The Green Bay Packers and wide receiver Romeo Doubs were at considerable odds last week, though it appears the two sides have come to a resolution.
Doubs, upset with his role in the offense, skipped multiple practices leading up to the team’s Week 5 contest against the Los Angeles Rams. Green Bay responded by suspending Doubs for that game.
General manager Brian Gutekunst and head coach Matt LaFleur both said in recent days that the team intended to retain Doubs and expected him back. On Monday, October 7, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported the latest update in the back-and-forth between team and player.
“#Packers WR Romeo Doubs plans to attend Wednesday’s practice coming out of his meeting with the team today, per source,” Fowler posted to X. “The meeting ‘went well,’ the source added.”
Jayden Reed, Green Bay’s primary slot receiver, is leading the team with 414 receiving yards. He also has 21 catches on 28 targets and 2 receiving TDs. Doubs is third in overall production behind tight end Tucker Kraft, who surpassed him with 88 yards and 2 TDs Sunday.
Through four games, Doubs has 12 catches on 20 targets for 169 yards and zero scores. Had he played in Sunday’s game and earned his season averages, Doubs would have 15 grabs for 211 yards through five contests.
Doubs’ lack of looks in and around the end zone has come, in part, due to the depth among the Packers’ pass-catchers. Dontayvion Wicks, for example, has 29 targets and only 10 catches but 3 have gone for TDs.
Quarterback Jordan Love’s absence from the lineup in Weeks 2 and 3 also cut down the number of pass opportunities significantly, as backup Malik Willis started both games.
Packers Head Coach Matt LaFleur Addressed Romeo Doubs’ Situation Monday
GettyGreen Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur.
LaFleur spoke with media members on Monday about Doubs’ situation, calling it more or less an “isolated incident.”
“I’m not going to get into the specifics of it, but I think it was productive and we look forward to getting him back on Wednesday,” LaFleur said of the team’s meeting with the wideout. “What’s done is done, and we’re moving forward. I expect us collectively as a team to continue to move that way.”
The Packers host the Arizona Cardinals at Lambeau Field in the early window next Sunday.
Christian Watson Likely Out for Packers Against Cardinals in Week 6
GettyGreen Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson.
Also absent from the Green Bay offense against Los Angeles was Christian Watson.
Watson suffered an ankle injury against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 4 that sidelined him last weekend and could keep him out for multiple games to come.
Watson’s absence, while a detriment to the Packers’ passing attack, could help alleviate some of Doubs’ issues with his work inside the system — particularly with Love back in the lineup healthy.
Love has thrown the football an average of 40 times per game, adding 3 TD passes per contest in his two starts since returning from a knee injury he sustained in Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Cardinals are 21st in the league in total passing allowed with 1,124 yards surrendered through the air and are 31st in completion rate, affording opposing QBs a 72.5% completion percentage on the year, per NFL.com.
Green Bay is almost certain to try and exploit those weaknesses, which could mean big games for Doubs and several other Packers pass-catchers on Sunday.
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Disgruntled WR Romeo Doubs Makes Final Call on Return to Packers