The Green Bay Packers did not make a splash at receiver this offseason, and the team’s only notable addition – veteran Devin Funchess – refused from the 2020 season.
It will fall on the shoulders of a young player returning from an injury to deliver a spark.
Fier Equanimeous St. Brown reappeared in the Packers receiver comparison.
“It’s going to be great to get EQ back in the fold,” coach Matt LaFleur said this week, via Wes Hodkiewicz of Packers.com. “That made us confident last year, so we have a lot of confidence in our receiving corps and they will have to take this next step for us to be as productive as we want this coming fall.”
St. Brown injured his ankle during the Packers’ third preseason game and never returned, ending up on a season-ending injury reserve before the start of the 2019 season. Brown’s potential promise second season ended with a gum, and the Packers lost a likely contender to receiver, one of the team’s most shaky positions.
As rookie hell St. Brown 21 passes for 328 yards, including five catches over 20 yards and 13 first downs. He averaged 9.1 yards per goal despite catching just 58.1 percent of goals.
Long and athletic, St. Brown proved to be a smooth route-runner with some fearlessness in the middle of the field and toughness as a blocker, giving the Packers potentially a new option for slot in 2020.
Back in April, quarterback Aaron Rodgers said he was excited about St. Louis. Brown recovering from an injury.
“I’m excited about EQ recovering from an injury and seeing how he feels,” Rodgers said. ‘He really made some great strides in his rookie year, especially at the end of the season, made plays for us and grew every week. He has a great approach to the game. It will be fun to see him healthy. ”
Without Funchess available, St. Brown had a chance to appear as the team’s third or fourth receiving option. He will fight with Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Jake Kumerow and several others for the majority of the snaps at receiver behind Davante Adams and probably no. 2-receiver Allen Lazard.
The achievements of St. Brown late in his rookie season should give some hope for his third year. In November, he turned three catches in first downs against the Minnesota Vikings. A month later, he pitched five passes for a 94-yard high career against the New York Jets. An injury robbed him of his second season, but the Packers are hoping they will get something meaningful from St. Louis. Brown in 2020.
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