Packers sneak in intriguing depth move for the offense while the rest of the NFL is distracted by schedule release chaos

A standout receiver at South Dakota State, Janke went undrafted last year. He didn't play in regular season games as a rookie, but had preseason action for the Dolphins, registering a six-yard catch against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 3.

A relatively big-bodied wide receiver, he was listed as a 6-2, 205-pound player in the pre-draft process. He spent his six college seasons there, including a redshirt year (he gained an extra year of eligibility due to the covid year). In 2023, his senior college season, Janke had 57 catches for 946 yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging 72.8 receiving yards per game. He was also a kick and punt returner.

This is how Lance Zierlein from NFL.com presented him before last year's draft:

"Productive multi-year starter with the size, toughness and talent to compete for a backup job as an NFL slot. Janke plays fast and uses gear shifts to make himself seem faster than his timed speed. He's unfazed when working into traffic, but small hands and short arms limit his contested-catch success. He's a tempo-driven route-runner with the balance and footwork to run a more expanded route tree that can span over all three levels, but he must rely on savvy over twitch to separate. He's elusive and willful with the ball in his hands, which could give him a leg up in becoming a "make-it" prospect." — Lance Zierlein.

Depth situation

The Packers had an open roster spot after waiving fellow wide receiver Tulu Griffin. It's a tough battle for Jadon Janke, who will most likely fight for a practice squad spot.

The WR room has Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks, Matthew Golden, Savion Williams, Malik Heath, Bo Melton, Mecole Hardman, Julian Hicks, and Cornelius Johnson. Christian Watson is also a part of it, but he's expected to start the regular season on PUP with a knee injury.