A healthy Juwann Winfree is looking to win a Packers roster spot
By Mark Eckel
For Green Bay Packers wide receiver Juwann Winfree health is wealth.
And the cold crisp air in Green Bay suits him better than that mile-high stuff in Colorado.
“It’s crazy,’’ Winfree told Packer Report. “It was Colorado. Once I left the state of Colorado, my body felt a whole different sense of energy. I’m healthy now and I’m feeling like myself again.’’
Winfree, who appeared in two games for the Packers — wins over Jacksonville and Detroit — during the 2020 season opened eyes with a good showing at the team’s OTA and minicamp. Now he heads to training camp late this month with his eye on one of the final 53-man roster spots.
At least he’s healthy.
Winfree, who grew up in Englewood, New Jersey, and received the key to the city from Mayor Michael Wildes for his foundation’s devotion to youth in the city, has battled injuries throughout his college days and in his rookie year with the Denver Broncos.
In college he missed all of 2016 with a torn ACL. He played in 2017, but a variety of injuries plagued him throughout the 2018 college season.
Denver still saw enough to select him in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL draft, but after playing in three games for the Broncos he spent the final month of his his rookie year on injured reserve with a groin injury.
Still bothered by the groin injury, the Broncos released Winfree on final cut day. The Packers signed him to their practice squad, Oct. 1.
“It helped me big time,’’ he said of his time with the team last year. “Most times you get a whole offseason no matter which team you’re on, I got (to Green Bay) week four. I was playing catch-up the whole year. But I was doing a pretty good job. I did a good enough job that I was able to play in two games after just being there a couple of weeks. I’m thankful they gave me that chance. Now it’s coming naturally to me and the offense is getting simpler.’’
Winfree’s strengths are his hands and his route-running ability, two major attributes to be a wide receiver in Matt LaFleur’s offense.
“This is definitely a good offense for a receiver,’’ Winfree said.
And he has one of the best in the business to learn from in Davantae Adams.
“He’s a big leader in the room,’’ Winfree said of Adams. “He’s always giving us tips and he’s a leader by example on and off the field.’’
Adams is the Packers WR1. Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Alan Lazard and rookie third-round pick Amari Rodgers are WR 2-4 in whatever order. If Devin Funchess shows he still has it after almost two years off, he’ll crack the top five.
Should the Packers, as they have, keep six receivers Winfree will battle with Equanimeous St. Brown and Malik Taylor among others for that final spot.
“You want to make the roster, so of course in the back of your head you’re checking the numbers,’’ Winfree said. “I’m aiming to be the best at what I do and be a top receiver for the Packers. That’s my goal.
“They definitely saw the progress I was making. And they gave me my props, but at the same time, the bottom line is it was just OTAs (and minicamp) so you can’t take any of that stuff for nothing. Camp is where it counts. I have to make it happen there. For the most part I have momentum going in there. They see the potential in what I can do. Now I have to go out and have an even better camp.’’
