If you’re looking for a thrilling roller coaster ride, you don’t need to go to a theme park. All you have to do is tune in every Sunday for the Amari Rodgers Experience (TM).
The former Clemson receiver provides heart-pounding excitement every time an opposing team is forced to punt. The problem is that the tension is whether or not he’ll accomplish the bare minimum. Will he fair catch the ball or show the world one of his trademark fumbles?
This may seem a cruel jest, but it’s been clear that Rodgers is a liability as a returner for the past season and a half. He’s putting in the work to improve his skills and body. Still, despite the praises his coaches have given his effort, it’s not translating to success on Sundays. Rodgers is a determent on special teams. But with a dearth of other options at wide receiver, don’t expect the Amari Rodgers Experience to end anytime soon.
It’s hard to believe that before the Packers took Christian Watson in the second round this spring, Rodgers was the highest-drafted wide receiver in Green Bay since Ty Montgomery. Remember when Montgomery was a receiver? Rodgers didn’t fit the traditional size thresholds for a Packers’ pass-catcher, but many thought he’d be used in a hybrid Tyler Ervin-esque role with jet sweeps and snaps from the backfield.
But then Aaron Rodgers brought Randall Cobb back, and Amari’s path to game time became less clear. Amari Rodgers had been described as a Randall Cobb-type receiver, and Cobb’s father even coached him at Clemson. But with the Packers in win-now mode and Cobb having an existing connection with No. 12, Cobb was always going to get the favoritism over the “new Cobb.”
Since then, Amari Rodgers has had very few opportunities on offense, even when the roster depth at receiver was at its weakest. His rookie reasons saw eight targets good for four catches at 45 yards. But he was the primary punt returner for most of 2021, and he took over kick return duties once injury ended Kylin Hill‘s season. Rodgers struggled to hold on to the ball, with two fumbles and many more near misses.
While his rookie season was a wash, the thought was a new special teams coordinator, and a wide-open depth chart would be good for the young receiver. After all, Amari Rodgers would be far from the first player to have a rough rookie season and have things click in Year 2. Most rookies aren’t good.
Amari Rodgers also remade his body, returning to his college weight after bulking up to handle potential running plays as a rookie. New special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia was hard on Amari Rodgers this off-season, but Bisaccia was his biggest supporter when he started seeing some success in the preseason. There was optimism Rodgers could grow as a returner and even see some play on offense.
However, that success has not manifested through seven games. Despite looking improved at time, Rodgers’ yards per punt return are down in 2022, and the mistakes haven’t stopped. Most recently, Rodgers had a nightmare performance in Landover, muffing a punt return and giving the Washington Commanders the ball back. That led to three points for the Commanders in a game the Packers would ultimately lose by two points.
Amari Rodgers also made zero effort in downing a punt return just before the end of the seven-hour first half, forcing the Green Bay offense to start at their own one-yard line. Unsurprisingly, the struggling Packers offense did not do much with that opportunity. Rodgers was somehow allowed to continue fielding punts after this.
At the time of his muffed punt fumble, Amari Rodgers had five career receptions and five career fumbles.
Bisaccia previously said the team wouldn’t “shitcan” the struggling receiver, but they may have no chance after Sunday’s loss.
The Packers had already experimented with different kick returners before this week, with Watson getting the chance in London and Keisean Nixon fielding a few against the New York Jets. Matt LaFleur is finally open to reevaluating punts as well, saying that while they believe in Rodgers and love the effort he’s put in, “That’s something that we’re going to evaluate for sure.”
Perhaps rookie Samori Toure can get a chance to return, or Hill could take over both duties when he returns from the PUP. Either way, a change is necessary.
You’d think that could be a death sentence for a former third-rounder struggling to find playing time, especially with the trade deadline approaching. But don’t expect the Amari Rodgers Experience to end anytime soon.
The Packers are banged up at an already-weak receiving grouping. Allen Lazard left Sunday’s game with a shoulder injury, and LaFleur wouldn’t further elaborate during Monday’s media availability. Cobb is on IR, Watson has been hurt, and Sammy Watkins is just coming back from his injury. And the healthy receivers haven’t been doing much anyway, with 11 drops over the past two weeks (which is very bad). While trading for a receiver isn’t out of the question, if the Packers can’t get things figured out quickly, it doesn’t make sense to be buyers at the trade deadline.
At this point, the Packers’ offense needs to play Amari Rodgers whether they want to or not. In his defense, Rodgers added a few catches to his repertoire in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game, corralling two of his three targets for 14 yards. Maybe he can make the most of this chance to carve a role out on offense.
But his time on special teams needs to end. Whatever the coaches are seeing during the week isn’t translating to a remotely acceptable performance on game day. Amari Rodgers’ role on special teams needs to change, but don’t expect the full experience to end anytime soon.
