Packers proud of Marquez Valdes-Scantling fighting through adversity in 2020
The drops. The fumble. The trade rumors. The games without targets or catches. One year after a rollercoaster second season, Green Bay Packers receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling had to endure the chaotic ups and downs of another turbulent year.
The Packers are proud of the way he responded to all the adversity involved with his 2020 season.
“I thought he had so many great moments throughout the course of the year,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said last month. “Were there some tough moments of adversity for him? Absolutely, there were. And we talked about that. But the one thing I love about him, and all our guys, is their ability to respond and overcome adversity. He had some tough moments this year. For him to stay persistent and stay tough-minded, it’s so awesome to watch a guy fight through some tough moments and come out on top.”
Valdes-Scantling had seven drops, according to Pro Football Reference, including several on deep passes. His fumble against the Indianapolis Colts cost the Packers the game in overtime. The Packers flirted with the idea of trading for Will Fuller. And he had five games without a target or without a catch.
But battling through adversity and coming out better on the other side builds confidence.
“I’m excited about his future. I really am,” LaFleur said. “I think we all have a lot more confidence in him. I think he has more confidence in himself.”
The adversity over the course of a long season could have broken him at any point, sending the young receiver into a downward spiral much like the one that sent his previous season into a tailspin. Drops can be the ultimate confidence-busters for receivers. He received death threats via social media following the fumble. Adding Fuller would have provided an immediate replacement for him in the Packers offense. Not getting targets is extra frustrating for a position wholly dependent on getting opportunities to make catches.
At every point, Valdes-Scantling found ways to steady the ship and produce big plays for the No. 1 scoring offense in football.
Over 18 games, Valdes-Scantling caught 41 passes for 838 yards and seven touchdowns. He led the league in yards per catch (20.9) and created seven catches of at least 40 yards and scored four touchdowns of at least 50 yards.
“He really brings something to this football team in terms of his ability to stretch the field vertically. He can run by anyone in this league,” LaFleur said.
In the game following the trade deadline, and after a trade for Fuller fell through, Valdes-Scantling caught a pair of touchdown passes from Aaron Rodgers during a blowout win in San Francisco.
Twice during the final month of the season, Valdes-Scantling had back-to-back games without a catch. Each time, he responded with a game of at least 80 receiving yards and a touchdown (at Detroit, at Chicago).
In the NFC title game, he caught four passes for 115 yards and a touchdown, and was inches away from becoming a Packers playoff hero.
Now, entering his fourth season and a contract year in 2021, Valdes-Scantling must find a way to take another step and continue building consistency as a player.
“The key for him is, he’s going to have to go back and hit the reset button like we all do and really attack this offseason and make sure he’s working on ball drills every day, making sure he’s coming back in the best shape possible. Make sure his leg strength or whatever it may be, he gets stronger,” LaFleur said. “Because there is an expectation for him. He set the standard for himself, which is pretty high, which is awesome for this football team. He’s got to make sure he hits that consistently, on a daily basis, and he’s doing everything he can to be the best version of himself.”
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