Packers' Love proves he 'trusts the entire receiving corps'

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Christian Watson had just returned from his ankle injury. Romeo Doubs was back after a one-game suspension. Jayden Reed had been doing Jayden Reed things, catching the ball and running it out of the slot and the backfield. Tucker Kraft began to show how dangerous he could be with his tackle-breaking runs. There were also Dontayvion Wicks, Bo Melton and Ben Sims as options.

Who would Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur and quarterback Jordan Love rely on?

The answer should have been clear: everyone.

By the end of Sunday's 34-13 duel against the Arizona Cardinals at Lambeau Field, Love had targeted 10 different wide receivers or tight ends. Nine of them caught at least one pass.

“That’s just the glory of our offense, man,” said Reed, who finished with six catches but just 28 yards and a touchdown. “We have a lot of different players who can make plays. We distribute here. We have a lot of different playmakers and you have to have a game plan for that.”

No single player totaled more than Watson's 68 yards, and Reed was the only player with more than three throws.

This was the Packers passing game at near full strength. Only tight end Luke Musgrave, who was placed on injured reserve last week with an ankle injury, was missing.

That doesn't mean there won't be a 139-yard receiving game like Reed did with seven catches against the Vikings in Week 4. And there could still be players with multiple touchdowns in a game this season, like Doubs with his two on Sunday, or Wicks with a pair against the Vikings, or Kraft's two against the Rams.

That's TD #2 for Doubs!#AZvsGB pic.twitter.com/0Bnqwr69TD

— Green Bay Packers (@packers) October 13, 2024

“One hundred percent (agree),” said Watson, whose catches included a 44-yard touchdown and a 14-yarder that Love dropped over a linebacker to convert a fourth-and-1 in the second quarter. “I think everyone is going to have their (chances), and sometimes it just happens that you get some more situational insight into how the game is going and then you're able to improve those stats.”

The multi-threat aspect of the Packers' passing game makes it difficult for opposing defensive coordinators. However, it's not necessarily conducive to the kind of individual player accolades that can lead to big salaries when it comes time for free agency.

Doubs and Watson will be free agents after the 2025 season, but ideally they will be seeking contract extensions by this point next year. Reed, Wicks, Kraft and Musgrave all have two seasons left after this season before they would hit free agency.

“I don’t really think that’s the mentality we have,” Watson said. “Everyone has individual goals. Everyone wants to get the ball. I'm sure if you ask anyone here, any wide receiver here, any tight end here, they want the ball on every single play. But I think the more other people make plays, (then) we know that the more plays there are that will be made in the future.”

Doubs' suspension was the first – and so far only – sign of problems in the receiving area. A Sports Illustrated report said he was unhappy with his options on offense. Doubs said that was not the case, but did not disclose why he skipped two days of work without communicating with the team, which led to his suspension.

Sunday's varied offensive performance coincided with Love being as healthy and mobile as he has been since spraining his left MCL in Week 1. As good as Malik Willis has been in his two substitute starts, Love is making it possible to distribute the ball.

Get the deep ball to Watson in the second quarter. This was due to an adjustment LaFleur and Love made on the sideline after seeing the Cardinals' safeties playing coverage early in the game. Watson passed Budda Baker and Love threw a ball nearly 40 yards into the air for the score.

Back to the Watson TD: It flew 39.9 yards in the air. Per @NextGenStatsLove had only averaged 5.8 air yards in the game prior to this play. pic.twitter.com/L7wPU6jFTW

— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) October 13, 2024

“That was a great play that Matt made on the sidelines,” Love said. “That was something we didn’t even have this week. We talked about it, tackled it and went out and did it and it worked out perfectly. It's great to have Christian out there, just having his speed. The depth. “Even though he's a big threat, it's also nice to have him back.”

Then there was the second touchdown for Doubs. The Cardinals sent an all-out blitz attack with seven rushers with every single one covered, and Love started it when it trailed off and bounced off his back foot. Doubs (No. 87) rounded cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting to field the ball.

The Cardinals sent 7 to Jordan Love, and he still manages to pass it to Romeo Doubs for a touchdown.

Love reached a career high with his fourth touchdown pass. There are 3:48 minutes left in the third quarter. pic.twitter.com/LwGwHX4Smn

— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) October 13, 2024

“I trusted Rome and threw him one,” Love said.

Doubs said, “It’s not just me, he’s trusting the entire receiving staff to produce.”