Receivers Jake Kumerow and Trevor Davis stole the show during the Green Bay Packers Family Night Scrimmage on Friday night at Lambeau Field.
The pair of pass-catchers made big plays all over the field, moving each closer to making the 53-man roster as one of the receivers in Matt LaFleur’s new offense.
Kumerow, a darling of last summer and now one of Aaron Rodgers’ most trusted targets, made at least three noteworthy plays during the practice.
He made a statement early by catching a deep ball down the far sideline from Rodgers against the sticky coverage of Jaire Alexander, who had no chance to turn and contest the looping throw because Kumerow waited to put his hands up and make the catch until the very last second. Later, Kumerow spun around and completed a tough back-shoulder catch from Rodgers for a first down in the two-minute and then finished his night with an impressive, tumbling catch along the sideline on an outside throw from Tim Boyle.
It will be difficult – maybe even impossible – for the Packers to keep him Kumerow the roster. He’s reliable and consistent, and he makes the most of every opportunity to make a play. The number of first-team snaps he played in the two-minute situation Friday night suggests he’s getting closer and closer to locking in a roster spot.
“He definitely helped himself,” LaFleur said Friday night. “You can always count on Jake. He’s a tough guy, played through a (hand injury). That catch he made down the right sideline was pretty incredible.”
Davis continued his strong summer with another big night at Lambeau Field.
Early in the practice, he caught a bomb from Manny Wilkins that likely would have been a 70-yard touchdown. The fourth-year speedster also got open in the middle of the field for a catch from Boyle and then made the play of the night when he went up and over the coverage of Nydair Rouse for an impressive catch and a big play down the sideline.
If Davis continues making plays in a variety of ways in the passing game and locks down a role as the go-to returner on special teams, he’ll all but ensure himself a spot on the 53-man roster. Davis’ speed and elusiveness could make him dangerous in both roles.
The receiver competition still has a long ways to go, and other pass-catchers – such as rookie Darrius Shepherd and Teo Redding – made impressive plays Friday night, but it’s clear Kumerow and Davis are starting to separate from the pack. The two stars of Family Night are making their individual receiving abilities impossible for LaFleur and the Packers to ignore.
