Rodgers: Signing Bryant unlikely
GREEN BAY - Aaron Rodgers believes free-agent receiver Dez Bryant has plenty to offer an offense but doesn’t expect the Green Bay Packers to sign him.
After releasing Jordy Nelson at the start of spring, the Packers could use more receiver depth behind Davante
Adams and Randall Cobb. Rodgers, careful to say it wasn’t his decision, suggested history would indicate the Packers probably will go with what they have.
“We like young receivers,” Rodgers said Tuesday. “So I’m assuming that’s the way they’re going to keep going.”
Bryant, a first-round pick of the Dallas Cowboys in 2010, was released earlier this spring after eight seasons with his original team. He was selected to three Pro Bowls with the Cowboys, his last coming in 2016.
Rodgers said he wouldn’t oppose the Packers signing Bryant, but he believes it’s unlikely.
“I don’t know why you’d cut Jordy and bring in Dez,” Rodgers said, “but he’s a talented player. He’s going to end up somewhere. If he ends up here, we’d obviously welcome him with open arms and get him up to speed as quick as possible.”
When it comes to young receivers, the Packers have no shortage of options. They drafted three this spring: J’Mon Moore in the fourth round,
Marquez Valdes-Scantling in the fifth and Equanimeous St. Brown in the sixth. Others, such as 2017 fifth-round pick DeAngelo Yancey and 2017 undrafted rookie Michael Clark, could factor in the mix.
Perhaps the most likely candidate to replace Nelson isn’t Bryant or the crop of rookies, but third-year receiver Geronimo Allison. In two seasons, the undrafted receiver out of Illinois has 35 catches and 455 yards. He caught two touchdown passes from Rodgers as a rookie in 2016, then followed early last season with a game-winning catch in overtime against the Cincinnati Bengals. Adams, assuming more leadership with Nelson gone, said he’s been impressed with Allison’s development.
“G-Mo’s been on the field,” Adams said. “He’s seen some NFL defenses. So it’s not as much small things I have to nitpick on, and G-Mo is one of the biggest students of the game in the locker room. He attacks it. You talk about a pro, he’s on his way to being just like the Jordys in terms of how he carries himself.
“He’s the most attentive dude. Doesn’t say much, but he’s observant. He’s watching all the time, and he picks up on things real well. Not a dude that you have to tell him things twice, so it makes it easy to work with him.”
‘Sticking to the plan’: Asked whether he has any long-term concerns with his surgically repaired left shoulder, cornerback Kevin King responded with a rhetorical question.
“You know where I got my surgery done?” King said at his Lambeau Field locker. “The best in the world. Pensacola, Florida. Dr. Andrews. The best in the world, man.”
So, clearly, the Packers’ second-year corner has full faith in James Andrews, the world-renowned orthopedic surgeon. King is hoping his second surgery to repair the labrum in his left shoulder will be the last.
King said most of his first full off-season in the NFL has been spent rehabbing his shoulder. His work paid off this week when King was able to participate in organized team activities. He didn’t take team reps Tuesday and doesn’t know whether he’ll be able to before training camp opens in July.
But King went through individual drills and should have minimal limitations — if any — when camp begins.
“Just taking it slow,” said King, the Packers’ top 2017 draft pick. “Sticking to the plan.”
Injury updates: The training room at Lambeau Field has been busy since the end of the season, and the hustle and bustle continued through the start of OTAs.
Offensive tackles Bryan Bulaga
(torn ACL) and Kyle Murphy (foot), cornerbacks King (shoulder) and Quinten Rollins (torn Achilles), outside linebacker Clay Matthews (knee) and running back Ty Montgomery (wrist) are all recovering from surgeries that either ended their 2017 season or took place shortly after the conclusion of Week 17. Safety Kentrell Brice (ankle), tackle
Jason Spriggs (dislocated knee) and cornerbacks Herb Waters (shoulder) and Demetri Goodson (knee / hamstring) also dealt with significant injuries at the end of last season.
As such, the Packers took the field Tuesday missing droves of starters who either did not practice at all or were very limited in their participation.
“You set your development based on the guys that can go,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “The guys that are battling through rehab, you acclimate them as best you can.
“You have three environments that you work on: It’s the classroom environment, you have the practice environment and ultimately the game-day environment. Those guys that are injured are really in the classroom environment, and based on their injury it’s specific whether it’s just fundamental drills or anything that doesn’t put them in a compromised position based on their situation and injury.”
One unexpected name on the injury list was Adams, who signed a four-year, $58 million contract extension last December. Adams is dealing with multiple minor injuries, according to McCarthy, and will not be a full participant for at least the early portion of OTAs.
“Unfortunately, he’s battling a couple things so he’s in a limited state right now as far as practice, but I really like what he’s offered to the younger guys, because there’s been some change,” McCarthy said. “There’s been change for everybody, and it’s no different for the receiver position.”
The following players missed practice with injuries:
Wide receivers Trevor Davis (hamstring), Colby Pearson (hamstring) and Adams (hamstring); outside linebackers Matthews (knee) and Nick Perry (ankle); offensive linemen Lane Taylor (ankle) and Bulaga (knee); and tight end Emanuel Byrd (hamstring).
Safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and cornerback Tramon Williams were the only non-injured players who missed Tuesday’s practice. There were no reasons given for their absences, but attendance for OTAs is optional.