Packers Take Chance on ex-Vikings Wideout

Packers Take Chance ex-Vikings Wideout
Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports.

The Green Bay Packers signed veteran wide receiver Dede Westbrook on Tuesday.

Last season, he was a candidate to compete for receiver snaps with K.J. Osborn but instead spent the majority of the year as Minnesota’s punt returner. The Vikings went a different route for 2022, and now we may see who was right.

Over the offseason, there didn’t seem to be much interest from Minnesota in bringing back Dede Westbrook. He played 15 games for them a season ago, and while he recorded just 10 receptions, he was the primary punt returner and brings veteran ability to the table. K.J. Osborn emerged as a legitimate third wide receiver, but receivers coach Keenan McCardell was vocal about his love for the receiver room heading into the NFL Draft.

Dede Westbrook
Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports.

Westbrook was instead out of work to this point in the season and now finds himself joining the Packers. It’s looked like Aaron Rodgers may have a problem finding capable wide receivers heading into the season, and Christian Watson’s critical drop during Week 1 didn’t do anything to dispel that notion.

While it would be somewhat surprising to see Westbrook play a prominent role immediately, there’s no reason to think he can’t factor into the equation. No Green Bay receiver has eclipsed 500 yards through the first 10 weeks, and it has largely been a graveyard behind Dede Westbrook. Watson did break out in a big way against the Dallas Cowboys last week, but it’s been clear there’s plenty of work to be done.

The Vikings opted to trade for Jalen Reagor as a replacement for Westbrook. He was most notable for being taken immediately ahead of superstar Justin Jefferson. Reagor has been virtually non-existent offensively, but that was expected given Minnesota’s receiver room. What has been a bit more concerning is his lack of production on special teams.

Vikings Free Agent WR Could Be Back for Sequel
Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports.

Last week we checked in on how the experiment to give up assets in favor of Reagor was going. With another game under his belt, not a whole lot has changed. He’s still generating lower yards per return than last season with the Eagles, and he has yet to break a dynamic run back. Often he’s seen navigating the field east and west rather than north and south.

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah likely made the deal with the Eagles, hoping Minnesota could unlock some of the skills that landed Reagor as a first-round pick. We haven’t seen that thus far, but it’s also possible that the training wheels have yet to be taken off with his new team.

Maybe the Packers immediately thrust Westbrook into the offense, but either way, one would think we’ll find out if he’s a better punt returner.


Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes weekly for Twins Daily. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.

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