Why the Packers don’t need to trade for a wide receiver

Packers receivers combined for just four catches and 55 yards in the win over the Cowboys. It is not time to panic and trade for a receiver.

The Green Bay Packers are coming off a solid win on the road over the Dallas Cowboys, a team that looks to be a contender. The offense did well, scoring 34 points, more than any other game this season. But that didn’t stop Packers Twitter from overreacting to the stat line the receivers put together.

Yes, the receivers combined for just 55 total yards, but why would they force-feed the ball to the receivers when Aaron Jones was having such a spectacular game? Without Davante Adams, I understand that the star power isn’t out there, but this offense worked without having to throw it to the receivers. Aaron Rodgers found other receiving options, mainly Jones, to have an effective passing game.

After the game, Rodgers even said he thought this was his best game of the year and he didn’t even throw a touchdown pass. But he completed 22-of-34 pass attempts, the same as the game against Minnesota in Week 2, but he threw for more yards without Adams.

When a star receiver goes down, it’s not just up to the backups to step up, it’s up to the entire offense, and that’s what Jones did. The tight ends also stepped up, combining for 81 yards. I think if Rodgers threw for at least a touchdown in the game, people wouldn’t be so quick to want a trade.

It’s not like the receivers didn’t get open either. They had plenty of chances to make plays, the Packers just didn’t capitalize. Marquez Valdes-Scantling had beat his guy deep later in the game and Rodgers just underthrew him. If Rodgers puts that pass on the money, MVS is gone and the stat line for Rodgers and this Packers receiving corps looks a whole lot different.

Another example is when Jake Kumerow caught his only pass for nine yards. He had a chance to walk into the end zone but had to get by one defender. He couldn’t do it. It was a perfect opportunity to get the receivers on the scoreboard.

And let’s all remember here, that MVS is only a second-year player, Geronimo Allison is still developing, Allen Lazard and Kumerow don’t have a lot of experience under their belts and Darrius Shepherd is an undrafted rookie.

Before we give up on them and trade for a vet to play over them, let’s give them time to develop and see what they can do. I know it may be a bit of a stretch comparison, but Jordy Nelson wasn’t an impact player right out of the gates, it took him a few years to reach his prime.

So before we start panicking, let’s just enjoy the fact that the offense is still doing pretty well. The Packers hung 34 points on a solid Dallas defense. Hopefully, Adams will be back sooner than later, but until then, this offense can manage to put up some points without having to trade for a veteran.

If it turns out that Adams will be out longer than originally thought, then this may be a discussion worth having, but right now, it seems a bit premature to make trades just to make them.