Green Bay Packers: Five players to watch in preseason opener vs. Cleveland Browns

Jeff Janis, WR

Jeff Janis has drawn a blank at training camp to date. Well in need of a strong preseason outing, the former seventh-round pick currently runs the risk of being beaten out at camp by Jared Abbrederis and undrafted Geronimo Allison.

Janis’ hype train is yet to lose the momentum it built in the Packers’ divisional round loss at Arizona. His heroics in that game raised questions as to whether he should have seen more of the field in 2015, but his performances at training camp to this point suggest otherwise.

For all of his physical tools—elite speed, athleticism and size—Janis struggles with the fundamentals of the position. Track speed is different to play speed.

Against the Browns, Janis will have an opportunity to prove his mental processing has improved. Can he read defensive backs and put them on the back foot? Has his route tree developed, and can he use subtle moves to set up defenders? Janis offered little evidence of this in 2015; now is the time to showcase his development.

Janis is currently buried on the depth chart as a third-teamer, importantly behind Abbrederis and Davante Adams. There’s enough time to change that, but it begins with a strong preseason display.

Next: Aiming to carve out a role