As a rookie last year, Green Bay Packers wide receiver Samori Toure earned the nickname “Captain Random.” This year, he was one of the hottest players in the offseason. Toure, who played a key role at the start of the season, fell behind to the point where he was unable to play four days in five weeks. But Toure played 18 snaps against the Giants on Monday night. That’s more than the last eight games combined.”It’s frustrating, but at the end of the day, it’s important not to get too high, not too low, and to be professional in every way,” Toure said.
“At the end of the day, you have to support your team. Know? I just want us to be a great team. I like to support my son. I enjoy watching other players play. “This is a team game and I’m here to do what I have to do to make the team better.”With Christian Watson inactive and Dontayvion Weeks out with an ankle injury, Toure went 4-2 against the Giants. Two completions gained 22 yards. Had Jordan Love’s pass been on the money, two incompletions would have tied the game.”It was great to be there,” Toure said. “You know, I slept a little bit in the play, inches away. But I’m happy to be there.”Toure has played 88 snaps through the first four weeks of the season. But after catching a pass for 35 yards in Week 4 against Detroit, Toure caught just one pass between Game 5 against Las Vegas and Game 12 against Kansas City.With Toure working behind 2022 picks Watson and Romeo Dubs, 2023 picks Jaden Reed and Weeks, and even 2023 rookie Malik Heath, it would be easy for negativity to infect Toure’s mindset and affect his preparation . But Toure stayed positive and mentally stuck to it. As the coaches and players say, there’s no need to prepare if you’re ready.
So when I took over as the starting pitcher against the Giants, I prepared thoroughly.”Always be prepared and be professional,” Toure said. “Sometimes I don’t know if it’s going to come in a week or not, but I prepare like I’m going to have fun. So get ready.”After watching Toure practice, Love felt more comfortable in key moments against the Giants. “I think it’s the hardest position to be in,” Love said. “Throughout the week, you have to understand your job and do what you’re stuck with to do well. Obviously, this is one of the solutions in the game, whether you are or not.”I think Samori took it like a pro. He did it well. After a week of cooperation, knowing that there might be a chance, there might not be. He had a good performance on Monday. He made big plays when he had the opportunity. Obviously I missed it in the end zone. I think we had a fight there. He did a very good job. “It wasn’t an easy situation, but I handled it well,” he said.Watson, who could miss further matches with a knee injury, was also impressed.”They attack like they play every day,” he said. “You can definitely tell it’s not the situation he wants to be in, but at the end of the day, he goes out there and has fun and has a positive attitude every day. You can tell he still loves football and has clearly embraced his role.
I think he has the right idea about it.”Toure could play in Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay. Watson is happy with his progress but is unlikely to play. Attendance was officially limited Thursday, but Weeks did not walk the route while reporters were present.So a typical week of training for Touré might end with an atypical number of reps in a game. “You never know what’s going to happen until the game,” Toure said. “I don’t want to pray for my sons to get hurt. But like you said, I’m always ready no matter what happens. Coaches know this. So you need to prepare properly and be able to communicate when your number is called.”
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