Packers still in search of viable TE

Sep 21, 2017 - 4:06 AM GREEN BAY, Wisc. -- The Green Bay Packers haven't had a true threat at tight end since Jermichael Finley from 2008-13.

The Packers thought they solved that problem this offseason by signing Martellus Bennett and Lance Kendricks.

So far, though, very little has changed.

Bennett has eight catches, but he dropped four passes Sunday in Atlanta. Two of the drops were nullified by penalties, but his inability to hold onto the ball must have Green Bay's coaching staff worried.

"It really just always goes back to being fundamentally sound, trusting his training," Packers offensive coordinator Edgar Bennett said. "He has really good hands. We just have to be fundamentally sound in those situations, not allowing the ball to cross your eyes, things like that, extending for the football. He's obviously a special player, but in that case it was more fundamentals than anything else."

Bennett caught 55 passes and had just two drops in New England last season. The Packers thought they had themselves a potential Pro Bowl tight end when they signed Bennett in March.

To date, though, Bennett hasn't found a rhythm with quarterback Rodgers. But that won't stop Rodgers from feeding the big tight end.

"Yeah, I think it's a blip on the radar," Rodgers said. "You keep throwing him the ball."

Kendricks set a career-high with 50 receptions with the Los Angeles Rams last season. Through two games, though, Kendricks has just two catches for 18 yards (9.0).

--Cornerback Kevin King, a rookie second round draft choice, was the lone bright spot in Green Bay's secondary Sunday night. In a game where Atlanta's Matt Ryan and Julio Jones lit up Green Bay's cornerbacks, King gave a winning performance and showed he's ready for a far greater role.

"I thought Kevin did a good job," Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers said. "I think he continues to grow, you know? We're encouraged with his progress. He competes well. You saw him break up a couple balls on crossing routes. He's not afraid to get up and challenge receivers, and I like his style of play.

"We've talked in here that I think as we go along, you see these young guys (and) their reps increase based off of they get more comfortable. You want to be able to put them out there and have them have success, you know? So I think Kevin, each step I think you'll see him get more reps as we go along here."

--Defensive end Mike Daniels lasted just seven plays against Atlanta, before leaving with an injured left hamstring. Green Bay's defense is a shell of itself without Daniels and folded badly without its best defensive player.

Daniels didn't practice Wednesday, and it appears he'll be out for a while.

"He's a difference maker," Capers said. "You want as many difference makers on the field as you can. All you have to do is go back a week and look at Mike's performance against Seattle (in Week 1). It was a pretty dominant performance. Hopefully we'll get Mike healthy and get him back out there because we'd like to keep Mike on the field as much as we can."

To compensate for the loss of Daniels, the Packers re-signed defensive lineman Ricky Jean Francois Wednesday. The Packers released Jean Francois after Week 1, but are down to just three healthy linemen without Daniels.

SERIES HISTORY: 13th regular-season meeting. Bengals lead series, 7-5. The Bengals have won three straight games and Green Bay hasn't defeated Cincinnati since 1998. The Bengals are also the only team Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and head coach Mike McCarthy have never defeated.

Looking around the roster:

--Wide receiver Jordy Nelson was back at practice on Wednesday. Nelson left in the first quarter against Atlanta with a quadriceps injury.

--Left tackle David Bakhtiari sat out the loss in Atlanta with a hamstring injury and did not practice Wednesday.

--Right tackle Bryan Bulaga missed the first two games with an ankle injury, but was back on the practice field Wednesday.

--Outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks was back in practice Wednesday. He suffered a concussion in Week 1 and missed last week's game in Atlanta.

--Wide receiver Randall Cobb (shoulder) did not practice Wednesday.

--Outside linebacker Nick Perry sat out Wednesday's practice with an unknown injury.