The Green Bay Packers have a lot of difficult decisions to make on the horizon with their roster. They’ve officially transitioned to rebuild mode and need to determine who is and is not a part of their long-term future.
That assessment is clouded by the ineptitude shown at multiple levels, especially on offense. Some part of the unit seemingly struggles on every play, making it nearly impossible to identify keepers. Still, the task must be completed.
As Green Bay determines how to move forward and with whom, three players are on the hot seat entering the second half of the season. These three guys must play better than we saw in the first nine games.
Keep a close eye on these three players on the Green Bay Packers who are on the hot seat entering the second half of the NFL season.
Packers on the Hot Seat: Christian Watson
If you want to be the team’s go-to playmaker, you better play like it. And Christian Watson hasn’t played like it during the first half of the Packers’ season.
Through six games, Watson only has 14 receptions for 236 yards and one touchdown. Among the 160 receivers to appear in at least six games this season, he ranks 89th in receptions, 73rd in receiving yards, and 62nd in touchdown receptions. It’s up to Watson, head coach Matt LaFleur and Jordan Love to figure out a way to get Watson going. He’s way too talented to play such a minuscule role in this offense.
Packers on the Hot Seat: Rashan Gary
The Packers have an emerging issue on their hands: Their highest-paid players aren’t playing up to their fullest potential. The list includes David Bakhtiari (who is hurt), Jaire Alexander, Elgton Jenkins, Preston Smith and Rashan Gary.
Gary just signed a massive contract extension worth $96 million over four years, except he’s not playing like one of the top outside linebackers he’s getting paid to be. It’s understandable if you thought he didn’t play in the Packers’ last game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, as he completely disappeared. In 44 snaps, he only registered one measly pressure and three total tackles. In fact, he hasn’t gotten a sack in four straight games.
The Packers’ defense has been doing everything it can to keep the team afloat despite the disappearances of Gary and Alexander. Gary is fully healthy now and is out of excuses. He needs to perform like his potential suggests he can.
Packers on the Hot Seat: Jordan Love
Like it or not, Love will have the next eight games to stake his claim as the Packers’ starting quarterback for 2024 and beyond. At 3-6 with a demanding schedule coming up, Green Bay is staring down the barrel at a top-five pick and the potential to draft a franchise-altering quarterback in the first round.
It was a roller coaster of a first half for Love, who showed more downs than ups. Among the 35 quarterbacks to attempt at least 100 passes this year, he ranks 34th in completion percentage, 20th in passing yards, 15th in passing touchdowns and 2nd in interceptions (as in he’s thrown the second-most).
However, he’s found something in these last two games and it could be a sign of things to come. He’s proven to be no stranger to making great throws. However, he needs to make the average and good ones more consistently. The clock could be running out on Love, right after it got started.