Aaron Rodgers gets wide receiver help ahead of stretch run

The Green Bay Packers are looking strong heading into a juggernaut of outings.

One thing the Green Bay Packers have been missing is a No. 2 weapon for the offense. That could be changing entering another weekend where passing will be a point of impact to seal a victory.

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Packers will activate Allen Lazard off the injured reserve. The third-year receiver has been out since early October after undergoing core muscle surgery.

Prior to his injury, the Packers looked to have found a gem in the former Iowa State pass-catcher opposite of Devante Adams. When active, Lazard tallied 13 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns. A mix of both size and hands, Lazard also did work after the catch, averaging 19.5 yards per reception.

For the first time in a while, the Packers are looking to be at full strength

Green Bay has missed proponents of their offense all season due to injuries or COIVD-19 cases. The team recently welcomed back franchise left tackle David Bakhtiari after he missed three games due to broken ribs. The run game should feature all three players with Jamaal Williams and AJ Dillon returning from the reserve/COVID-19 list last week as well.

In Lazard’s absence, tight end Robert Tonyan and wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling took turns playing the No. 2 role. One known for size and the other for speed, they each flashed glimpses of potential stardom for their future roles in the frozen tundra. This season, Tonyan currently has 27 catches for 327 yards and five touchdowns while Valdes-Scantling sits with 22 receptions for 463 yards and four scores.

The receiving game has been a weak point for Green Bay this season despite having flawless quarterback play from Aaron Rodgers. Adams leads Green Bay with 61 catches, but running back Aaron Jones currently sits in second place with 28. There also isn’t a receiver with more than 500 yards other than the three-time Pro Bowler.

Green Bay is set to enter a stretch of challenging games starting Sunday against the Colts’ top-tier defense. This season, Indianapolis has produced one of the top pass defenses’, allowing opponents to grab an average of 198.7 receiving yards per game. Of their next four outings, two are also against divisional foes Chicago and Detroit.

Health has been a big concern for the Packers’ offense. Now with Lazard back, it’s time to see if Green Bay is a contender towards the final month of football.