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The Green Bay Packers Just Added Another Potential Weapon for Aaron Rodgers

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The Packers just activated Equanimeous St. Brown, which gives Aaron Rodgers another potential weapon to target in the passing game.

Despite not having all of his weapons available, Aaron Rodgers looks like a top candidate to take home NFL MVP honors this season. And just a day before they take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Green Bay Packers just added another potential weapon for their star quarterback.

Aaron Rodgers has shined despite the Packers’ injury issues

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Considering the Packers drafted his possible successor in April, Aaron Rodgers entered the season with an extra layer of motivation. So far, the 36-year-old has played at such a high level that it seems downright silly that Green Bay spent a premium draft pick on a player who won’t see the field anytime soon.

Even with Davante Adams and Allen Lazard missing time with injuries, Rodgers has put up stellar numbers in his first four games. The two-time MVP has thrown 13 touchdowns and zero interceptions while leading the Packers to a 4-0 start. Green Bay’s star quarterback has completed 70.5% of his attempts, which would easily rank as the best mark of his Hall of Fame career.

Rodgers has managed to do all of this despite not having a full cast of weapons available. Lazard had to undergo core muscle surgery on the heels of a breakout performance against the New Orleans Saints. Meanwhile, Adams hasn’t played since Week 2 due to a hamstring injury. Plus, the Packers lost rookie tight end Josiah Deguara to a torn ACL in their 30-16 win against the Atlanta Falcons.

Green Bay just added another potential weapon for Rodgers

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With Adams set to return on Sunday, Aaron Rodgers will have his No. 1 receiver back in the fold. However, the Packers just added another potential weapon for their franchise icon.

On Saturday, the Packers activated Equanimeous St. Brown from the injured reserve list. The 24-year-old wideout has yet to play this season due to a knee ailment. Last year, St. Brown didn’t play a single down due to a serious ankle injury.

However, the 2018 sixth-round pick showcased intriguing potential as a rookie. The 6-foot-5, 214-pound receiver racked up 328 yards on 21 catches (15.6 yards per catch) as a depth piece. Now, though, the Packers need St. Brown to become much more than that.

Can Equanimeous St. Brown become a reliable receiver for the Packers?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fY94tuKOW8

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Though he hasn’t played an NFL game since 2018, Equanimeous St. Brown has the potential to become a key weapon for Aaron Rodgers. His combination of size and speed makes him a tough matchup, especially since he does not have to face No. 1 corners given Adams’ presence.

After flashing dynamic ability as a rookie, St. Brown’s health issues have prevented him from continuing his development. But given Green Bay’s health issues at receiver, the third-year pro has to step up moving forward.

While Adams’ return gives a big boost to the Packers’ offense, the team still lacks reliable playmakers at receiver. Marquez Valdes-Scantling has caught just 48% of his targets this season—a slight improvement over his 2019 catch rate of 46.4%. He needs to become more consistent if he wants to keep getting targets from Rodgers.

Both Valdes-Scantling and St. Brown possess the physical tools teams look for in starting-caliber wideouts. The latter simply needs to stay on the field in order to continue building chemistry with No. 12.

Ultimately, if St. Brown stays healthy, the Packers could have a potential breakout star on their hands. And that will only make Rodgers even more difficult to defend as the season continues.

All statistics courtesy of Pro Football Reference.

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Stephen Sheehan
Sports Editor

Stephen Sheehan began his sportswriting career as a high school student covering sports for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel through a student outreach program. He wrote for Bleacher Report and Fan Rag Sports and worked full-time for Sportscasting in 2020 and 2021. Stephen specializes in covering the NFL, particularly the New England Patriots. Stephen is inspired by the stories sports can tell, from money to tragedies to breaking news; there are so many different ways to cover the industry. He monitors Twitter and various websites every day to find stories to tell in unique ways. Stephen was a 2008 Culpepper Journalism Foundation Fellowship winner, received a bachelor's degree in journalism in 2013 and a master's in sports management in 2015 from the University of Florida, and is an active rugby player and former rugby and football coach.

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Author photo
Stephen Sheehan Sports Editor

Stephen Sheehan began his sportswriting career as a high school student covering sports for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel through a student outreach program. He wrote for Bleacher Report and Fan Rag Sports and worked full-time for Sportscasting in 2020 and 2021. Stephen specializes in covering the NFL, particularly the New England Patriots. Stephen is inspired by the stories sports can tell, from money to tragedies to breaking news; there are so many different ways to cover the industry. He monitors Twitter and various websites every day to find stories to tell in unique ways. Stephen was a 2008 Culpepper Journalism Foundation Fellowship winner, received a bachelor's degree in journalism in 2013 and a master's in sports management in 2015 from the University of Florida, and is an active rugby player and former rugby and football coach.

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