Packers: 3 under-the-radar observations from Week 1 win
2. Interesting tight end usage
Jace Sternberger entered the offseason as the presumptive 2020 starting tight end following the departure of Jimmy Graham. Many even looked forward to him becoming one of the team’s top two or three receiving threats.
On Sunday, the tight ends’ offensive snap counts were as follows:
- Robert Tonyan Jr.—48
- Marcedes Lewis—32
- Josiah Deguara—24
- Jace Sternberger—12
That’s a pretty disappointing number of snaps for the 2019 third-round pick.
Overall, tight ends were pretty much ignored in the passing game, notching only three targets of Aaron Rodgers’ 44 attempts (two for Deguara, one for Sternberger). They were on the field pretty extensively, but Rodgers continually looked to receivers and running backs rather than tight ends.
If Sternberger’s usage was disappointing, then Deguara’s was encouraging. Playing 24 snaps in his first game is a great sign, and LaFleur had him lined up as an H-back and fullback plenty as well as a traditional tight end.
Lewis played his expected role of a blocking specialist helping out the team’s injury-ridden offensive line. Tonyan must be thrilled to have been the predominant starting tight end, but as a primarily receiving tight end, it’s not good news to not receive a single target on a day when Rodgers slings it 44 times.