The Green Bay Packers are 6-3 at the bye week. They are preparing for a challenging second half schedule that will determine whether they make the playoffs. The Packers have yet to play their best football but have still found ways to win football games.
To reach their full potential, the Pack will need better performances from these two players who have talent but continue to struggle with certain aspects of their game. While these two are not the only players who fit this description, they are players with undeniable talent that the team wants to play a bigger role.
LB Quay Walker
Linebacker Quay Walker has yet to realize his potential as a former first-round draft pick. The Georgia alum has all the physical tools to succeed in the NFL, but he’s yet to show he can be a quality starting linebacker.
Walker has great speed and can run down ball carriers and receivers on the other side of the field. This season, he has been wearing the green dot on his helmet so he can call the defensive signals and get instructions from the coaching staff before the snap.
Walker has also led the Packers in tackles in each of his first two seasons and is presently leading the team in tackles again despite missing a game due to injuries.
But Walker hasn’t shown great ball awareness. If you want to run the ball effectively against Walker, run it right at him. He struggles to take on blockers and make tackles at the point of attack. Most of his tackles come far downfield and do not make much of an impact.
Despite his speed, Walker has not been a great blitzer. He does have 1.5 sacks and two quarterback hits, but usually he struggles to beat blockers and take the shortest path to the quarterback. His tackling also needs work. He’s already missed six tackles this season after missing eight all season in 2023.
Walker just doesn’t seem to be well suited to playing middle linebacker against the run. He does a bit better in pass coverage. Perhaps Jeff Hafley would consider moving him to outside linebacker on running downs or only have him on the field in obvious passing situations. Of course, since only one player can wear the green dot on his helmet, that complicates things for the coaching staff.
Walker currently ranks near the bottom of the 82 qualified linebackers graded by Pro Football Focus.
The Packers will have to decide whether to exercise Walker’s fifth-year option this coming offseason. Unless he improves his football IQ and makes some more impact plays, they are unlikely to do so.
WR Dontayvion Wicks
On offense, the player the Packers need to see more from in the second half of the season is wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks.
The second-year man out of Virginia has demonstrated the ability to make big plays. As a rookie, Wicks caught 39 passes for 581 yards and four touchdowns. He finished the season strong and became the team’s top deep threat when Christian Watson was out of the lineup due to injuries.
This season, Wicks hasn’t been as consistent. He has just 16 catches on 43 targets. That gives him a catch percentage of just 37.2, down from 67.2 in 2023. Pro-football-reference.com says Wicks has already dropped seven passes this season. Last year, he had only three drops all season.
Wicks has made big plays this season despite his struggles. He has four touchdown catches already has made some long gains in his limited catches.
With the Packers depth at wide receiver, Matt LaFleur and the coaching staff have other options if Wicks continues to falter. Ideally, the team would like to see Wicks find his game because his raw talent and potential are undeniable.
If both Wicks and Walker can iron out their issues and play to their potential, the Packers could be better on both sides of the football. The ability is there, but ultimately, success is measured by results, not potential. Wicks and Walker will have to be better in the second half of the season to keep or expand their roles on the team.
