Packers add intriguing offensive weapon that the NFL forgot to draft right before training camp
The Green Bay Packers are making a move right before training camp starts on Wednesday. On Monday, the team signed former Colorado wide receiver Will Sheppard, who went undrafted. Fox Sports’ insider Jordan Schultz first reported the news. The rookie had failed a physical with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in May, then had a workout […]
The Green Bay Packers are making a move right before training camp starts on Wednesday. On Monday, the team signed former Colorado wide receiver Will Sheppard, who went undrafted. Fox Sports’ insider Jordan Schultz first reported the news.
The rookie had failed a physical with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in May, then had a workout with the Denver Broncos. Now, he finally gets another opportunity to show his value. The Packers had two open roster spots.
Sheppard played four seasons at Vanderbilt before transferring to Colorado in 2024. Playing alongside Shedeur Sanders, the wideout had 48 receptions for 621 receiving yards and six touchdowns. Throughout his five college seasons, he had 200 receptions for 2,688 yards, and 27 TDs. Sheppard is a big-bodied receiver, 6-3 and 205 pounds. He’s mostly a boundary weapon.
“While seeing heavy doses of slants and back-shoulder throws, Sheppard uses his frame well to shield defenders and catch the football away from his body. That ability shows in the red zone — 17 of his 23 touchdown grabs the past three years came inside the opponent’s 20.. Though drops were an issue for him in 2023, his hands were sticky on the 2024 tape and he caught the ball cleanly over/around defenders. Overall, Sheppard doesn’t have dynamic speed, and detaching from NFL athleticism won’t be easy for him, but he is a seasoned route runner with the hand-eye coordination to be a potential possession target.” — Dane Brugler, The Athletic
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Will Sheppard adds another element of competition to the Packers’ wide receiver room. With Christian Watson on the physically unable to perform list (PUP) and expected to miss camp, there will still be plenty of competition. Drafted rookies Matthew Golden and Savion Williams, plus veterans Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, and Dontayvion Wicks are roster locks.
Beyond them, the competition for roster spots (active or practice squad) will also have veteran Mecole Hardman, holdovers Malik Heath and Bo Melton, practice squad holdovers Cornelius Johnson and Julian Hicks, plus fellow undrafted rookie Samuel Brown.
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