Some popular NFL offseason narratives get blown up within five minutes of teams playing the actual games in Week 1. This was not one of them.
Much has been made of the Green Bay Packers’ decision to trade Davante Adams to the Raiders in the offseason and go with a wide receiver corps of Allen Lazard, Sammy Watkins, Randall Cobb and two rookies in Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson.
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It was just one game, but it didn’t look good for Green Bay on Monday (AEST) as those five receivers (minus Lazard, who was out with an injury) combined for 103 yards receiving in the Packers’ listless 23-7 loss to the Vikings.
Aaron Rodgers ended up throwing for 195 yards with no touchdowns and an interception. His leading receiver was running back AJ Dillon with 46 yards, while two tight ends (Robert Tonyan and Josiah Deguara) and another back (Aaron Jones) were in the top-six.
The two wide receivers who paced the Packers in Minnesota were both rookies: Doubs (four catches for 37 yards) and Watson (two for 34).
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And while it could be interpreted as a positive that the two rookies were able to produce, Watson – whom Green Bay traded up for at the top of the second round in the 2022 NFL Draft – should have had a much bigger day if not for a major miscue.
In the first quarter, the North Dakota State product burned Vikings cornerback Patrick Peterson deep, as Rodgers tossed a perfect ball down the field that hit Watson in his hands.
However, the rookie was unable to haul in the catch, which looked like it could have gone for a touchdown.
Watson was always seen as a guy with amazing athleticism but mediocre hands, and he missed much of the offseason with an injury after playing college at the FCS level.
Patience will be required – but Rodgers has rarely shown patience with young receivers if they make mistakes, so it will be interesting to see how involved he is going forward.
Meanwhile, Adams – the star wideout the Packers traded away – had a huge Raiders debut on Sunday, catching 10 balls for 141 yards and a touchdown.
Adams’ yardage and touchdown totals were higher than Green Bay’s entire wide receiver group combined.
Green Bay had a rough start to last season, too, getting blown out 38-3 by the Saints in New Orleans.
They went on to lose only three more games the rest of the season and were the No. 1 seed in the NFC, so Packers fans are hoping this game was nothing more than another early-season blip on the radar.
Still, it’s certainly a jarring result for the Packers, and they are already a game back in the division from the Vikings and Bears (who beat the 49ers Week 1).
Rodgers was caught on camera greeting Minnesota star wide receiver Justin Jefferson after the game and congratulating him on his huge performance (nine catches, 184 yards and two touchdowns).
“Best player in the game,” Rodgers said to the 23-year-old receiver.
Do we detect a hint of jealousy?
This article originally appeared on the New York Post and has been reposted with permission
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