It wasn’t a pretty win, but the Green Bay Packers came from behind to edge the Arizona Cardinals 27-23 on Sunday, improving their record to 4-1-1. They remain at the top of a competitive NFC North.
However, the victory came with a scare: Packers wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks suffered an injury during the game, leaving fans concerned about his availability for the highly anticipated matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Will Dontayvion Wicks Play in Week 8?
A fifth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Wicks gradually saw his role grow within the Packers’ offense. Starting off as a minor contributor who started in just six of his 15 games played as a rookie, he remained behind the starting wide receivers in his sophomore season.
Although things did seem to take a positive turn for Wicks, as he saw an increase in his usage and targets early in the season. After recording 996 yards and nine touchdowns through his first two years in the league, Wicks was already up to 95 yards through the first three games.
However, his target share has taken a hit, partly due to injuries. Wicks missed most of the second half of the Week 6 game against the Cincinnati Bengals with an ankle injury, finishing with just two receptions for 15 yards. On Sunday against the Cardinals, he caught a pass early in the third quarter but missed most of the second half with a calf injury.
Wicks was a limited participant in practices leading up to Sunday’s game. Given that he still managed to play, the ankle injury doesn’t appear to be serious. However, with the new calf issue, he is now listed as questionable for Week 8 against the Steelers.
While his availability in Wednesday’s practice will provide a clearer picture of his return, early reports suggest Wicks may miss some time. Even so, his absence likely won’t significantly impact the Packers’ offense, which ranks fifth in PFSN’s Offensive Impact metric.
This season, Wicks has just 13 receptions for 134 yards, even with star receivers Christian Watson and Jayden Reed sidelined for most of the season. In their absence, tight end Tucker Kraft has stepped up, leading the team with 326 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Romeo Doubs has also been productive, hauling in 24 receptions for 306 yards and four touchdowns, while rookie Matthew Golden has added 18 receptions for 249 yards.
With Reed nearing a return, Watson back on the practice field, and the Packers’ running game gaining momentum, opportunities for Wicks to carve out a consistent role appear increasingly limited.
