Emerging Stars: Rookie Wide Receivers Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks Adding Strength to the Packers

This season of transition for Green Bay’s offense gives the Packers plenty of opportunities to figure out which of their young players could emerge as long-term key performers. Rookie wide receivers Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks both had strong performances in the most recent game, with Reed showcasing his versatility by scoring his first career rushing touchdown. Before leaving Sunday’s game to get evaluated for a concussion, Wicks set up the Packers’ go-ahead touchdown by catching a short pass, bouncing off a defender and heading upfield for a 35-yard gain. The emergence of these two rookies provided a spark Sunday as quarterback Jordan Love threw for a career-high 322 yards.

Green Bay’s defense did a nice job protecting its goal line against a Chargers offense that entered the game ranked second in the NFL in red zone touchdown percentage. The Chargers kicked field goals on their first two trips inside the 10 and lost a fumble on second-and-goal from the 3. The defence also stopped the Chargers twice after the Packers pulled ahead in the fourth quarter.

Romeo Doubs had the winning score Sunday and has caught a touchdown pass in four of his past five games. His seven touchdown catches this season put him in a tie for third place in the NFL, behind only Miami’s Tyreek Hill and Denver’s Courtland Sutton entering Monday. Love has had his two highest passing yardage totals in Green Bay’s past two games. He threw for 289 yards at Pittsburgh before his 322-yard performance Sunday.

The Packers have a Thursday trip to Detroit followed by a Dec. 3 home game with the Kansas City Chiefs. Once the Packers get through this tough two-game stretch, only one of their last five contests will be against a team that currently has a winning record.