Packers WR Sammy Watkins plays just 4 snaps vs. Eagles
By Paul Bretl
When healthy, wide receiver Sammy Watkins has been a mainstay in the Green Bay Packers offense this season, averaging 45 snaps per game through his first five contests.
However, since the Dallas game with Christian Watson healthy and then Randall Cobb returning against Tennessee, Watkins’ role had been reduced to just over 20 snaps in those two games. Then against Philadelphia, he was hardly a factor, playing just four total snaps.
Since returning from IR, Watkins has very much underwhelmed, catching just seven passes over the last six games for 95 yards, including four games with under 10 receiving yards and two with zero, according to PFF ($$).
Despite his injury history, when available, Watkins was supposed to provide the Green Bay Packers with some stability at the receiver position, although that hasn’t been the case. On 14 total targets over the last six games, Watkins has been credited with two drops, and he’s also been on the wrong end of several miscommunications with Aaron Rodgers that resulted in incompletions, two of which came in crucial moments against Detroit. On top of that, he just simply isn’t creating much separation as a route runner.
However, just because Watkins was only on the field for four snaps against the Eagles didn’t mean that Samori Toure saw an increase in action. In fact, he played just two offensive snaps.
Watson, Cobb, and Allen Lazard were Green Bay’s go-to options at receiver, while they played a lot of two running back and two tight end sets, which mitigated the need for a fourth receiver. Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon combined for 20 carries while each finished second on the team in receptions. At tight end, Robert Tonyan played 51% of the offensive snaps, Marcedes Lewis 39%, and Josiah Deguara 29%.
Sparked by the run game, the Packers offense was able to put up 33 points while averaging an impressive 7.0 yards per play against a very good Eagles defense.
Cobb and Lazard are two very trusted targets of Rodgers, while Watson is an emerging big play thereat. Eventually, Romeo Doubs is going to return, and with the season all but lost, getting Toure more reps and experience should be a must for the Packers. This leaves Watkins as the odd man out, so I would expect his playing time against Philadelphia to be more of the norm moving forward rather than an anomaly.