The Green Bay Packers have threatened to use their best performers on returns and it looks like they’re following through, at least on punts. Receiver Randall Cobb is expected to handle those duties.
Cobb spent his first two NFL seasons as the Packers top punt and kick returner, but they largely took those duties away in 2013 as they expanded his role on offense. Then Cobb got injured.
The Packers ended up being awful at returning kicks in 2013, finishing 30th in the NFL statistically. They eventually found a good punt returner in defensive back Micah Hyde. He averaged 12.3 yards per return and had one touchdown.
That begs the question. Is Cobb or Hyde the better punt returner?
Cobb has averaged 10.2 yards per punt return and scored two touchdowns in his career.
We’re probably splitting hairs here because both guys are dangerous as punt returners, but we’d give the nod to Hyde. He’s currently second on the depth chart.
Where Cobb is far and away the Packers’ best option is on kickoff returns. He’s averaged 26.2 yards per return and has one touchdown in his career.
He’s apparently not in that mix though.
The Packers are set to go with running back DuJuan Harris on kickoff returns, with Hyde as the No. 2 option.
Harris looked good enough during the preseason, averaging 26.6 yards per return, but that’s his only experience returning kicks.
Could be a different story when he’s not facing return units that featured a bunch of guys who are now collecting unemployment checks.