Aaron Rodgers shows elite leadership after criticizing young receivers

After expressing criticism of the performance of the young Green Bay Packers receivers, quarterback Aaron Rodgers spoke extensively to them in a team meeting.

There are going to be a plethora of young wide receivers in the Green Bay Packers offense in 2022, due in part to the exits of Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling this offseason. While some names have been shining in training camp, quarterback Aaron Rodgers criticized the young wideouts this past Tuesday for a variety of reasons, including consistency, drops, and routes.

After Rodgers’ comments went viral, ESPN’s Rob Demovsky wrote that the quarterback spoke with the young receivers “extensively” during a meeting called on Wednesday morning.

Aaron Rodgers speaks with young Packers receivers day after criticizing them

“Aaron spoke to us about what he likes or what not just based on concepts or what he sees,” said Romeo Doubs, h/t Demovsky.

“He just wants us to see what he sees. So then that way we can be able to react faster, play faster and just be able to dominate and continue to be who we are.”

The meeting was not called by Rodgers, per Demovsky. Also in the meeting was all of the quarterbacks, the coaches involved in the passing game, and Randall Cobb and Lazard. The two veteran wide receivers also spoke.

Doubs is one of three receivers that the Packers selected in this past year’s NFL Draft. He shined early on in training camp and received praise from Rodgers. Yet, in the aforementioned Tuesday practice against the New Orleans Saints, he had a drop on what Rodgers called “the best throw of the day.”

Other new faces on the roster include second-round pick out of North Dakota State, Christian Watson, and seventh-rounder Samori Toure out of Nebraska. They will be alongside veteran pass-catchers on the depth chart in Cobb and Lazard, in addition to free agent signing Sammy Watkins.

The Packers have Super Bowl aspirations, even though Adams is no longer Rodgers’ primary target in the passing game anymore. They certainly have the chance to do so, as their defense has improved this offseason and the NFC provides a much easier path to Super Bowl 57 than the AFC. Yet, Rodgers is letting the young receivers know that mistakes will not be tolerated, even in training camp.