t played a massive role in recent weeks, he has been on the field for an average of 22 snaps over the last four games, per PFF ($$), and the Packers simply need some bodies at the position. During that span, Rodgers has hauled in four receptions on eight targets for 50 yards while still being Green Bay’s primary punt returner.
If Rodgers can’t play against Dallas, the Packers will have only four healthy receivers on the 53-man roster, with those players being Lazard, Watkins, Christian Watson, and Samori Toure. A move will have to be made in order to bolster the depth.
One option the Packers have is to sign Juwann Winfree to the 53-man roster since he is out of practice squad elevations. Whether or not the Packers do this is likely dependent upon how much longer they believe they will be without Cobb and Doubs. The two other alternatives include elevating either Travis Fulgham, who has been on the practice squad all season, or Jeff Cotton, who was just signed earlier in the week.
If the Packers make one of these moves on Saturday, I’d bet there’s a good chance that they will be without Amari Rodgers. On the flip side, no moves will likely mean he is playing.
This week the Green Bay offense faces another difficult test, taking on a Dallas defense that ranks third in points per game allowed and has been terrific at pressuring the quarterback. Where the Packers can potentially find success is on the ground, as the Cowboys are allowing 4.7 yards per rush.
I would again also expect Green Bay to lean heavily on the quick passing game, so Rodgers isn’t holding on to the ball against this front–although this by no means can be the offense’s only mode for moving the ball. As I just mentioned, the run game should be relied upon quite a bit, while Green Bay will need to connect on some downfield attempts as well.
It also wouldn’t be a bad idea at this point to see Watson and Toure out-snapping Watkins, who has struggled since returning from injury. Watkins hasn’t brought that big play ability, and he hasn’t even been on the same page as Aaron Rodgers–frequently running the wrong routes. With that said, I’m also skeptical that this move would happen.
Many of the Packers’ issues on offense do begin with the receiver position, but they’ll have to find a way to overcome them against Dallas while being shorthanded.