The Green Bay Packers are traveling to California to take on the Los Angeles Rams for their Week Five matchup. They are coming off of a deflating loss at home to the Minnesota Vikings that saw the team nearly complete an epic comeback after trailing 28-0 in the first half.
During the 31-29 loss, wide receiver Christian Watson suffered a high ankle sprain that will likely keep him out this week. Defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt also suffered an ankle injury and will not play against the Rams.
One other wide receiver is also listed as doubtful on the injury report: Romeo Doubs. He missed the team’s last two practices with what Matt LaFleur called a personal matter. According to one Packers insider, that personal matter is an issue with the team.
Green Bay Packers Wide Receiver Romeo Doubs Reportedly Is Unhappy with His Role
According to Bill Huber of Sports Illustrated, Doubs skipped practice on Thursday and Friday because he is frustrated with his role on the offense. Huber wrote, “Green Bay Packers receiver Romeo Doubs skipped practice on Thursday and wasn’t present on Friday because he is upset with his opportunities in the passing game, sources told Packers On SI.”
Huber also reports that after Doubs did not show up to practice on Thursday, team representatives, worried about his well-being, went to his house to investigate and found him there.
He just did not show up.
Doubs has also removed all mentions of the Packers from his social media profiles.
What is so confusing about this is that the third-year wide receiver actually has had a big role in the offense this season. He is second on the team in targets (20), with only Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks having more (22 each). Doubs is also tied for second on the team in receptions (12), with only Reed having more (17).
The third-year pro, who is also just the third Packers wide receiver ever with 100 receptions, 1,000 yards, and 10 touchdowns through his first two seasons, also is second on the team in receiving yards (169). Reed (336) is the only player on the team with more,
Mr. Huber is a well-respected reporter and there is no reason to doubt his writing nor his sources. That is why Packers fans are so confused by this report. Doubs is such an unassuming player, and one of things the wide receiver room is so proud of is the fact that they do not care who shines the brightest as long as the team wins.
But apparently that is not the case, at least if the report about Doubs is true (and there is no reason to think that it isn’t).
Fans shared their confusion on social media:
This last point is an interesting one for a few reasons.
First, Doubs has a 10.0% drop rate this year, which would be the second highest of his career (he had 13.9% as a rookie in 2022). Second, Packers quarterbacks have just a 66.5 passer rating when targeting him.
And here’s what’s really odd: in Green Bay’s loss to Minnesota, Doubs was tied for the third most targets on the team. Wicks had 13, Tucker Kraft had nine, and Reed also had eight.
Which leads one to wonder what Doubs, exactly, is expecting his role to be. The numbers above and mentioned previously indicate that he is already a top two or three pass catcher in the offense already.
He is in the third year of his four-year rookie deal, so money cannot be an issue either.
This is truly a confusing turn of events, and one that is incredibly unfortunate.
