Profiling the standout players of Packers’ preseason
By Brady Busha
Jake Kumerow
There’s a special talent in Jake Kumerow. At the age of 27, he has poised himself to be a receiver in Nathaniel Hackett’s new offense in Green Bay.
Kumerow has already shown in the past two preseasons that he has the kind of big-play ability you love to see out of a receiver, and the swagger to make a viewer look twice. When analyzing the career path of Jake Kumerow, it has some similarities to a current Pro Bowler within the division.
A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Kumerow had action in his sophomore through senior years, and was a two-year starter, tallying almost 2,500 receiving yards and 33 touchdowns in that time, earning him Offensive Player of the Year honors from D3Football.com. His efforts helped the Warhawks secure Division III championship victories in 2013 and 2014, the latter title being the conclusion of legendary coach Lance Leipold’s run at Whitewater, before moving to become the head coach of the University of Buffalo.
As an undrafted free agent, Kumerow was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals, and after a few camps on the training camp roster, and one game on the active roster, he was cut. The Patriots picked Kumerow up for a time in 2017, spending time on the practice roster.
Upon arriving in Green Bay, Kumerow became a preseason wonder. In 2018, Kumerow’s preseason started with two games that totaled six catches for 190 yards and two touchdowns, before a somersault into the end zone following an 82-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown sidelined him for two months with a shoulder injury.
Green Bay elected to keep him on the roster on injured reserve, and he came back as a backup receiver in the final five weeks of the season. In that stretch, he posted eight catches for 102 yards and a touchdown.
This preseason, Kumerow has provided reason to be excited for him to remain healthy into the 2019 season, catching seven passes for 99 yards and a touchdown in the limited action he has seen.
The Minnesota Vikings have one such receiver with a similar background to Kumerow.
For those that haven’t heard of Adam Thielen‘s origins, he played for Division II Minnesota State-Mankato, a football powerhouse in their division. Upon going unsigned in 2013, he paid for a tryout with the Vikings and made the roster, finding his way to a starting spot by way of special teams work and substituting in.
Kumerow may not have the special teams pedigree, but he does have the football pedigree. The son of former Miami linebacker Eric Kumerow, and cousin to Nick and Joey Bosa, both of them being first-round draft picks.
That’s not to say that Kumerow’s lineage and something-to-prove attitude makes him an instant lock to be the next great receiver in the NFC North, but he certainly has enough cheering his name to make it sound like it.
If Kumerow keeps up the level of intensity and consistency he’s shown in the preseason, he has a real chance to battle for the third or fourth spot at wide receiver on the Packers roster. He has the physical tools and big-play ability that can create a star in the NFL.