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Packers' LaFleur 'Hopeful' Romeo Doubs Will Be Ready to Work After Suspension

Joseph Zucker@@JosephZuckerX.com LogoFeatured Columnist IVOctober 7, 2024

GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - SEPTEMBER 24: Head coach Matt LaFleur of the Green Bay Packers talks to Romeo Doubs #87 of the Green Bay Packers prior to a game against the New Orleans Saints at Lambeau Field on September 24, 2023 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur is ready to welcome back Romeo Doubs after the wide receiver was suspended for Sunday's 24-19 win over the Los Angeles Rams.

"Yeah, I'm looking forward to our conversation tomorrow, so I fully anticipate him coming back and I'm hopeful that he will come back and get ready to work," LaFleur told reporters after the game. "Distractions happen in the National Football League, distractions happen in life, and you have got to do your best to just focus on the task at hand and I thought our guys did a pretty good job of that."

The Packers deactivated Doubs for one week for conduct detrimental to the team. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on The Pat McAfee Show he was totally absent from practice last Thursday and Friday and pointed to potential frustration from the 24-year-old about his usage.

Pat McAfee @PatMcAfeeShow

"The Romeo Doubs situation is really interesting for a few reasons..<br><br>He was there Wednesday but he didn't show up on Thursday or Friday..<br><br>He decided to stay away for a couple days &amp; I don't know if he was particular thrilled about the amount of passes that went his way"… <a href="https://t.co/nWidQbWoMr">pic.twitter.com/nWidQbWoMr</a>

Through four starts, Doubs has 12 receptions for 169 yards on 20 targets. That's on average a little below his 2023 output (59 catches, 674 yards and eight touchdowns), though his yardage per game has increased.

Jayden Reed has quickly become Jordan Love's preferred target. The 2023 second-round pick was Green Bay's leading receiver last season and is on pace to claim that title again. Tight end Tucker Kraft has seen his per-game production double as well.

Doubs, meanwhile, is only a year and a half out from free agency without seeing a meaningful increase in his stats. That's not to say he's being massively underutilized at the moment, but based on Schefter's reporting, this is something that might be worth monitoring as the campaign unfolds.