Say Bye-Bye, the Packers release Sammy Watkins
The Green Bay Packers release Sammy Watkins on Monday, December 19, hours before their Monday night game against the Los Angeles Rams. The journeyman WR will have to find another team to play with in 2022.
The Green Bay Packers was Sammy Watkins’ fifth team. The Clemson product was drafted fourth overall in 2014 by the Buffalo Bills. He failed to live up to his high expectations with the Bills where he only put up one 1,000+ yard season. He then went on to sign a one-year deal with the Rams. He had his second-highest touchdown total (8) with the Rams, which helped secure a couple of contracts with the Kansas City Chiefs from 2018-2020. In 2021 he joined the Ravens for a season.
Watkins signed with the Packers on April 14, 2022. His one-year salary was worth $1.85 million with a $350,000 guaranteed signing bonus and a $50,000 workout bonus. His cut will only cost the team $400,000 in dead cap.
Sammy Watkins had a very limited role in the Packers’ offense. He caught 13 passes on 22 targets for 206 yards and no touchdowns. He was primarily used to move the chains; 9 out of 13 of his catches were for first downs. No stranger to the sidelines, Watkins re-injured his hamstring on September 18th and didn’t return until week 7.
The Green Bay Packers release Sammy Watkins and it does not surprise anyone who has been paying attention to how the rookies have been playing. Second-round pick Christian Watson has broken out to the tune of seven touchdowns over a four-game stretch. Fourth-rounder Romeo Doubs is coming back from injury and has proven he can ball in the pros with the opportunity presented to him. Finally, seventh-round pick Samori Toure has shown promising deep speed in the few opportunities he has been given.
The Packers already have a couple of veterans in the wide receiver room, so Watkins’ departure will not leave a void in that department. Long-time Packer Randall Cobb has a great rapport with Aaron Rodgers. Cobb has played 10 seasons over two stints with Green Bay amounting to 47 touchdowns. Allen Lazard is Rodgers’ other favorite target and the team’s leading receiver. Lazard is Rodgers’ true #1 option for first downs; 36 of his 45 receptions have been first downs. Both of these players have proven success with #12 that Watkins could not achieve.
As the Packers release Sammy Watkins, this also opens up space on the active roster. The Packers elevated RB Patrick Taylor to the active roster in advance of the team’s Monday night game. Taylor may be used to give Aaron Jones some rest if needed. Jones had some limited practices this week due to an ankle injury and may need to take a few plays off.
Sammy Watkins now joins a pool of free agent wide receivers that includes Odell Beckham, Jr. Additionally, there will be players seeking contracts with new teams such as Nelson Agholor and JuJu Smith-Schuster.
Sammy Watkins has played 108 games as a pro. In his career, he has caught 361 balls on 616 passes for 5,265 yards and 34 touchdowns. He has also lost four fumbles. He is best known by NFL fans for his injuries. He has had an A/C shoulder sprain, right and left ankle sprains, a hip tear, a surgically repaired left foot, and an injured right, rib bruises, groin pulls, two concussions, multiple groin sprains, and various other injuries.
