Matt LaFleur recalls past experience with Sammy Watkins, sets expectations for new Packers wideout

In order to help fill their void at wide receiver, the Green Bay Packers went out this offseason and signed Sammy Watkins in free agency. Head coach Matt LaFleur has previous experience with Watkins as his offensive coordinator in Los Angeles back in 2017. They’ve reunited five years later in order to give quarterback Aaron Rodgers a weapon to count on on the outside.

When asked in his recent press conference about Watkins, LaFleur remembered how well Watkins picked up his offense with the Rams.

“Sammy was great for us. Just a guy that came to work each and every day,” said LaFleur. “We didn’t get (him) until it was a couple of weeks into training camp. He had to pick it up pretty quickly and he did a heck of a job with that.”

This will be Watkins’ fifth stop in his eight year NFL career. He had previous stints with the Bills, Rams, Chiefs and Ravens. He’s caught an average of 43.5 passes a year for a total of 5,059 career yards and 34 touchdowns.

Although he has played in his offense before, LaFleur thinks it’s been good to have Watkins on the field early this offseason. His former OC says even familiarity won’t help him learn the new variations of his offense.

“It’s always tough learning a new system. I think it’s been advantageous that we had him early in this process for him to go through it and actually get some on-field work with us,” he said. “Learn all the terminology and how we call things. It’s not identical to what he learned five years ago in LA. He’s been in a couple systems since then too.”

Watkins will be among the new cast of receivers tasked with replacing the production of Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. With the opportunity to have Rodgers get Watkins the ball, LaFleur is ready to see what the pair can do in Lambeau Field come Week 1.

“We’ve all grown and learned. I’m excited for what he could do for us this fall.”