Green Bay Packers: Geronimo Allison is here to stay

For the Green Bay Packers, third-year receiver Geronimo Allison may be more than what they’ve bargained for, and Aaron Rodgers is recognizing it.

During one of the most historic matchups in the longstanding 100-year rivalry between the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears, Aaron Rodgers turned to an unfamiliar face when challenged with a dire situation.

First, it was a mere miracle Rodgers was back on the field after he was carted off due to a knee injury in the first half, in what looked to be the potential beginning of the end to Green Bay’s young season. So what did he do when he needed a big play, down 17 points with 14:08 to go in the fourth quarter? He put his faith in Geronimo Allison, of course.

The hobbled quarterback heaved what counted as a 39-yard touchdown — but in all actuality was around 53 yards. Rodgers let go of the ball at the Bears’ 45-yard line, as it flew at a perfect trajectory right into the arms of a contested Allison in the back right corner of the end zone. The play was the beginning of what would be the largest fourth quarter comeback in Packers’ franchise history.

So what else can we say about Allison, who finished with five receptions on eight targets, for 69 yards and one touchdown?

This is what we know: Rodgers doesn’t throw to guys he doesn’t trust. It’s a reason Allison has stuck with the team for three years as an undrafted free agent. After all, t’s not as if Allison is a physical specimen who made his calling-card as an athletic freak.

We’re talking about a guy who ran a 4.67-second 40-yard dash and had a three-cone time of 7.40 seconds. For reference, the average 40-yard dash and three-cone times for a receiver are 4.49 and 6.90 seconds, respectively.

So what is it about Allison? What makes him a potential breakout candidate this year? It comes down to that one word: Trust. It’s a reason Allison was named a starter this season for the first time in his career.

For as long as he’s been on the team, Green Bay’s franchise quarterbacl has talked about what it means to have a connection with his receivers. Rodgers and Allison have been together long enough where they both know each other’s tendencies. All offseason we heard about the connection between the two during training camp, and the results are starting to show.

With Davante Adams and Jimmy Graham drawing an extreme amount of attention (rightfully so), opportunities opened for both Randall Cobb and Allison to shine against the Bears on Sunday night. Now the clear-cut No. 3 receiver, it may be difficult for the Packers to let go of Allison in free agency after this season, assuming he continues performing like he did on Sunday.

Allison should be a key contributor the rest of the season, so don’t be shocked if Rodgers continues targeting him five or six times a game. Who knows, by season’s end, we may even be talking about him as Green Bay’s second-best receiver.