Is Romeo Doubs the Odd Man Out in Green Bay’s Evolving Offense?
The Green Bay Packers are heating up at just the right time, and their offense is starting to click in ways that have fans dreaming of a deep postseason run. A big part of that resurgence?
The return of Christian Watson and Jayden Reed. But as those two receivers have stepped back into the spotlight, another familiar name has quietly started to fade from it: Romeo Doubs.
Now in his fourth season, Doubs has been a reliable presence in Green Bay’s receiving corps-especially when injuries have sidelined Watson. He’s been Jordan Love’s safety blanket in the red zone, his go-to guy on third down, and the kind of steady performer every young quarterback needs.
His numbers back it up: 192 receptions, 2,242 yards, and 20 touchdowns since joining the team. More than half of those catches (126, to be exact) have moved the chains.
This season, he still leads the team in receptions with 45-13 more than any other wideout.
But over the last three weeks, something has shifted. In three high-stakes divisional games-against the Vikings, Lions, and Bears-Doubs’ role in the offense has shrunk noticeably.
Jordan Love is still slinging it with confidence, but the targets are going elsewhere. Watson, in particular, is emerging as the primary option.
Let’s look at the numbers. Against Minnesota, Watson saw seven targets to Doubs’ three.
On Thanksgiving Day in Detroit, it was 10 to 4. And in Sunday’s showdown with Chicago, Doubs was targeted just twice-and didn’t catch either one.
Watson, meanwhile, caught all four of his targets, including two for touchdowns. Even Jayden Reed, playing in his first game since Week 2, was targeted four times-double Doubs’ total.
The Packers won all three of those games, and the offense looked sharper and more efficient. That’s not a coincidence.
When Watson and Reed are healthy, they stretch the field and open up Matt LaFleur’s playbook in a way that changes how this team attacks defenses. But it also raises a tough question: where does that leave Doubs?
If you want a clear picture of where Doubs stands in the pecking order, look no further than third-down usage. Against the Bears, Green Bay faced 12 third downs.
Josh Jacobs got the call on four of them. Watson was targeted twice.
Doubs? Just once-and that was a third-and-19 desperation heave.
Not exactly a sign of trust when the game’s on the line.
And here’s where things get even more interesting: Doubs is in the final year of his rookie deal. While the coaching staff is focused on the next opponent, the front office is thinking long-term.
General Manager Brian Gutekunst has already extended Watson through next season. Doubs, on the other hand, remains unsigned beyond 2025.
The writing might be on the wall. Gutekunst has made it clear he wants to see young talent on the field.
He drafted Matthew Golden in the first round and Savion Williams in the third for a reason. Those two haven’t had major roles this season, but their time is coming-possibly as soon as next year.
Then there’s the salary cap. According to overthecap.com, the Packers are projected to have just over $10 million in cap space for 2026, which puts them in the bottom half of the league.
That’s not going to stretch far when you consider the team’s other priorities-like locking down Quay Walker, Rasheed Walker, Kingsley Enagbare, Malik Willis, and Emanuel Wilson. Quay and Rasheed, in particular, are expected to command big-time deals.
Keeping Doubs might simply not be in the cards.
This Saturday night, the Packers hit the road for another crucial matchup-this time in Denver, against a Broncos defense that ranks in the top 10 against the pass and brings a relentless pass rush. Jordan Love will need to make quick decisions, and his receivers will need to win their matchups early.
The snap counts will be worth watching. Against Chicago, Doubs played 42 snaps-just two fewer than Watson.
Reed, still easing back in, saw only 25.
If Doubs continues to see the field but not the football, it could be a sign of what’s to come. And if his role keeps shrinking, it’s fair to wonder if he’ll be catching passes somewhere else next season.
He’s still a productive, experienced receiver in a league that always needs them. There will be a market for him-maybe even within the NFC North.
There’s life after Green Bay. Just ask Aaron Jones.
But for now, all eyes are on how the Packers deploy their receivers in the final stretch. And whether Romeo Doubs gets a chance to remind everyone why he was once Love’s favorite target.