A Green Bay Packers wide receiver has expressed frustration after veteran running back Josh Jacobs urged the front office to pursue a “proven No. 1 wide receiver” this offseason.
Jacobs, who signed with the Packers as a free agent last spring, emphasized the need for an elite pass catcher to help quarterback Jordan Love elevate the offense. Jacobs’ comments seemed to have ruffled some feathers in Green Bay.
Green Bay Packers Dontayvion Wicks Upset By Josh Jacobs ‘Proven No. 1 WR’ Comments
Packers wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks posted an emoji-laced comment on X in response to Jacobs’ highly publicized statement.
🚨🚨TROUBLE BREWING IN GREEN BAY 🚨🚨
MULTIPLE #PACKERS WIDE RECEIVERS HAVE POSTED TO SOCIAL MEDIA THAT THEY ARE ANGRY WITH JOSH JACOBS' COMMENTS.
Jacob says that Green Bay needs to add a legit WR1 this off-season.
WOW… 👀👀👀 pic.twitter.com/9EKBXjDJLD
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) February 5, 2025
Wicks can emoji all he wants, but Jacobs merely states a fact. While Wicks has contributed to the Green Bay Packers’ offense, the team has lacked a consistent playmaker since Davante Adams’ departure in 2021.
In his 2023 rookie season, Wicks appeared in 15 games (six starts), recording 39 receptions for 581 yards and four touchdowns. He averaged 14.9 yards per reception, demonstrating his ability to make impactful plays downfield. In Week 2, Wicks scored his first NFL touchdown on a 32-yard pass from Love against the Atlanta Falcons.
Wicks continued to build on that success in his second season, playing in all 17 games (five starts). He matched his previous season’s reception total with 39 catches, logging 415 yards and five touchdowns. Although his average yards per reception decreased to 10.6, Wicks remained consistent in the Packers’ receiving corps.
Packers’ WR Investments Show Promise but Lack True WR1 Since Davante Adams’ Departure
Green Bay may be short of a definitive WR1, but it’s not because of a lack of trying. From 2021 to 2023, the team invested in their receiving corps, selecting a wide receiver in the second or third round of each NFL Draft.
In 2022 and 2023, the Packers doubled down on receiver talent, using three picks per year to add playmakers like Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, and Samori Toure, along with Jayden Reed, Wicks, and Grant DuBose. The result has built a high upside, but the corp is streaky.
The formula yielded strong results for Love’s first season as a starter in 2023. He racked up 4,159 passing yards and 32 touchdowns, ranking 12th and third in the NFL. But the Packers’ passing stats dipped in 2024, totaling 3,807 yards and 28 touchdowns, placing 12th and 10th in the league.
Green Bay also declined in EPA per dropback, falling from fourth-best in 2023 to seventh-best in 2024. Since Davante Adams’ departure after the 2021 season, no Packers wide receiver has eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards in a single season, highlighting the team’s ongoing search for a true WR1.
