GREEN BAY — Jordan Love wanted to make one thing perfectly clear when it came to what wide receiver Grant DuBose did during the Green Bay Packers’ preseason-opening win over the Cleveland Browns on Saturday.
“Definitely not surprising,” the Packers starting quarterback said.
It understandably wasn’t surprising to Love, who has either watched (for the first four practices while waiting for his $220 million contract extension to be completed) or taken part in (running the No. 1 offense) every practice of training camp so far.
“Since we started camp, Grant’s been making plays every day,” Love said following the Packers’ 23-10 win, which he spent as a spectator after his 65-yard touchdown pass to Dontayvion Wicks on the third play from scrimmage.
“He’s making big-time plays. He’s knowing what he needs to do with his assignments in the blocking game. He’s just been a great player so far. So it was not a surprise what he did (in the game). He’s been doing it all camp.”
Now, in fairness, most Packers fans haven’t been privy to what Love has seen this summer — unless they’ve spent each and every one of their PTO days at Ray Nitschke Field, or they’re one of the bike kids who is devoting the last vestiges of their summer vacation watching all practice every day.
For everyone else, the 23-year-old kid in the No. 86 jersey making play after play after play was a revelation.
The 2023 seventh-round pick not only led the Packers in receptions (five), receiving yards (66) and targets (six), but his catches were big-time clutch plays.
After drawing a third-down holding penalty on his first series to keep that drive going, DuBose had a fourth-down conversion (a 13-yard catch on fourth-and-3) and a pair of third-down catches (a 23-yard gain on third-and-9 and a 12-yard pickup on a third-and-3). He also had a second-down catch that resulted in another first down.
The 23-yard reception was a catch-and-toe-drag thing of beauty that came with 10 seconds left until halftime, setting up Anders Carlson’s 46-yard field goal to close the half.
“The catch on the sideline was fantastic,” said backup quarterback Sean Clifford, DuBose’s draft classmate and the one who threw the pass. “Very, very happy for Grant.”
That seemed to be the overwhelming sentiment from DuBose’s teammates, who know the adversity he’s had to overcome.
And we’re not just talking about the challenge of a vagabond college football existence which left him working odds jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic-canceled 2020 season — including as a lot attendant at a Hyundai dealership, a Door Dash delivery driver and carrying groceries out to customers’ cars at Walmart.
After missing virtually all of last year’s offseason and training camp with a back injury, DuBose finally was cleared for practice with two weeks left in camp. On a roster filled with young receiver talent, he never had a chance to make the 53-man roster.
Instead, he landed on the practice squad, where he spent the entire season. He was only elevated to the game-day roster once, for the Jan. 7 regular-season finale against the Chicago Bears, but was inactive.
“Being sidelined for those three months, coming back with two weeks left of camp, getting released, spending the whole year on the practice squad — that taught me to control what I can control and just trust the process. To keep working, keep getting better,” DuBose explained.
“After last year, I’m pretty familiar with the offense, which is allowing me to play a lot faster. I’m more confident in knowing where to be at and when to be there. (I’ve) just got to keep stacking days on top of what we’ve already built.
“I’m feeling good, feeling healthy, and I’m ready to go, ready to work.”
Reminded of the old Kobe Bryant quote of, “You have to work hard in the dark to shine in the light,” DuBose smiled.
“Oh, it was dark. It was dark now, for sure,” he said. “I spent it in the dark, but it’s nothing I’m not familiar with. I’ve been faced with adversity a couple times before. It’s just a matter of getting back to the things that got you here, and waiting for your turn.”
That work has not gone unnoticed by DuBose’s coaches, who — like Love — weren’t surprised by Saturday’s showing, having seen not only DuBose’s work ethic but his willingness to do the dirty work of blocking and improving on special teams.
“His practice habits are exactly what you want,” coach Matt LaFleur said. “You talk about focusing on the things that you can control? I know last year he was disappointed that he wasn’t on the 53. All you can do is control how you respond to that, and I think that he’s done that.
“He shows up every day, competes hard. The (defensive backs) know they’re going to feel him — whether it’s a run play, pass play whatever it may be, that they’re going to get his best effort on every play.”
Added offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich: “He was behind the 8-ball (last year). Now that he’s had a whole season on the (practice) squad, he’s had all this offseason and now in training camp, we’re really seeing what he’s about. I really like what I’m seeing.”
Of course, no one knows better than DuBose how quickly fortunes can change, so he knows he cannot be complacent now.
“Anytime we take the field, it’s important. It’s an interview. You’ve just got to treat it as such,” DuBose said. “Anytime you can go out there and put some good things on film and help your team win, it’s always important. I took that to heart.
“It’s been a long time coming. I got a chance, and I got the opportunity to go out there and showcase my skillset. (I) just wanted to take advantage of it the best I could.”
Next, he has to do it again — and Love fully expects him to do so.
“Grant missed a lot of time last year and didn’t really have his shot, so it’s really cool to be able to see him go out there and ball,” Love said. “He’s playing really fast right now. He’s got a great feel for the offense. And it’s just good to be able to see him out there.
“We’ve got a really deep receiver room right now, and I love to see the competition. Guys are rising and making plays. So I’m excited to see what he can keep doing.”
