Rodgers: We need patience with young receivers

The Green Bay Packers' offense flatlined without Davante Adams in Sunday's 23-7 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, but quarterback Aaron Rodgers isn't hitting the panic button regarding his rookie receivers.

"We gotta have patience with those guys; they're young," Rodgers said, according to CBS Sports' Zach Jacobson. "There's going to be drops. Hate to see it on the first play, but there's going to be drops."

Rodgers added that his patience will lessen as the season goes on.

Packers wide receiver Christian Watson's NFL career almost got off to a dream start, but the rookie dropped a potential 75-yard touchdown on Green Bay's first offensive play.

Romeo Doubs, Green Bay's other rookie wideout, also seemingly lacked chemistry with the back-to-back reigning MVP.

Doubs finished with four catches for 37 yards, while Watson had two catches for 34 yards. Running back AJ Dillon led the Packers with five catches for 46 yards.

Rodgers struggled to push the ball downfield, finishing with just 195 yards and zero touchdowns on 34 attempts. He also threw his first interception against a divisional opponent since 2019.

The 38-year-old looked visibly angry at the offense's performance while on the sideline.

It was Green Bay's second straight Week 1 blowout defeat after losing 38-3 to the New Orleans Saints last season. The Packers went on to finish 13-4 and clinched the NFC's No. 1 seed.

"This (is) two years in a row that we've come out and not looked prepared," head coach Matt LaFleur said, according to the Green Bay Press-Gazette's Ryan Wood. "Certainly, all of us will look inward and will make the necessary corrections."