Packers Work Out Top CFL Returner, Visit With Ex-Bears RB

The Green Bay Packers are exploring a few new options for punt and kickoff returns after losing both of their return specialists over the past week.

According to the NFL’s transaction wire for December 27, the Packers hosted former CFL standout DeVonte Dedmon for a workout on Monday in addition to visiting with 2019 seventh-round running back Kerrith Whyte Jr., who previously spent about nine days as a member of Green Bay’s practice squad.

Dedmon finished his second CFL season in 2021 as the league’s top return specialist, averaging 25 yards on 49 kickoff returns and 15.4 yards on 48 punt returns over 11 games for the Ottawa Redblacks. He also returned one kickoff and two punts for touchdowns, including a 100-yard kickoff return in November that helped earn him his first career honors as a CFL All-Star.

Whyte also offers the Packers a potential asset on kickoff returns. While the former Chicago Bears running back didn’t see any action in his previous stint with the Packers, he gained a total of 264 yards on 14 kickoff returns over six games for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2019 and touted a career average of 26.1 yards on 81 returns during his collegiate career at Florida Atlantic.

The Packers are currently missing all four of their top returners after placing Malik Taylor on injured reserve on Christmas Eve and adding rookie Amari Rodgers to the reserve/COVID-19 list earlier on Monday. They had also previously lost rookie kickoff returner Kylin Hill to a season-ending ACL tear and veteran Randall Cobb to a core-muscle surgery, which gives him a slim chance of returning this season.

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Dedmon Set Return Record for Ottawa

Dedmon wasn’t just an out-of-nowhere talent that emerged for Ottawa in the most recent CFL season. The Redblacks have known him to be a “game-breaker” since he scored two return touchdowns (one punt, one kickoff) during his first season in 2019, but he managed to fly under the NFL’s radar due to the CFL canceling their season in 2020 and Dedmon essentially sitting out for a year.

Not anymore.

Dedmon was record-setting good for the Redblacks during the 2021 season. When he took back the opening second-half kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown against the Toronto Argonauts, he became the fastest player to five touchdown returns in CFL history, accomplishing the feat in 15 games and beating out the legendary Gizmo Williams — who needed 18 games to reach five in 1987. He also had multiple teams opt against long field-goal attempts as a precaution against his deadly return skills.

Beyond his contributions on special teams, Dedmon also functioned in a gadget-type role for the Redblacks offense as both a receiver and rusher. He caught 11 of his 13 targets in the passing game for 103 yards and added another 68 yards on 10 rushes, including a 3-yard touchdown run in the second game of the season.

It is possible the Packers view Dedmon as a weapon with a similar skill set to former returner Tyler Ervin. While Dedmon is about 15 pounds heavier, he possesses a nice blend of quickness and physicality that could make him a good weapon on jet sweeps. He is also more a receiver than Ervin was, which could come in handy with Marquez Valdes-Scantling (COVID-19 list), Cobb, Rodgers and Taylor all out at the moment.