Jordan Love finally got his turkey leg after dominating the Miami Dolphins on a cold Thanksgiving night.

Despite a few hiccups, the Green Bay Packers were firing on all cylinders and playing complementary football to improve their record to 9-3.

Josh Jacobs forged a path on the ground while Love spread the ball around well.

The team succeeded due to second-year wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks, who put together a n game despite another drop.

Wicks isn’t having the breakout year many predicted and leads the league in dropped passes. But on Thursday, Wicks showed why he has the offense’s trust despite the drops. With four crucial catches and excellent work as a blocker, could this be the confidence booster he needed to elevate his game?

Not an eye-popping stat line but nice bounce back by Dontayvion Wicks after an early drop. Some good catches with defenders near and blocked like crazy on several big plays.

— Paul Bretl (@Paul_Bretl) November 29, 2024

Wicks garnered attention as a rookie thanks to his route running and separation abilities, and many experts viewed him as a young player to watch.

He broke out early in the preseason with a huge touchdown catch against the Cleveland Browns in Love’s only preseason drive, giving a sneak preview of his capabilities. But Year 2 hasn’t lived up to that early hype.

As early as Week 1, Wicks’ drop issues were on full display. He failed to catch a single one of his three targets in Brazil.

Love’s subsequent injury led to a greater focus on the run game, limiting opportunities for Wicks through the air. But even when Love returned, Wicks couldn’t make much of an impact. Despite Love targeting Wicks 13 times in his Week 4 return against the Minnesota Vikings, Wicks only caught five passes for 78 yards. Still, Wicks made an impact with those five balls he caught, putting up two touchdowns.

Since then, there’s been a mix of drops, good catches, big-play ability, and solid blocking. It’s probably not surprising for a fifth-round pick — flashes of brilliance marred by inconsistency.

With Aaron Rodgers no longer under center and willing to freeze out receivers, Wicks is still getting his fair shot every week. And he rewarded that patience with a solid game that showed off his best skills.

4 plays showing why the Packers keep Dontayvion Wicks on the field despite his league-worst drop rate.

He’s a competitor. pic.twitter.com/JzGCvDyKCd

— Daire Carragher (@DaireCarragher) November 29, 2024

Wicks was vital as a downfield blocker, showing physicality, grit, and selflessness as he assisted Jacobs in some fun run concepts.

Wicks’ first target was a rough miss that almost led to a Jordan Love interception, but thankfully, Christian Watson is proving to be a good pass defender.

But Wicks caught his remaining targets: four catches for 30 yards. Two of those catches led to scores, keeping the Packers ahead of the shivering Dolphins.

Now that—that is a beautiful grab from Dontayvion Wicks. The ability is there, but as you’d expect for a fifth-round pick, the flashes are too scattered for the Packers’ liking. He can still be a really good player.

— Zachary Jacobson (@zacobson) November 29, 2024

Wicks was by no means the player of the game, but he had a complete game that complemented the offense nicely. This game should build a foundation of confidence as Wicks navigates his unfortunate drop issues.

Drops aren’t necessarily career-enders for wide receivers as long as the players can try to minimize them going forward and make the most of the balls they catch. Davante Adams famously struggled with drops in his second season (though it’s unfair to imply that means Wicks will figure it all out and become a star). Prolific wide receivers like Amari Cooper, Jaylen Waddle, and Courtland Sutton are some of this season’s most drop-prone receivers. Wicks can fix the drops and have a nice career.

Thankfully, Love isn’t afraid to throw Wicks’ way despite the drops.

“It’s one of those plays you’d love to see him make,” Love said on Wicks’ drop, “but if he doesn’t, it’s onto the next — flush it and move on. I’m going to keep coming back to him.”

Love is seemingly unphased by anything and will keep giving his teammate chances. And in Matt LaFleur’s offense, if you’re willing to block, you’ll get snaps, and those snaps will lead to targets. Wicks will continue to get opportunities.

Drops can be a mental issue. Ideally, a well-rounded performance like Thursday’s, on the biggest stage during a national holiday, can build confidence in the young wide receiver. With the Packers starting to get hot as they prepare for a postseason run, it will pay to have multiple ways to win. Having Wicks emerge as a reliable weapon could be the difference-maker late in the season.