Five Packers to watch vs. Vikings in crucial Week 16 matchup
By Jesse Fry
4. Jake Kumerow
The Packers have been looking for someone, anyone, to step up next to Davante Adams this season. No one has. Allen Lazard has flashed in spots, Geronimo Allison has been drop prone, Marquez Valdes-Scantling has been missing in action for over a month.
The Packers may be regretting putting Equanimeous St. Brown on injured reserve before the 53-man roster at the moment. Had they waited till after the final 53 was announced, he might be contributing right now. But, we’ll never know.
What we do know is, no one has been getting open with any consistency outside of Adams.
After making a big play last week versus the Bears, Matt LaFleur stated he needed to find ways to get Jake Kumerow the ball more. The only way to do that is to keep him in the game.
We should be past the point of figuring what works this late in the season. Yet Kumerow, and Lazard for that matter, seem to be taking a back seat to Allison and MVS. That has to stop. The Packers should not give up on either player, but the time has come for them to take on a specialized role and let Kumerow and Lazard take a majority of the snaps alongside Adams. Even if that means the Packers may be showing their hand a little when either player is in the game.
Kumerow has shown he is a willing and able blocker, so there is no need to sub him on run plays. And he is a savvy route-runner with just enough speed.
Kumerow was the darling of the last two preseasons, now it’s time to put him to work and let him make a difference.