Before signing Skyy Moore this offseason, the Green Bay Packers had gone a long time without a real return specialist on the roster. Last season, they ranked last in the league with 5.6 yards per punt return and 30th in total yardage.
Three games into the Moore experience, the Packers are first in both average and total yards at 18.2 and 109, respectively.
Moore's 63-yard return against the New York Jets certainly boosts his average, and we're talking a sample size of six runbacks. Still, it's a dramatic change from anything fans have seen in recent seasons. And this offense needs all the help it can get.
That much was evident late in the fourth quarter in Week 2, when Moore's long return put the Packers inside the red zone down by three. And thank goodness for that. The offense mustered three yards on as many plays before Trey Smack tied the score at 17 with a field goal, en route to an overtime Packers win.
In Thursday's 35-14 debacle against the Atlanta Falcons, the offense mustered 17 rushing yards and went three-and-out on three of the first four drives.
With the offensive line in shambles and no run game to speak of, extended drives may be few and far between for a while. In addition to being a rotational receiver, the boost Moore provides on special teams is just what the doctor ordered to put the Packers in advantageous scoring scenarios.
Feeble Packers offense needs all the help it can get
The Packers also went three-and-out on five of their first seven drives against the Jets. Including one in overtime, they had three drives of at least 35 yards. Only four Packers drives gained 10 yards or more.
To the team's credit, their three longest drives all ended in points, including a pair of touchdowns. But let's face it. With an injured, ineffective offensive line, stacking first downs will be a challenge.
Capitalizing on short fields is one way this offense can stay afloat while Matt LaFleur and Brian Gutekunst try to glue together a functional O-line and rushing attack. Without Moore's return a game ago, the Packers would be winless.
That's not a comfortable feeling, but for now it is what it is. Moore twice put the Packers in favorable field position last Sunday, once on a punt and another time on a 43-yard kickoff return. Despite starting the drive near midfield, the Packers didn't do anything with that one.
Whether it produces touchdowns over field goals or field goals over nothing, they'll need as many freebies as they can get. Jordan Love can only do so much by himself. Christian Watson and Matthew Golden can only make so many plays.
The Packers are already down a pair of weapons in running back Josh Jacobs and receiver Jayden Reed. Savion Williams is on injured reserve. Chunk plays wanted, in any form.
In two games, Moore had already accounted for three-quarters of Green Bay's 2025 punt-return yardage. He's averaging a solid 27.8 yards returning kickoffs (nine attempts), which would rank ahead of 23 other teams. The offense may be past fixing, but in the meantime, the more short fields, the better.
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