“He has shown that he is a really talented player on the field, and that he comes on with his own confidence,” said Adams of Lazard. “Once you start believing that you’re a really, really good player, and you know your role on the team and all that, it’s when you start having an Allen Lazard. Really excited to see. “This year, he’s jumping for him because he’s very confident.”
Valdes-Scantling started last season in a rookie role, placing a six-catch, 99-yard performance with a touchdown against Denver in Week 3 and another 133 yards and a score against the Raiders in Week 7.
The second half of the year was another story for the rapid deep threat, with Valdes-Scantling adding just five catches for 36 yards over the team’s last nine games.
This offseason, Rodgers and LaFleur regained their confidence in Valdes-Scantling, who came on the scene in 2018 after hitting 38 passes for 581 yards and catching two touchdowns as a rookie from the fifth-round pick from South Florida.
“(I’m) really excited to see Marquez jump back from how he did last year,” Adams said. “Of course he did a lot of great things, but there is a lot that he wishes he could get back. He is definitely taking the right steps now.”
While five years apart, Kumerow and St. Brown both at a pivotal point in their respective careers. Kumerow, the oldest receiver on the grid at 28, has been a pitcher for the past two years, but has only 20 catches for 322 yards and two touchdowns to see him in action in the regular season.
However, the former UW-Whitewater standout has potential for big game flashes. Three of his 12 receptions in 2019 went for more than 20 yards, including a 49-yard sideline grip against Chicago in Week 15.
St. Brown, who was only 21 at the time he was drafted in 2018, was primed to make a Year 2 jump before an ankle injury with a late camp landed him on IR season.
“It’s going to be great to get EQ back in the fold,” LaFleur said. “That really hurt us 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.”
Walking around the room will be returning training team players Darrius Shepherd and Malik Taylor, former CFL standout Reggie Begelton and developed rookie Darrell Stewart.
With the first practice of training camp for New Saturday, time is of the essence for the young receivers of the Packers to make the most of their reps with Rodgers and leave an impression on the coaching staff.
“We all started from Square One along with this crime, so they’ll be a little more comfortable than they used to be in the NFL,” Adams said. “As people get used to it, they start to get a little more involved and focused on the details. And in Green Bay … the attention to detail is high for a long time.”
