The top storyline of the 2022 Green Bay Packers offseason was their inexperienced wide receivers. After trading Davante Adams (at his demand) and allowing Marquez Valdes-Scantling leave via free agency, precious few receivers with any NFL experience remained.
Randall Cobb, certainly playing the last few years of a very productive career and Allan Lazard have the most experience with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. After that, it is a mixture of first- and second-year players and free agent pickup Sammy Watkins.
The first week of camp centered on rookie fourth-rounder Romeo Doubs. Doubs caught everything in sight through the first week and a half of training camp.
Then he started to look like, well, a rookie.
Tuesday, Doubs was the recipient of what Rodgers called “probably my best throw of camp,” a 40-yard high-arching spiral that Doubs, having already beaten New Orleans cornerback Bradley Roy on the route, dropped.
Just. Dropped.
“I had a conversation with a couple of the young guys about the standard we’re going to hold them to,” Rodgers said after practice at his locker on Tuesday. “They are rookies, but they’re NFL players and what’s been on film hasn’t been good enough as of yet. There’s been some splash plays, but there’s been a lot of mistakes.”
Rodgers was asked who he felt he could trust if the season were to begin today.
The list wasn’t long.
“Obviously, I can play with Cobby (Randall Cobb) in my sleep,” Rodgers quipped. “When he’s healthy, he’s a premier slot receiver in the league. I feel, especially after today, better with Sammy (Watkins).
“And then there’s a lot of opportunity after that.”
Rodgers and the Packers staff is hoping the message has been received. Wednesday morning, waiving third-year wide receiver Malik Taylor.
“I appreciate this about Aaron, the urgency to get some of this stuff corrected,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Wednesday morning.
After the Packers conclude their second joint practice with the Saints at Ray Nitschke Field, they will have a walk-through on Thursday before an important game for the young receivers Friday night against New Orleans.
We watch every single clip, Rodgers added on Tuesday afternoon. “We’re watching all the one reps, all the two reps, the three reps in our quarterback room.
“We don’t miss anything.”