The Packers are giddy with excitement about the dynamic pairing of quarterback Jordan Love and wideout Romeo Doubs in 2023.
O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? If the Green Bay Packers’ 2023 season were a Shakespearean play, it may take the form of “Romeo and Juliet” but renamed “Romeo and Jordan.”
(By contrast, an Aaron Rodgers’ Shakespearean play would probably be “The Taming of the Shrew.”)
Packers quarterback Jordan Love’s favorite target in offseason workouts so far has been 2022 fourth-rounder Romeo Doubs, and the hype surrounding the offensive duo could be very real.
But wait. Take a breath. Check the month — it’s only June. Green Bay still has the rest of the offseason to help Love develop chemistry with his receivers, and just because Love and Doubs appear to gel the best at first sight, a lot can happen between now and the start of the 2023 season.
Doubs, Christian Watson, and Samori Toure — all 2022 draft picks — have grown from the new kids on the block to the oldest kids on the block in the span of a year. After the Packers let Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb reunite with Rodgers in New York, those three receivers have been rather hastily pushed to the front of the depth chart expected to put together impressive campaigns this upcoming season.
There’s Christian Watson’s deep threat presence, Samori Toure’s speedy play-making potential, and then there’s Doubs, the doted-on darling of the Packers’ receiving corps this summer.
Packers may have found a gold star duo in Jordan Love and Romeo Doubs
As observed by ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, Doubs has strengthened his connection with Jordan Love the most through three OTAs open to the media.
Last week, four of Love’s seven completed passes ended up in Doubs’ hands. On Tuesday, Love threw a couple passes to Doubs in a two-minute drive, and the two also combined for what Demovsky declared the best throw and catch of Packers OTAs with a 9-yard touchdown in an 11-on-11 drill.
Doubs, a 2022 fourth-round pick, recorded 42 catches for 425 yards and three touchdowns in his rookie campaign. His peer, Christian Watson, may have gained more national attention down the stretch of the Packers’ 2022 season, but Doubs sure is getting his limelight now.
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said of Doubs’ recent progress:
“I expect him to be able to pick up right where he left off. He’s done some unbelievable things throughout the course of these OTAs, just whether it’s with the route running, the catches, and just continues to build on that rapport he has with Jordan.”
Check the month again — yup, still June. LaFleur and the Packers have liked what they’ve seen from the Love-Doubs link this summer, and it’s always nice to see rookies growing into bigger roles. Yet all of these media comments and preseason activities represent the openers for the actual regular season entertainment, like boppy indie bands playing ahead of a Taylor Swift concert (Shake it off, Aaron!).
When the curtains pull back in September, Love, Doubs, and the Packers offense’s stage rehearsals will finally become real.