The Green Bay Packers lost in Week 2 to the Atlanta Falcons 25-24 in a game that was there for the taking. A few miscues and not taking advantage of opportunities presented to them ultimately did in the Packers.
While suffering the loss was certainly disappointing, it wasn’t all negative for Green Bay in the game. There were a few positive takeaways from the game, as Rob Demovsky of ESPN pointed out.
In a recent article, he highlighted whose stock went up the most in Week 2 and in his opinion, it was the wide receivers. There has been a lot of talk about the team’s pass catchers and how inexperienced the group is, but they have passed the early tests with flying colors.
“Second-round pick Jayden Reed and fifth-rounder Dontayvion Wicks combined for three TD catches. Reed caught two — including a 9-yarder in the second quarter on a jet-sweep motion shovel pass in which he hit 20.54 miles per hour, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.”
Jayden Reed was selected in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft and has been a key contributor through two weeks. Against the Falcons, the coaching staff expanded his role, as he lined up all over the formation. He had a great game, catching four passes for 26 yards and two touchdowns.
Dontayvion Wicks has seen an expanded role early in the season because of Christian Watson being sidelined with a hamstring injury. Even when Watson is healthy enough to return, Wicks has done enough to earn a weekly role.
Wicks, a fifth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, isn’t going to wow you with his athleticism or highlight reel plays. He is a high IQ player who prepares tirelessly throughout the week, putting himself in a position to succeed on game day.
This is a group that is trending in the right direction. A lot of people questioned the Packers’ plan of attack by relying so heavily on young, inexperienced players, but it has worked thus far. Whatever this group of wide receivers is missing in experience they more than make up for in talent and work ethic.
