Matt Lafleur explains the decision to cut Sammy Watkins
The Green Bay Packers were getting ready in practices this week to play the Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football with their healthiest wide receiver corps of the regular season. With the talent evidently, to spare, the Packers cut one wide receiver Monday to add room for a third-string running back. Head coach Matt LaFleur talked about the decision after the game.
The Packers announced Monday afternoon they released Sammy Watkins and signed Patrick Taylor to the 53-man roster. LaFleur commented on the decision after the Packers’ win against the Rams. According to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic, LaFleur said he wasn’t excited about Watkins’ release. But LaFleur said they needed Taylor on the roster as a running back, and the Packers were out of elevations for him.
LaFleur says he “certainly wasn’t fired up” about the timing of Sammy Watkins’ release. Said they needed Patrick Taylor as RB3 and he was out of elevations.
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) December 20, 2022
It’s understandable why LaFleur might value Taylor at this point in the season. He’s been helpful on the Packers’ special teams unit this season. Taylor contributed more to the Packers’ offense Monday night than he had during the earlier regular season. He finished against the Rams with four carries for 15 yards. Taylor had just one rush for six yards coming into the Packers’ Week 15 game. It’ll be interesting to see if Taylor gets more carries down the stretch of this season.
