The Green Bay Packers entered the 2024 season with a deep, talented, but young receiver room. The team anticipated that the wideouts would have a large impact on the offense. But, as we head into the home stretch, the Packers receiving room has questions that they will need to answer if the team hopes to have playoff success. Here is a look at the Packers receiver room and the questions heading into the final four games of the season:
Packers Receiver Room Has Questions: Christian Watson
Chrisitan Watson has been more impactful lately with two 100-plus yard games in the last four contests. He remains the team’s best deep threat and the player who can change the tone of a game on one play.
The issue with Watson has been a lack of consistency. He had no catches against the 49ers and fumbled against Detroit on a play that disrupted a key Packers drive in a game they ultimately lost by three points.
The Packers need Watson to be more consistent and to continue to make big plays down the stretch.
Romeo Doubs
Romeo Doubs remains in concussion protocol after missing the last two games. The Packers have missed Doubs. When healthy, he remains the team’s most consistent target on short and intermediate routes. The former Nevada star has 34 catches for 483 yards and two touchdowns in 10 games this season.
Getting Doubs back would help the Packers offense. When Jordan Love needs a key third down or red zone target, his first option is often Doubs.
Doubs must first clear the NFL’s concussion protocol in order to play Sunday night in Seattle. He did practice a bit with the team late last week, but still hasn’t been cleared to play.
Packers Receiver Room Has Questions: Jayden Reed
The Packers need to get Jayden Reed more involved in the offense in the coming weeks. After a strong start to the season, the Packers have not targeted Reed much in recent weeks. Against the Lions last Thursday, Reed did not catch a pass and was targeted just once.
Early in the season, Reed made more big plays than any receiver. His ability to get downfield and pick up yards was impressive. He was also dangerous on end arounds and jet sweeps.
Head coach Matt LaFleur admitted the team needs to get Reed more involved in the offense. “Now where we can be better is, and I talked to Jayden about this, is just making sure that we have some of those plays for him in the game plan where he’s tagged to go in there and play wide out, because obviously, he’s a very impactful player,” LaFleur told reporters.
Dontayvion Wicks
Dontayvion Wicks struggled with drops all season. According to pro-football-reference.com, Wicks has already dropped eight passes already this season. His catch percentage is a disappointing 44.6.
Wicks played better the last two games. He often gets open, but the team needs him to make more catches and to be more consistent down the stretch. If he does improve his hands and turns more targets into catches, he can be a dangerous weapon in the Green Bay attack.
Packers Receiver Room Has Questions: Bo Melton and Malik Heath
Bo Melton and Malik Heath have not been targeted often in the receiving game this season. Melton has just five catches all season. Heath has six.
Both players do other things to contribute to the offense like blocking. Melton also runs end arounds and jet sweeps.
If Doubs misses more games due to injury, Melton and Heath will likely get more reps and more chances to contribute in the passing game.
Overall, the Packers will need more big plays and more consistency from their wide receivers in the final four games of the season. The team will need them to be playing at their best come the playoffs.
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