GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The tight end ran down the seam, had a step on the defender, spun his head around and snagged the ball in leaping fashion for a big gain.
It’s the kind of play the Green Bay Packers envisioned when they signed Jared Cook to a $2.75 million contract this offseason.
Except it was Richard Rodgers who beat cornerback Quinten Rollins and hauled in an 18-yard pass to convert a third down during the two-minute drill in Saturday’s practice.
Who knows what’s going to happen when Cook is cleared to practice following foot surgery this offseason. But the trimmed-down Rodgers, who lost more than 15 pounds this offseason in part by giving up his favorite candy (Red Vines licorice), may not be shoved aside so easily.
Rodgers said he was motivated by coach Mike McCarthy’s request that he get his weight down from the mid-270s to 258 pounds in time for camp and not by the threat that Cook might take away the starting job Rodgers held all of last season, when he caught 58 passes but averaged just 8.8 yards per catch (and that included the 61-yard Hail Mary touchdown to beat the Detroit Lions).
“Every position has competition,” Rodgers said. “But it’s not like a personal challenge or anything like that. We know as a group it’s going to be a group effort. It’s not going to be an individual thing. It’s not like one of us is going to play every snap. So we know we have to come together and bond and really grow as a group.”
At this point, all Cook can do is keep his head in his playbook, pay attention in meetings and watch practice.
“He’s been doing an outstanding job, his preparation, meetings, note taking, asking questions,” Packers tight ends coach Brian Angelichio said. “He’s been working with our training staff in his rehab. They’ve been doing a good job with that, trying to get him as football specific things as he can do. So it’s been good. I feel real comfortable with where he’s at, and I know he does, too.”
Angelichio, who joined the Green Bay coaching staff this offseason, has been impressed by Rodgers as well.
“He’s done a good job with the strength and conditioning staff and our nutritionist,” Angelichio said. “They’ve had a plan to try to get his body where he wants and feels most comfortable. Obviously we’re hoping that will help Rich [and] his stamina. He’s done a good job with that.”
As for Saturday’s big catch in the two-minute drill, Rodgers played it off like it was no big deal.
“If the ball’s thrown to me, I just want to catch it,” he said. “I was running down the middle. Q was playing a little bit underneath me, and I saw Aaron [Rodgers] was getting ready to throw it so I knew I had to go up and get it because Q was facing him.”