Unfortunately, if the Green Bay Packers were to find a way to improve their wide receiver group in a hurry, one of their biggest targets via free agency will not be available in time. Many NFL executives believe that Odell Beckham Jr’s return from knee surgery will more realistically be in December instead of November.
Beckham’s ACL Injury
The veteran receiver has endured two ACL tears within the last two years, the most recent coming from last year’s Super Bowl in February. In last year’s postseason, Beckham caught 21 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns, including Super Bowl 56. There have been rumors all off-season that once Beckham is healthy, he will draw interest from the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs to name a couple of teams. But there is one team who is DESPERATE for improvement.
Packers Lack Of Production at Wide Receiver Is Scary
With the Packers front office missing out on trading for receiver Robby Anderson, there is another name out there who they can hopefully get their hands on: Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Chase Claypool. At this particular moment, any veteran talent would help this team. The Packers current leading receiver in terms of yards and touchdowns is Allen Lazard. Lazard currently has caught 20 passes for 285 yards and four touchdowns. The next closest receiver as far as catches and touchdowns go is rookie Romeo Doubs. Doubs has caught 26 passes for 234 yards and two touchdowns. Tight end Robert Tonyan finally found a way to get involved in the offense last week catching ten passes for 90 yards.
Closing Thoughts
The level of optimism surrounding the Packers offense continues to dwindle week by week. With an injured Randall Cobb out for at least four weeks and Sammy Watkins return from a hamstring injury still to be determined on top of inconsistency from the young receivers, now is the time for the front office to do everything they can and at least make an effort to trade for or sign a free agent wide receiver because this current group is not going to cut it. Fans’ patience (and Aaron Rodgers’ patience) is running out. The ball is in your court, General Manager Brian Gutenkunst. Work your magic.
