GREEN BAY – Sometimes actions say more than any words could possibly convey.
As Romeo Doubs extended his arms for the first of his two touchdowns during Sunday's 34-13 win over the Arizona Cardinals, the Packers receiver was immediately engulfed by teammates in the corner of the end zone he'd just crossed.
First on the scene were fellow wideouts Christian Watson and Jayden Reed, who shouted "Welcome back, '8-7.'" Then came quarterback Jordan Love, Jordan Morgan and the rest of Green Bay's offense.
Each man threw his arms around Doubs, forming a circle that fittingly and symbolically put an end to a difficult week for the third-year veteran. A sense of relief, too, came with it after Doubs served a one-game suspension for missing two practices last week.
"I was able to get back to my regular self, you know?" Doubs said. "Despite what was going on, I just had to do the best of my ability, just limiting those distractions, and ultimately, it paid off."
Doubs has been an offensive catalyst for Green Bay since being drafted in the fourth round out of Nevada in 2022. He improved across the board in Year 2, tying with Reed for the team lead in receiving touchdowns with eight last season.
Doubs has declined to go into the specifics about what led to his absence last week but reiterated after the game he's doing fine, adding: "I wouldn't be worried about that if I was a fan of the Green Bay Packers. … Stuff happens, that's just what we do as humans."
On the field, Doubs looked like his vintage self Sunday, showing strong hands on a 19-yard catch across the middle that sparked an 11-play, 80-yard scoring drive ending with his 10-yard TD catch on the first play of the second quarter. It propelled the Packers to a 14-0 lead at the time.
In the third quarter, Doubs put a stamp on Green Bay's win with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Love, who was facing an all-out blitz when he uncorked a third-and-4 pass to the wideout in one-on-one coverage against Sean Murphy-Bunting.
Doubs came back to the ball, caught it and spun into the end zone to extend Green Bay's lead to 31-13. In lieu of any celebration, Doubs quietly handed the ball to the referee and walked back to his sideline.
"It was huge. We need every single piece that we have in that room," said Watson of Doubs. "Just to have him out there and have him making plays, I think that was really exciting and it's going to be huge. We need everybody so to have him out there was big time."
Cornerback Jaire Alexander called Doubs' day. Despite Doubs having just one previous two-TD game (the 2023 opener in Chicago), Alexander predicted the 24-year-old receiver would double up against the Cardinals. The All-Pro cornerback felt so confident about it he told Doubs before the game he was gonna go for two TDs.
Sure enough, that's how the game played out. Alexander, who served his own team-issued suspension late last season, talked with Doubs after he returned to the team and was proud of how the 6-foot-2, 204-pound wideout responded in his return.
"I'm happy for it. He deserves it," Alexander said. "I'm not gonna take credit for it. It was all him. He did a great job, and he bounced back. He responded very well."
It was an all-around solid day for the Packers' passing game, which saw nine different receivers catch a pass. Watson led the way with three catches for 68 yards and a TD in his first game back after injuring his ankle against Minnesota two weeks ago.
On a personal level, Doubs was grateful for the warm reception he received from fans at Lambeau Field. As he walked off the field, Doubs made a heart shape with his hands to the fans near the Packers' home tunnel.
Having his teammates surround him after his second-quarter score made for a memorable afternoon.
"We say it all the time – we're in this together," Doubs said. "It's never a one-man show. If it is, it's wrong. That moment – it was a surreal moment."
