Wanna be an NFL wide receiver? Might head to Raymond James Stadium this weekend and be prepared to suit up for either the Green Bay Packers or Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Both teams got in their last heavy installation practice today and a whopping total of nine wide receivers on both sides had their names listed on the injury report.
The Packers were without Randall Cobb, out with an illness for the second straight day. Allen Lazard (ankle), Sammy Watkins (hamstring) and Christian Watson (hamstring) were all downgraded from limited participants on Wednesday to did not participate today.
Down in Tampa where their star receiver, Mike Evans is preparing for a weekend off thanks to his one game suspension for the dust up in New Orleans with Marshawn Lattimore last week, the Bucs practiced without Chris Godwin (hamstring) and Julio Jones (knee) for the second straight day. Breshad Perriman (knee) and Russell Gage (hamstring) were both limited and Scotty Miller, he of the end of half hail mary in the NFC title game a couple of years ago was at least a full participant with a sore calf.
Running a few extra routes at practice today on Clarke Hinkle Field were the remaining healthy wide-outs, Romeo Doubs, Amari Rodgers and Samori Toure along with practice squad receiver Juwann Winfree. Green Bay had to re-sign veteran Travis Fulgham to the practice squad today just for some weekend insurance, releasing safety Mike Brown from the squad.
Tampa signed veteran Cole Beasley on Wednesday morning for the same reason.
Hardly the cast of pass catchers you were hoping for with a pair of sure-fire NFL Hall of Famers throwing the ball in Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady for a key conference matchup.
At least the Packers did get David Bakhtiari back on the practice field Thursday after he stayed upstairs for rehab work the day before. He was officially listed as limited, making it unlikely he took part in team drills (although media aren’t around for that portion of practice). Before taking the field, Head Coach Matt LaFleur was asked about Bakhtiari’s status (a near daily exercise), and he said his absence Wednesday wasn’t necessarily connected to his practice plan laid out last week when even at full health, the All Pro will probably work one day and get the next one off. LaFleur said, “we just want to make sure we’re doing what’s best for David and the team and we want to get him out there as soon as we can.”
When that will be remains anyone’s guess.
Elgton Jenkins remained a limited participant coming off his season debut last Sunday night. Kenny Clark, off to an impressive start this season, was a new add to the injury report, limited with a sore groin and kicker Mason Crosby may have caught what’s bothering Cobb as he stayed home with an illness. Tight end Marcedes Lewis, who usually gets a Thursday veteran day of rest, was also a DNP with a sore groin.
So if you can run a decent route and catch a tight spiral from two of the best to ever toss a pigskin, this might be your week to give it a shot.
