The Green Bay Packers' tie with the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football taught us a few important lessons about this team.
Among them is the glaring lack of a competent returner. Rich Bisaccia deserves most of the blame for the Packers' continued special teams woes, but he needs some help at a key position. It's the hidden yardage we don't talk about often enough.
The Packers had the perfect solution to the problem on their books less than a week ago: Mecole Hardman. It's time to give him a call.
Packers need to undo their Mecole Hardman mistake and re-sign him during the bye week
Green Bay's roster currently sits at 52 players. It had one available spot for Hardman, had the team wished to use it. Instead, the Packers released the veteran from their practice squad. Fortunately, he remains available.
The Packers put Matthew Golden on return duties again in Week 4. Golden has no experience as a returner, and it showed. He spun his way into a huge hit on a two-yard punt return against the Cowboys. It's ridiculous to risk their first-round rookie on punt returns, especially when the results aren't there.
Golden is averaging just 4.7 yards on punt returns. The Packers did eventually replace him, turning to Romeo Doubs. Yeah, the Packers' most reliable receiver, who shouldn't be anywhere near that thankless job.
Hardman offers punt and kick return experience — he has career touchdowns in both. The veteran made All-Pro and Pro Bowl teams as a kick returner in 2019, but that same season, he also ranked ninth in the league for punt-return average.
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The Packers should re-sign Hardman to the practice squad, where they could elevate him to the gameday roster three times. Then, they should make room on the 53-man roster.
Yes, it may seem like a lot to ask to keep a sixth receiver on the roster who only contributes on special teams. But it's better than forcing Golden or Doubs to play an unfamiliar role. And, as noted, the Packers had only 52 players on their roster last week. It's not like that precious 53rd spot is always used.
It may become more challenging in the weeks ahead, with returns for Christian Watson, MarShawn Lloyd, and Collin Oliver on the horizon.
But adding an experienced and talented returner wouldn't just give the Packers' special teams a much-needed boost. It would also allow Golden to focus on becoming a key contributor on offense rather than spinning his way into trouble in a role he's not used to.
The Packers already had the answer on their practice squad. Their next move should be to bring him back.