Green Bay Packers will be just fine at wide receiver

The Green Bay Packers wide receiver group has gone under the microscope since losing Jordy Nelson for the 2015 season to a torn ACL. The injury will thrust Davante Adams into the spotlight as a starter, but questions remained about the back end of the Green Bay Packers depth chart. There have been cries to sign a veteran free agent, but that’s not the Packers philosophy, and I’m here to tell you that this group of players will be just fine.

Randall Cobb seems to have avoided a more serious shoulder injury and should be a full participant in week one across from Davante Adams. Before addressing the depth, however, we must first look at the cumulative effort required to replace Nelson’s production.

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Adams alone will not replace the longtime Green Bay star, and that’s not necessarily a knock on his skill level. Adams does not possess the same threat on deep passing plays that Nelson does, but will utilize his excellent route-running, hands and yards-after-catch ability to give Aaron Rodgers 85% of what he lost in Nelson. Think a younger style of James Jones during his peak seasons with the Packers.

The remaining 15% of Nelson’s absence will fall to Jeff Janis, the preseason darling who’s caught 10 balls for 149 yards and three touchdowns. Despite being physically gifted, the second-year man has been limited by a predictable route tree. That’s in a state of change, however, which showed on Thursday night against the New Orleans Saints. If Janis is able to provide Rodgers with a deep weapon, or even just the threat of one, Nelson’s absence will be softened.

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This equation will highlight the Packers’ coaching decisions in-game, as the patchwork effort will rely heavily on matchups and situations. To keep this offense elite without Nelson, Mike McCarthy and Tom Clements will need to form Adams, Janis and rookie Ty Montgomery into a target that is greater than the sum of it’s parts. A tall order, but not insurmountable.

Moving to the question of depth, Saturday’s preseason game left me confident that Green Bay can roster six NFL-calibre receivers if they choose. Both Myles White and Jared Abbrederis looked strong, with the Packers coaching staff force-feeding Abbrederis a huge workload in what was a “prove-it” game for the former Wisconsin folk hero. White has impressed, himself, with 16 catches for 157 yards and two scores through the preseason. I wouldn’t be shocked to see one begin the season on the practice squad, though, with Abbrederis being the likelier candidate.

Frankly, there are reasons that veteran free agents are, well, free agents. Signings such as Charles Woodson and Julius Peppers show that general manager Ted Thompson is willing to make his splash, but very rarely, and only for a player he believes will push the team over the edge. A depth receiver is not that situation, and I’ve seen a dozen too many inch-deep pieces of analysis saying the Packers “need” Wes Welker. They don’t. They’ll be fine.

Let’s not forget the most important factor in all of this: Number 12. Like a Manning or Brady, Rodgers has the ability to elevate a C- receiver to a C+ receiver, a B receiver to an A- receiver. With an encouraging offensive line and Eddie Lacy coming out of the backfield, there will be plenty of room for this group of wide receivers to work together. It may take time, but time continues to be one of Green Bay’s great strengths.

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