Packers Rookie WR Dontayvion Wicks Has Provided Answers By Asking Questions
GREEN BAY, Wis. – A native of Baton Rouge, La., Green Bay Packers rookie receiver Dontayvion Wicks grew up a “big-time” fan of the New Orleans Saints.
“It’s Go Pack Go now,” Wicks said on Wednesday, a few days before Sunday’s game against the Saints at Lambeau Field.
As a kid, two of his favorite players were running back Reggie Bush and receiver Marques Colston, an incredibly underrated player who as a seventh-round pick in 2006 topped 1,000 receiving yards in six of his first seven seasons and scored 72 touchdowns during a 10-year career.
“I looked up to them a lot,” said Wicks, a fifth-round pick and the 19th receiver off the board. “Marques Colston at the receiver spot, he caught everything. Reggie Bush, who was just a dog. So, I looked up to them.”
Who knows if Wicks will measure up to either of those former NFL stars but, despite missing two significant chunks of training camp due to injuries, the early results have been encouraging.
In last week’s loss to the Atlanta Falcons, Wicks caught two passes for 40 yards. That includes a 32-yard touchdown in which he ran a well-paced route and broke two tackles; it does not include the 44 yards gained on a game-opening flea-flicker that resulted in pass interference.
“I think he’s a really good player and he’s getting better,” quarterback Jordan Love said. “He’s a really smart player, obviously. He missed a lot of reps throughout training camp and preseason, but you see him on the side getting a lot of mental reps. He’s always asking questions.”
Packers WR Dontayvion Wicks
Photo by Brett Davis/USA Today Sports Images
The “asking questions” line was also used by coach Matt LaFleur after Wicks led the receiver corps in snaps in Week 1. His intelligence has given LaFleur “complete confidence” in giving Wicks a larger-than-anticipated role after missing most of the preseason.
“They say there’s no such thing as a bad question,” Wicks said of his question-asking approach. “Just asking about the plays and what should I do in certain situations. When I don’t know something, I ask. That’s something my mama taught me. If you don’t know, ask.
“No question is a bad question. Just having that mindset and not wanting to go out there and put a mental error on tape. So, getting to know it early instead of going out on gameday and letting that be a reason why the play ain’t bust how it was supposed to. It’s all about preparation.”
Despite missing most of training camp with a concussion and a hamstring injury, Wicks’ 62 snaps rank second among the Packers’ receivers.
Not that Wicks didn’t think these opportunities would eventually come. But did he think they’d come so soon after he missed the second preseason game and all of the third preseason game due to the hamstring?
“There’s always some doubt,” he said, “but I wanted to keep my mind focused on getting back, doing what I can while I was in the position that I was in. With being hurt, I’d take mental reps, so when I do get back I can still be in the same spot I was in.
“It’s fast. The speed of the game is different, so you’ve got to play fast, think fast. So, just staying up on my plays, being able to write my plays down every night while I’m hurt, getting them mental reps at practice and walk-throughs, I think that’s helped me a lot. Just keeping that mindset – same mindset as I had when I was in playing.”
That mindset got Wicks on the field and will keep him on the field even after Christian Watson returns from his hamstring injury. With skill and question-asking smarts, Wicks could be an answer on Green Bay's young receiver corps.
“I think he’s just a really smart player,” Love said. “He can pick stuff up fast. You see him on the field. He’s able to make guys miss. He has good body control on his routes and he’s catching the ball well right now. Just keep getting him in the loop and keep getting him opportunities to go make plays is key for us.”
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