Everybody loves a good story when it comes to being a long shot in the NFL. For Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jake Kumerow he fits into that mold. Not only is he a long shot, but he also brings with him local ties for Wisconsin football fans. He was a standout wide receiver for the Division III powerhouse University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. From 2013-2015, he hauled in 143 passes for 2,447 yards with 33 touchdowns. If that wasn’t enough for a good story, he is also the cousin to Los Angeles Chargers defensive lineman Joey Bosa and San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Nick Bosa. But he carries more than just a good story. Jake Kumerow looks like he might be a contributor for the Green Bay Packers this season.
Jake Kumerow is More than Just a Good Story
This isn’t the first time in recent history that Packers fans have seen a long shot wide receiver come to training camp and become a fan favorite.
In 2014, the Packers spent a seventh-round pick on Jeff Janis. Similar to Jake Kumerow, Janis played at a lower level in college. Janis was a standout pass-catcher at Saginaw Valley State (MI) which played at the Division II level. He came to Green Bay with a ton of talent, but very raw.
Unfortunately for the Packers and Janis, he never developed as a receiver. He did carve out a nice niche as a special teams standout but never became the deep threat wide receiver that the Packers had hoped.
One of the biggest things that held back Janis was the inability to get on the same page as star quarterback Aaron Rodgers. But for Kumerow, that doesn’t seem to be an issue.
Catching the eye of Aaron Rodgers
During the 2018 training camp, Jake Kumerow caught the eye of Rodgers. With precise route running and doing the little things a veteran NFL wide receiver would do, Kumerow started to gain the confidence from the two-time league MVP.
Excluding Davante Adams and Randall Cobb, the Packers had a lot of rookie and inexperienced wide receivers in camp last season, and even this season with Cobb gone. Adams and Cobb already had Rodgers confidence, but Rodgers wanted one of his younger teammates to make the jump. While the Packers had three recently drafted wide receivers (J’Mon Moore, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Equanimeous St. Brown), it was Kumerow that made the jump.
Kumerow was off to a strong start in last season’s training camp. But that strong camp came to an abrupt end. After scoring on an impressive 82-yard touchdown reception, Kumerow somersaulted into the endzone. The somersault, some would argue an unnecessary one, caused him to suffer a shoulder injury. An injury that caused him to be placed on injured reserve for the start of the 2018 season.
Kumerow came back later last season to catch eight passes for 103 yards with one touchdown, but many have wondered what could have been if he didn’t get injured in training camp.
But it appears that Kumerow has picked up where he left off last training camp. However, he will once again be facing difficult odds.
Still an Uphill Battle
Jake Kumerow has faced tough odds throughout his young career. This training camp will be no different.
Like with his 2018 training camp, Kumerow is once again having a strong camp. His strong camp has drawn the attention of Packers first-year head coach Matt LaFleur. Grabbing the attention of the new coach, who is implementing a new offense, is always a plus for when it comes to making the 53 man roster.
Adams, who has become one of the best receivers in the NFL, is a lock to make the roster. Behind him, it appears that Geronimo Allison and Valdes-Scantling are for sure locks as well. St. Brown, who hauled in 21 passes in his rookie campaign, appears to also be a strong bet to make the opening game roster.
That leaves Kumerow battling Moore, Trevor Davis, undrafted free agent signee Darrius Shepherd, and Teo Redding for two, possibly, three open wide receiver spots.
Moore is a former fourth-round draft choice of Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst, which could play a part in him making the roster. Davis has shown he is a capable returner. But he has yet to prove he is a capable wide receiver and has battled injuries during his career. Shepherd has had a strong camp and if LaFleur is looking for a type of slot receiver to fit in the mold of the departed Cobb, he could make the roster. Redding has also had a strong camp and has good height, 6’1″.
It will be an uphill battle for Jake Kumerow to win one of those spots on the Packers roster. But he has faced adversity throughout his young career. Rodgers has confidence in him and if he keeps producing like he has, and avoids injury, there is a very good chance Kumerow will not only make the opening day roster but also be a contributor.
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