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Green Bay Packers: Projected preseason two-deep depth chart

By Freddie Boston

Dec 8, 2014; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) throws a pass to wide receiver Jordy Nelson (87) during the first quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 8, 2014; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) throws a pass to wide receiver Jordy Nelson (87) during the first quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /
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With Aaron Rodgers and his teammates celebrating in the background, Jordy Nelson makes his way toward the end zone on the tail end of his 80-yard touchdown catch and run against the New York Jets last Sunday. Jim Oxley photograph
With Aaron Rodgers and his teammates celebrating in the background, Jordy Nelson makes his way toward the end zone on the tail end of his 80-yard touchdown catch and run against the New York Jets last Sunday. Jim Oxley photograph /

Wide receivers

No. 1: Jordy Nelson 

This is what we’ve been waiting an entire year for – the return of Jordy Nelson. Coming off a 1,500-yard 2014 season, Nelson went down in 2015 and lost a year of production because of season-ending knee injury. The question in our mind is whether at age 31, Nelson is going to have what it takes to get back to that level.

Though the bar is high, we can hardly expect that he will have that kind of year ever again. But if he is solid and comes in with more than 1,200 yards, he will have done his job and given Aaron Rodgers the go-to target that he missed so badly in 2015.

Nelson’s appearance alone on the field is going to make the likes of Randall Cobb, Davante Adams, Ty Montgomery and Jeff Janis that much better. He will not only garner the attention of defensive backs and safeties, but will lessen  much of the pressure that Aaron Rodgers experienced last year. It was clear that Rodgers was pressing in 2015 to find a receiver who would be Jordy Nelson in their offense. It never happened – even as hard as James Jones tried. He wasn’t Jordy Nelson.

No. 2: Randall Cobb

Randall Cobb. Raymond T. Rivard photograph
Randall Cobb. Raymond T. Rivard photograph /

That said, we can expect that Randall Cobb, the Packers slot receiver, will get his chances over the middle and should have many more opportunities than he did in 2015. Cobb is an explosive player who is excellent after the catch. With Nelson in the lineup, we expect that will only get better this year.

Throw in the likes of Adams, Montgomery, Janis, Jared Abbrederis and a couple of the rookies now on the roster and the Packers are as deep at the position as they ever have been.

Next: Tight ends

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