Davante Adams is wearing the number 17 jersey this season with his new team, the Las Vegas Raiders. It was a uniform number Adams wore well for the Packers during his eight years in Green Bay. When the All-Pro receiver was traded away from the Packers, the uniform remained shelved for several months.
The Packers had a lot of new faces at wide receiver come into Green Bay following his departure. None of them received Adams’ number. Well into the first week of October, the Packers found a new body for the uniform. It won’t be someone quarterback Aaron Rodgers will be throwing passes to. At least, hopefully, but you never know with all of the injuries.
The jersey will be used on special teams
According to Bill Huber with Sports Illustrated, the Packers gave the number 17 to a special teams player. Practice squad kicker Ramiz Ahmed will now wear #17.
Ahmed had been wearing the un-kicker-like uniform No. 45 since joining the team midway through training camp.
Ahmed wore No. 26 at Nevada. To play in a regular-season game, a kicker has to be between No. 1 and No. 19…
Ahmed did well enough [in camp and the preseason] that he might be a consideration to replace Crosby, the 38-year-old who is in his 15th season with the team. Crosby is in his final season under contract. He has made all four field-goal attempts this season but has the lowest touchback rate and net average on kickoffs.
That has to be a delight for Ahmed. The Packers are also sending a message that they are moving on from one of their best wide receivers of all time. The Packers gave the treasured number to a practice squad kicker instead of one of their rookie wide receivers or free agency newcomer Sammy Watkins.
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