It’s unknown how long the Green Bay Packers are going to be without their return specialist and offensive gadget man, Tyler Ervin, but it does appear that they have a contingency plan in the meantime.
The Packers are going to sign wide receiver — and well-documented return specialist in his own right — Tavon Austin, who they had in for a workout last week, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
The #Packers are signing veteran WR Tavon Austin, source says. Was with the #Rams when Matt LaFleur (pronounced La-Flew-er, @TomPelissero) was there.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) November 30, 2020
Ervin is currently dealing with wrist and rib injuries that prompted him to miss Sunday night’s game against the Chicago Bears — his third of the season. Even when he’s healthy, a promising showing in his audition could obligate the Packers to stick with Austin. It all depends on whichever role they confine him to, whether it’s purely as a return man on special teams or in Ervin’s position as the pre-snap jet motion suitor.
This isn’t necessarily just an out-of-the-blue acquisition. Head coach Matt LaFleur and Austin, 30, have ties to their previous days with the Los Angeles Rams, with which they each last spent together in 2017 when LaFleur was the offensive coordinator.
It’s a reunion of some sort. Austin reunites with an offensive-minded coach in LaFleur who can, ideally, ignite the same player who offered some of the most thrilling collegiate tape in recent memory.
Austin, a former first-round pick out of West Virginia, made a name for himself in St. Louis before the Rams ventured back to Los Angeles. He tallied a touchdown on a punt return in each of his first three seasons in the league and averaged 9.16 yards per return in that same span. He made the Pro Football Writers of American All-Rookie Team in 2013 but did so as more than just a returner.
With 40 catches, 418 yards and four touchdowns under his belt, Austin functioned as a dual-threat — he also carried the ball nine times that season, followed by 36 the following year, then 52 in 2015. He’d offer LaFleur more than enough flexibility to incite some creativity with his usage.
Once Ervin is healthy, there’s no reason why the Packers may not want to involve both him and Austin in some of their offensive personnel packages. Ervin has spent a majority of his time with the team’s receivers, at least since the summer.
Austin was most recently with the San Francisco 49ers after spending a pair of seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. The 49ers, coached by Kyle Shanahan whose offensive philosophy is essentially synonymous with LaFleur's, placed Austin on injured reserve and later released him with an injury settlement.
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Report: Packers to sign do-it-all WR Tavon Austin - 247Sports
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