Could the Packers cut Sammy Watkins before 2022 season?

Could Sammy Watkins be a surprise cut by the Green Bay Packers this summer?

Allen Lazard and Romeo Doubs continue to impress at Green Bay Packers training camp.

Lazard enters the new season as the Packers’ top wide receiver, while Doubs continues to show why he can be a starter in Matt LaFleur’s offense.

But what about free-agent addition Sammy Watkins?

In his training camp observations from Tuesday’s practice, Andy Herman of Packer Report noted that Watkins hasn’t made a great start to the summer.

“Sammy Watkins continued his slow start to training camp and hasn’t given the Packers much of a spark on offense,” wrote Herman.

That’s far from ideal. Watkins was expected to make an immediate difference to Green Bay’s offense.

What if Watkins continues to struggle on the practice field? Is there any possibility the Packers could move on before the start of the regular season?

Well, perhaps it shouldn’t be ruled out.

Green Bay’s wide receiver room is crowded. Along with Lazard and Doubs, there is veteran Randall Cobb, who will have a key role to play again this season.

Then there is second-year Amari Rodgers. We haven’t even mentioned Christian Watson yet, who the Packers traded up to draft in the second round back in April.

Another rookie, Samori Toure, has been impressive. As has Juwann Winfree.

Including Watkins, a case can be made for keeping seven wide receivers on the 53-man roster. So maybe it shouldn’t be considered a guarantee that Watkins will make the roster.

According to Over The Cap, Watkins’ cap hit for 2022 is just $1.77 million. If Green Bay decided to move on, the team would pay just $350,000 in dead cap.

If the Packers wanted, they could move on from Watkins before the start of the season.

Will they? That’s a completely different question, and it could depend on whether Watkins can turn things around in the coming weeks.