A stunning twist in an emerging story regarding Romeo Doubs: the Green Bay Packers receiver skipped practices on Thursday and Friday after becoming upset with his role in the team’s passing game, per Bill Huber of SI.com.
After missing practice on back-to-back days, the Packers listed Doubs as doubtful to play Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams with what is described vaguely as a “personal issue.” Coach Matt LaFleur said he is still “day to day,” but he expected Doubs back at practice Friday and it didn’t happen.
Doubs leads all Packers wide receivers in snaps played (224) and is second in targets (22). He was targeted a season-high eight times during the Packers’ loss to the Minnesota Vikings last Sunday. In two games with Jordan Love at quarterback this season, Doubs received 15 targets — or 7.5 per game.
Last season, Doubs led the team in targets with 96 and led Packers receivers with 845 snaps played. Over two playoff games, he caught 10 passes for 234 yards and a score.
Per Huber, Doubs practiced on Wednesday but then didn’t show up to the team facility on Thursday. Wednesday is typically install day for an offense, so it’s possible Doubs got the plan for this week and wasn’t happy about his role. The team had to go to Doubs’ house on Thursday to find him, per Huber, suggesting there are a few more layers to peel back on this situation.
The Packers are headed to Los Angeles to play the 31st ranked Rams defense, and Christian Watson, who has an ankle injury, isn’t expected to play. Doubs, a fourth-round pick in the 2022 draft, is a Los Angeles native.
Through four games, Doubs has 12 catches on 20 targets for 169 yards. He hasn’t caught a touchdown after hauling in eight last season, but he’s been targeted three times inside the 20-yard line, trailing only Tucker Kraft (4) and Dontayvion Wicks (4).
If Watson and Doubs don’t play on Sunday, the Packers would rely on Wicks, Jayden Reed, Bo Melton and Malik Heath at wide receiver against the Rams. Wicks had 13 targets last week, Reed looks more and more like the No. 1 option in the passing game, Melton had a 100-yard receiving game last season and Heath has 17 catches on 26 career targets.