Much derision has been directed at Randall Cobb the last two years, a broken-down veteran seemingly only playing in Green Bay because Aaron Rodgers wants him there. But Cobb must go on the list of potential deep sleepers in Week 1, given Allen Lazard's uncertain status.
We've championed Lazard as Green Bay's likely No. 1 all preseason, but Lazard sat out practice late last week due to an undisclosed injury, and was also absent when the team returned to practice on Monday. We'll know more -- for example, on what part of his body the unknown injury is actually located -- when the team files its first injury report later this week.
For now, Lazard must be considered questionable to play in Week 1, potentially leaving Green Bay really shorthanded at receiver. Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling gone, Lazard possibly hurt, Robert Tonyan iffy coming off knee surgery, and second-rounder Christian Watson (also coming off knee surgery) uncertain to be available -- and having missed most of the preseason even if he were healthy.
So let's focus on the healthy guys, fourth-rounder Romeo Doubs and (ironically) Cobb and (even more ironically) Sammy Watkins. That might very well be Aaron Rodgers' top 3 pass catchers in Week 1.
As it happens, we have two games the last two seasons with both Adams and Lazard were sidelined (last year, Valdes-Scantling also missed that game). Here's how the passes were distributed in those two games.
| PACKERS WITHOUT TOP WIDEOUTS, 2020-2021 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Opp | Player | Tgt | No | Rec | TD |
| 2020 | Atl. | Jamaal Williams | 8 | 8 | 95 | 0 |
| 2020 | Atl. | Robert Tonyan | 6 | 6 | 98 | 3 |
| 2020 | Atl. | Aaron Jones | 5 | 5 | 40 | 1 |
| 2020 | Atl. | M. Valdes-Scantling | 8 | 4 | 45 | 0 |
| 2021 | Ariz. | Aaron Jones | 11 | 7 | 51 | 0 |
| 2021 | Ariz. | Juwann Winfree | 6 | 4 | 30 | 0 |
| 2021 | Ariz. | Randall Cobb | 5 | 3 | 15 | 2 |
| 2021 | Ariz. | Robert Tonyan | 4 | 3 | 49 | 0 |
Three of Green Bay's most productive receivers in those games were running backs, Aaron Jones twice and Jamaal Williams once. Good news for those planning to start Jones or AJ Dillon; those guys should be busy if Lazard can't go. Tonyan was busy in both games, which might be a positive for Josiah Deguara (expected to start with Tonyan iffy coming off a torn ACL). And then there's Cobb, turning 5 targets last year into 3 catches and 2 TDs.
Things will be clearer after the injury reports come out, but get ready to start the running backs, and maybe keep an eye on Cobb, Sammy Watkins (gulp) or perhaps fourth-rounder Romeo Doubs. One or possibly two of those guys is likely to be pretty productive if Lazard can't go.
--Andy Richardson