Matt LaFleur addresses emergence of rookie Samori Toure

So far, we are just over a week into the NFL preseason and OTAs, which has given franchises a chance to see their rookies compete with the vets. For the Green Bay Packers, team officials are closely monitoring the wide receiver position as they enter into the post-Davante Adams era.

The Packers and head coach Matt LaFleur are hoping that the next great Green Bay pass catcher is on the roster, and there has been one rookie who has turned a few heads at training camp, Samori Toure. During a press conference following Friday’s practice, LaFleur addresses the emergence of Toure and talks about what he’s seen from his young core of receivers thus far.

“Yeah, he’s done some nice things. I think he’s got really good body control and body movement, you know. He’s a smart kid that really works at it and all,” said LaFleur.

“Really all the rookies have done an outstanding job in that wide receiver room. You gotta give Jason Grable and as well as the veterans for kind of taking under their wing and doing a great job with those guys. So they’ve shown a lot of flashes. It’ll be interesting to see what happens next week in San Francisco.”

The Packers selected Toure out of Nebraska with the 258th overall selection in the seventh and final round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Toure led the Huskers last season with 898 receiving yards on 46 receptions, with five receiving touchdowns. He also added one rushing touchdown, seeing limited action as a ball-carrier for Nebraska.

To say that wide receiver was an area of concern for Green Bay entering the draft is an understatement. The Packers lost their top two receivers from last season and had been struggling to find a consistent third receiver to help out in the passing game. This issue led to questions about Aaron Rodgers’s desire to stay in Green Bay following the 2021 season.

For now, the Packers’ young guns, Samori Toure in particular, look impressive. But how they perform when it counts remains to be seen. As LaFleur pointed out, Green Bay will get that chance on Friday, Aug. 12 at 7:30 PM CT, when they travel to the Bay to take on the 49ers.