Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt swung at another Green Bay Packers icon following the teams’ joint practice Wednesday. Pratt and Packers offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins got into a skirmish during the course.
Pratt’s words toward the Packers after the practice were much softer than one would expect after he was involved in a brawl with Jenkins. First, he praised QB Jordan Love. The linebacker also seemed to sympathize with other skilled players on the Packers offense.
According to Ryan Wood with USA Today, Pratt said WRs Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson should be better in 2023. Pratt may have taken a small shot at Rodgers for throwing Doubs and Watson under the bus early last season:
Bengals LB Germaine Pratt on #Packers young WRs: “They’re young, but they’ve been in the league for 2 years now. They’re ready to go. I think they’ll be a good team, good unit. I know they got a lot of backfire from A-Rod, dropping balls and stuff, but I think they’ll be ready.”
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) August 9, 2023
Rodgers publicly expressed his frustrations with Watson and Doubs during training camp and the season. That couldn’t have made life easy for those two as they were beginning to navigate the NFL.
Rodgers didn’t help himself or the Packers with how he responded after Watson dropped what would have been a touchdown pass in Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings.
Rodgers’ words (and actions, by not throwing to Watson enough last year) were not just magnets to the media — players around the league toook notice too.
Pratt seems to think Watson and Doubs have improved after seeing them in one joint practice. That’s a good sign for a Packers team that will need them to act more like veterans than sophomores.
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