Packers preseason 2017: Which wide receivers stay, who gets the boot

DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 1: Jeff Janis
DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 1: Jeff Janis /
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ATLANTA, GA – OCTOBER 30: Trevor Davis
ATLANTA, GA – OCTOBER 30: Trevor Davis /

Trevor Davis

In many ways, Davis remains an unpolished receiver in that he still comes up on the short end of being strong enough to fight off several pro-level cornerbacks in tight coverage.

And because of that, the 188-pound speedster may never be anything more than a No. 6 option at his position.

Davis’ value as a return specialist, however, far exceeds anything he can or can’t accomplish in the regular offense.

The 24-year-old diligently went to great lengths to improve his ability to catch punts during the offseason and even sent tapes of his exploits to special-teams coach Ron Zook.

Davis, as most Packer diehards recall, was essentially banished from performing punt-return duties following an ill-advised sequence that saw the rookie muff the oncoming ball versus Tennessee last November.

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So far this summer, the Cal product has been consistently catching every kick coming his way outside of one Justin Vogel punt during the early part of camp.

Davis surely put a smile on Zook’s face with the 68-yard punt return he scored on in the first quarter of Thursday’s game.

The fleet-footed Davis put all his tools on display during the play, including his elusiveness in making the first man miss, his instincts in reading his blocks and his trademark 4.42 speed that makes him nearly impossible to catch once he’s in open space.

The second-year pro is a far more decisive return man than Jeff Janis and looks to have the job all to himself along with also chipping in on kickoffs.

Odds of making the squad: 90 percent