Packers News: Former Wide Receiver Signs with the San Francisco 49ers

It is common for former Green Bay Packers players to sign with rival teams when their time with the franchise has come to an end. Of course, free agents are free to sign wherever they want; but many players choose rival teams in order to stay close to home, remain in a division in which they are familiar, and/or to get back at their original team for giving up on them.

Za’Darius Smith, for example. signed with the Minnesota Vikings following his divorce from the Packers and was not shy that signing with Green Bay’s most competitive NFC North rival (at the time) was a big reason for his decision. Aaron Jones, too, signed with Minnesota after he was released by the Packers.

Others decide to go and play for Green Bay’s rivals to the south, the Chicago Bears, to stay in the division and attempt to get back at the Packers for letting them go. One of these was former wide receiver Equanimeous (EQ) St. Brown.

Former Green Bay Packers Wide Receiver Equanimeous St. Brown Has Not Had as Good a Career as His Brother

Oct 24, 2021; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown (19) celebrates following a first down during the second quarter against the Washington Football Team at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

EQ St. Brown was originally draft by the Packers in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. His best professional season is still his rookie campaign that saw him catch 21 passes for 328 yards. He did not play in 2019, however, and spent that year on the injured list.

2020 and 2021 saw his role on offense drastically decrease, and he had just 16 receptions for 215 and one touchdown in those two seasons combined.

Following the 2021 season, St. Brown signed with the Chicago Bears. He had one of the best years of his career in 2022, catching 21 passes for 323 yards and a touchdown. In his second year, though, he appeared in just seven games and caught five passes for 62 yards.

Last year, St. Brown played for the New Orleans Saints. He spent most of the season on their practice squad, but did appear in two games. However, he did not record a catch.

Meanwhile, his brother, Amon-Ra St. Brown, has established himself as one of the best wide receivers in the NFL while playing for the Detroit Lions. Just last season, the younger St. Brown had 115 receptions for 1,263 yards and 12 touchdowns.

The elder St. Brown has 63 receptions for 928 yards and two touchdowns in his career.

Former Green Bay Packers Wide Receiver Equanimeous St. Brown Has Signed with the San Francisco 49ers

Green Bay Packers, Equanimeous St. Brown — Dec 2, 2018; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown (19) catches a pass during warmups prior to the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

On Monday of this week, it was reported that EQ St. Brown had tried out for the San Francisco 49ers, along with fellow former Packers wide receiver Grant DuBose.

And then yesterday, Tuesday, it was reported that St. Brown had earned himself a spot on San Francisco’s 90-man roster:

Of course, he still has a long way to go to make the final 53-man roster, but the fact that he is still finding roster spots, whether it be on active rosters or practices squads, is a good indication that teams still value what EQ brings to the table.