Packers Snap Counts: Lazard takes step as No. 2 receiver

It looks like the progress Allen Lazard made with the Green Bay Packers late last season was not a fluke.

The third-year wideout from Iowa State began the 2020 campaign strong with four catches for 63 yards and a touchdown while playing 87% of the Packers snaps. Only Davante Adams, who played two more, took more snaps at wide receiver for Green Bay in its season-opening 43-34 win at Minnesota.

That is an encouraging step for Lazard after he put up 35 receptions for 477 receiving yards and three scores in 2019.

Lazard’s biggest play on Sunday came with 11:42 in the fourth when he reeled in a deep pass from Aaron Rodgers for a 38-yard gain before he lost his footing before getting in the end zone.

That play, plus his touchdown catch and 19-yard end-around rush, resulted in an effective first game for Lazard and showed why he looks like the Packers’ No. 2 receiver.

Other notes from Sunday’s snap counts:

— Green Bay used its four tight ends throughout the game. Robert Tonyan got the most action by playing 62% of the Packers’ offensive snaps, Marcedes Lewis checked in at 41%, rookie third-round pick Josiah Deguara appeared in 31% of Packers snaps and Jace Sternberger played in 15% of snaps.

— The only Green Bay defenders to play in every defensive snap were safety Adrian Amos and linebacker Christian Kirksey. Cornerback Kevin King was on the field for all but one of the Packers’ 52 defensive plays while fellow corner Jaire Alexander was off the field for three plays.

— Packers offensive linemen David Bahktiari, Elgton Jenkins and Corey Linsley were all on the field for all 78 of Green Bay’s offensive snaps.

— First-round pick Jordan Love wasn’t active for the game. Second-round running back AJ Dillon played five snaps (6%) and recorded two rushes for 14 yards.

— Aside from Adams and Lazard, who played 90% and 87% of offensive snaps, the only other Green Bay wideout to get significant run was Marquez Valdes-Scantling at 54%.

WEEK 1 – VS. VIKINGS (OFFENSE)

WEEK 1 – VS. VIKINGS (OFFENSE)