Green Bay Packers: 5 Players Who Must Step Up For Jordy Nelson

Aug 16, 2014; St. Louis, MO, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jeff Janis (83) runs after a catch for a touchdown against the St. Louis Rams during the second half at Edward Jones Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

WR Jeff Janis

Jeff Janis’s lofty pro comparison was Jordy Nelson, because, like the Packers superstar, he is a big, fast receiver who projects as a long-strider and has excellent strength for the position. Blessed with 4.42 wheels and a 6’3″, 219-pound frame, Janis has the raw talent to make an impact for the Packers in his second season after catching just two passes for 16 yards in three appearances last year.

The “raw” part of “raw talent” needs to be taken very seriously when discussing Janis’s potential second-year impact, because he hasn’t exactly been a fast-riser or fast-learner. Rodgers needs to trust his receivers, and Janis’s drop in the last preseason game won’t help him in that department. That said, you could look at his inability to catch more than three passes on seven targets as a negative, but the fact that he received that many targets yesterday could be an indication that the Pack are serious about making him the “X” receiver in three-wide sets.

When looking at the Packers top-four of Randall Cobb, Davante Adams, Janis, and better-than-expected rookie Ty Montgomery, it’s clear that Janis projects best as an “X” due to his size and speed combination. If he can work on his drops and do a better job of getting open (he clearly isn’t “there” yet as a route-runner), then he has the upside to be the answer to the oft-asked question, “Who replaces Jordy Nelson the most?”

Next: The New No. 2