After Taking ‘Grown Man to the Cooler,’ Heath Strikes Again

Undrafted rookie receiver Malik Heath, whose block was one of the highlights of the win over Cincinnati, struck again on Wednesday against the Patriots.

Author:
Bill Huber
Publish date:
Aug 17, 2023 8:34 AM EDT

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Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Malik Heath figures he’s watched the video of his block at Cincinnati – The Block at Cincinnati – about 20 times.

On a keeper by quarterback Sean Clifford during Friday’s preseason game vs. the Bengals, Heath blocked veteran safety Marvell Tell about 10 yards downfield and all the way to the kicking net several yards off the playing field.

Had he ever done that?

“Yeah, in high school. In high school but not in college,” Heath said after delivering another noteworthy performance during Wednesday’s joint practice against the New England Patriots. “I don’t know what went through [my mind]. I just went blank on that play. I had to set up the block for the run. That’s what they’ve been looking for out of me, so that’s what I did.”

It wasn’t a block but a catch against New England that perhaps inched Heath closer to a roster spot. During a 2-minute drill, Heath beat cornerback Jack Jones off the line of scrimmage and made a spectacular catch near the goal line.

Heath celebrated, though not nearly to the extent that he did following The Block against the Bengals.

“I don’t know. It’s different when you’re taking a grown man to the cooler,” Heath said with a gleeful smile. “He’s a grown man and you’re playing him like he’s a little boy. It’s just different. But the catch was crazy, too, because that’s their starting corner. It was crazy, dude.”

Heath went undrafted, due in part to a poor 40 time (4.64 at the Scouting Combine) and some off-the-field issues during a career that meandered from junior college to Mississippi State to Mississippi. However, he caught 60 passes for 971 yards during his lone season with the Rebels.

Every receiver is confident. It’s part of the DNA of the position. A total of 33 receivers were drafted this year. Not Heath. Did that hurt his confidence at all?

“I don’t think it took a ding,” he said. “That just fueled the fire. It just put fuel on the fire, make everyone regret why they didn’t draft me.”

Malik Heath (Photo by Sarah Kloeppeing/USA Today Sports Images)

Any receiver-needy teams who watched the game against the Bengals might have regretted passing up Heath. His fire burns hotter with every practice at which he makes a couple eye-opening plays.

“I feel like I’m the best receiver when I step out on that field,” he said. “It’s going to keep going up every day. Even if I don’t make a play, drop a ball, my confidence is still high. You’ve got to have a short-term memory when you’re playing receiver. …

“Since I was a little kid, my mom always told me, ‘No matter what, don’t ever drop your head.’ I’m always head to the sky. I take that and run with it.”

Last week, before departing for Cincinnati, coach Matt LaFleur described Heath as a “goonish type guy” that “we love around here.” LaFleur had one of those with Allen Lazard, who signed with the Jets in free agency. While they don’t share similar bodies – Lazard’s got about 3 inches and 25 pounds on Heath – they do share undrafted backgrounds and a similar play style.

“I think as a wide receiver, you’ve got to have that dominant mentality every play,” Christian Watson said. “Each play you line up, it should be a one v. one mentality that you’re going to beat the guy in front of you every single rep. I think Malik definitely has that in the run game and the pass game. He’s going out there and just being him. I think that’s who Malik is. I don’t even know how to describe it – he’s an aggressive guy. He’ll go out there and try to keep some butt every play.”

Heath’s got work to do to secure a roster spot. It could wind up being Heath vs. seventh-round pick Grant DuBose for the final spot at receiver. DuBose is coming on, too, and the tie often goes to the draft pick.

Blocking grown men to the cooler, though, is hard to overlook.

“I think I’ve put myself in a good position just by my mindset and my work ethic,” he said. “You’re going to get a guy that’s going to do anything for y’all, like block, special teams, make a play when you want to throw it. I’m going to be that guy.”