Getty Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur won't be thrilled with one of his second-year players after Sunday's loss to the Giants.
The Green Bay Packers have had a long stretch of finding impressive talent in the NFL draft under general managers Ted Thompson and Brian Gutekunst. Still, even the teams that are the best at drafting will miss on a player every now and then.
Unfortunately for the Packers, fans are getting fed up with Green Bay’s third-round pick from 2021.
Packers fans might have noticed a new face returning kickoffs instead of Amari Rodgers in Sunday’s loss to the New York Giants, with rookie Christian Watson taking over as the return man. Rodgers was assigned to mostly punt-return duties.
But when he fumbled an early punt return (which was recovered by Green Bay), Packers fans took to Twitter to express their frustration.
Leave Amari in England. He’s their problem now
“Leave Amari in England. He’s their problem now,” one fan tweeted.
I know I’m late to the party, but good god, cut Amari Rodgers. Dude’s the most useless bum. End arounds? Nope. Receiving? Nope. Returner? Nope. Absolute bust.
“I know I’m late to the party, but good god, cut Amari Rodgers. Dude’s the most useless bum. End arounds? Nope. Receiving? Nope. Returner? Nope. Absolute bust,” another fan tweeted.
That might be the last time we see Amari Rodgers…for awhile.
“That might be the last time we see Amari Rodgers…for awhile,” another fan wrote.
I mean, I’m not sure what you expect any more when you put Amari Rodgers back there. Every single time he’s on the field he’s a liability. We’ve known this. You’re playing Russian Roulette with the football if you allow him to be on the field.
“I mean, I’m not sure what you expect any more when you put Amari Rodgers back there. Every single time he’s on the field he’s a liability. We’ve known this. You’re playing Russian Roulette with the football if you allow him to be on the field,” another fan tweeted.
With the Packers recently signing Corey Ballentine, a speedy veteran return man, to the practice squad, there’s a chance that Sunday’s game in London was Rodgers’ last in a Green Bay uniform.
How Did Amari Rodgers Get Here?
At the time he was drafted, Packers fans were excited about Rodgers and the role he could play as an offensive weapon. Unfortunately, things have gone south quickly in his second year.
Coming out of high school in Knoxville, Tennessee, Rodgers was a four-star recruit with offers from top programs including USC and Alabama. Instead, Rodgers decided to play for Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers, where he stayed for four years.
During his time at Clemson, Rodgers was a regular contributor (outside of his junior year, when he had a torn ACL). He was named a first-team All-ACC receiver as a senior, catching 77 passes for 1,020 yards and seven touchdowns.
After being taken in the third round of the 2021 draft, he made almost no impact as a rookie, catching just four passes for 45 yards. This season he has no targets as a wide receiver and has been a liability as a return man, fumbling twice this season.
The Packers have been patient with Rodgers as a third-round pick just last year, but after another fumble against the Giants and a shrinking role on special teams, it’s seemingly becoming harder to justify a roster spot for the 23-year-old.
Who Could Replace Rodgers?
If the Packers decide to part ways with Rodgers, then the team has a few options already on their roster to fill his role on special teams.
Watson was already spotted on kickoff return in Week 5, but fellow rookie Romeo Doubs also had return experience in college at Nevada. As a punt returner, Doubs even returned one for a touchdown as a freshman.
The Packers could also call up Ballentine to the active roster off of the practice squad. A sixth-round pick back in 2019, Ballentine has hopped around the league, primarily serving as a kickoff return specialist, averaging a solid 24.4 yards per kickoff return over his career.
If Green Bay wants to find another option, the team could also look outside of the current roster to find a suitable replacement.