Romeo Doubs dropped what may have been the winning game and his best throw of the afternoon, but Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers made it clear that his confidence level in the rookie wide receiver is still sky-high, pointing to a few plays both before and after the fall as proof why.
“Romeo is growing. He’s playing some,” Rodgers said after Sunday’s 27-24 win over the New England Patriots 27-24. third place with two minutes to go so I’m not going to lose faith in him We hold him accountable but he’s a great kid I threw a third down back shoulder fade at him for a touchdown I would say I have some faith in him.”
Rodgers tied with Doubs on back-to-back run-pass options on the final drive, racking up 17 yards and getting the Packers in field goal. Earlier in the game, Rodgers went to the rookie with a back-shoulder throw on 3rd and 3rd from the 13-yard line, and the catch by Doubs made the game 24 with about six minutes left.
The decline was a difficult moment. Doubs initially made the catch in the end zone, but his attempt failed to survive ground contact and was rightly judged incomplete, even after an “emotional” challenge from coach Matt LaFleur. Had he completed the game, the Packers would have been 31-24 on the two-minute warning.
Doubs responded and his quarterback noticed.
“I told him after the game that I’ll keep coming to you. I’m proud of you,” said Rodgers. “That was a great last ride. Great on the back-shoulder.”
The touchdown was nothing but an impressive individual move, and it brought back memories of big moves Rodgers used to make with the likes of Greg Jennings, Davante Adams and Jordy Nelson.
Doubs won on an outside release against press coverage, got his head at the right moment and made a spinning catch on Rodgers’ throw for the 13-yard score.
“Really great game from him. Really nice release,” said Rodgers. “The timing was excellent.”
The fourth-round pick became the first Packers rookie to catch touchdown passes in back-to-back games since Jennings in 2006. Last week, Doubs caught his first-ever touchdown pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Doubs did lose a fumble in the top half of Sunday, but Rodgers mainly took the blame for throwing an inaccurate pass on the receiver’s screen.
The rookie finished with five catches for 47 yards and a score. In four games, Doubs has 19 catches, 184 yards and two touchdowns.
“He’s a great boy, very happy for him,” said Rodgers. “Glad he’s ours.”