Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs missed practice on Thursday and Friday, leading to concerns about his availability for Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams. Sources revealed that Doubs is upset with his role in the team’s passing game, which has caused his absence from practice.
Although head coach Matt LaFleur had expressed hope that Doubs would return to practice, the receiver did not appear for two consecutive days. Team representatives even visited Doubs at his home on Thursday, showing concern for his mental state amid the situation.
Despite Doubs being upset with his opportunities, his role in the passing game has been fairly significant. He ranks third on the team with 20 targets, just two behind Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks.
In the previous game against the Minnesota Vikings, Doubs was targeted eight times, the same as Reed, and behind only Tucker Kraft and Wicks. However, Doubs was the Packers’ most-targeted receiver last year with 96 targets, so the slight decrease this season, combined with the team’s changing quarterback situation, may be contributing to his frustration.
During training camp, Doubs spoke optimistically about maintaining unity among the Packers’ young receiving corps. He emphasized that the team needed to keep egos in check and support each other, recognizing that different players might shine in different games.
This “all-for-one” mentality helped the team’s success last year, but Doubs hinted that it might be harder to sustain now that players have proven themselves. With his numbers down this year, it appears that maintaining this team-first mindset has been challenging for Doubs personally.
Doubs’ struggles this season are evident, with only 12 catches for 169 yards and no touchdowns through four games. This is a noticeable decline from last year, where he was a key red-zone target with seven touchdowns, tying for the team lead in red-zone scores.
His red-zone target share has also dropped from 18% last year to 14.3% this season, and he came up just short of a touchdown against Minnesota last week. The drop in production may be fueling his frustrations, especially as both he and Christian Watson are nearing contract negotiations that will likely be impacted by their current performance.
Meanwhile, Doubs’ teammates have maintained a positive attitude toward the team’s dynamic. Jayden Reed emphasized the importance of staying supportive and trusting that opportunities will come for everyone in the long run. He downplayed individual stats, suggesting that the “ball finds good energy” when the team works together.
Running back Josh Jacobs echoed similar sentiments, explaining that ups and downs in usage are common in the NFL, and players need to be patient for their breakout moments. While Doubs may feel sidelined, the rest of the team seems committed to focusing on teamwork and long-term success.
