The Green Bay Packers knew they were taking a risk entering the 2022 season with the depth chart that they had at the wide receiver position. They traded Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders and Marquez Valdes-Scantling signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as a free agent, leaving a major hole in their passing offense.
Losing your top two pass catchers is certainly not ideal and it has come back to bite the Packers. Their passing offense has not been great despite still having Aaron Rodgers as their starting quarterback. Rodgers has basically had to start from scratch when it came to building chemistry with his skill-position players.
The only players that he had an extensive history working with were Randall Cobb and Allen Lazard. After having his workload increased, Cobb was put on IR with a high ankle sprain. That was a tough blow to an already struggling offense and now Rodgers looks like he will be missing another key player.
Lazard injured his shoulder against the Washington Commanders in Week 7. After the game, he was walking through the locker room with his left arm in a sling, according to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic, which certainly isn’t encouraging for his status going forward.
Green Bay’s passing offense, which was already struggling, could get even uglier in the coming weeks. Lazard is the team’s leading receiver with 26 receptions for 340 yards in six games. Cobb is second on the team with 257 receiving yards on 18 receptions, also in six games.
Without their veterans in the lineup, the Packers are dangerously thin at wide receiver. Rookie Christian Watson is dealing with a hamstring injury suffered against the New York Giants in London.
Veteran Sammy Watkins was able to return to the lineup against the Commanders and will see his role increase again. Rookie Romeo Doubs will continue playing heavy snaps with Samori Toure and Amari Rodgers filling in behind them.
Matt LaFleur and his coaching staff are going to have to get creative with so many wide receivers injured. Using Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon in the rushing game more is something that should be considered. Jones is an excellent pass catcher and could be deployed more as a wide receiver in the coming weeks as well.
