Jake Kumerow is entering his second season with the Green Bay Packers and has quickly become a fan favorite for the team. Not only is he becoming a fan favorite, he was even singled out by superstar quarterback Aaron Rodgers as one of the most impressive players so far in training camp.
Heading into the Packers' first preseason game tonight against the Houston Texans, Kumerow is a player that fans should be keeping a close eye on.
Randall Cobb was the Packers' No. 2 threat behind Davante Adams last season. He has been a longtime piece of the offense in Green Bay, but ended up leaving town to join the Dallas Cowboys in free agency. That has left a void in the wide receiving corps for the Packers.
Adams is one of the top receivers in the game, but there are some questions at wide receiver for the Packers. They need a couple players to step up and take over big-time roles.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling is widely expected to start opposite of Adams, with Geronimo Allison and Equanimeous St. Brown also expected to handle sizable roles. Kumerow may be the least talked about young receiver by the media, but he could very well earn a big role himself. His chemistry with Rodgers has been noted and he brings size, speed, athleticism, and great route running to the table.
Last season in limited time with the Packers, Kumerow ended up catching eight passes for 103 yards and a touchdown. They weren't huge numbers, but they certainly were enough to show that he can play at the NFL level. With more playing time, he could become a very dangerous target in Matt LaFleur's offense.
Against the Texans to open the preseason, the Packers are going to be giving a lot of time to their young receivers. Kumerow is going to play a lot more than guys like Valdes-Scantling and Allison, which will give him more time to prove that he should be in consideration for a role in the rotation.
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Standing in at 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, Kumerow has the size to be a lethal weapon for Rodgers. As previously mentioned, Rodgers talked about the development he has seen from the second-year receiver.
“He’s just a very mature route runner,” Rodgers said. “I think he’s faster than a lot of guys who line up over him give him credit for, until they get beat over the top. He had (Texans cornerback) Johnathan Joseph on a stop route that he just beat him off the line and converted it. Had I been looking that way, I would have thrown the ball to him on that play. He’s just a very smart guy, cerebral guy, you know I love playing with those kind of guys.”
That is high praise from one of the best quarterbacks to ever sling the football in the NFL. Kumerow still has a lot of work to do, but he has taken a big leap forward from last season.
All of that being said, the Packers' fan base should keep a close eye on Kumerow in tonight's game. He isn't going to be a starter, but as the season progresses, he could become a major X-Factor for the offense.
Green Bay will take on the Texans tonight at 8:00 p.m. EST. LaFleur and company will be showing off their new system for the first time in a real game situation. Kumerow is going to look to make the most of his expanded opportunity and will be one of the most important players on the field looking to prove his ability.
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