Geronimo

Allison

Allison started a game for the Lions in 2021 and opted out of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That start is one of three games he has appeared in since 2019. Allison, 28, would be a hilarious attempt at patching Green Bay’s problems at wideout.

Atlanta’s search for viable starting wideouts continues with the signing of Allison, 28, who played for the Packers from 2016 to 2019 before playing in three games for the Lions in 2021. In Green Bay, he caught 89 of 144 targets for 1,045 yards and six touchdowns over four seasons of inconsistent play. He eventually fell out of favor with Aaron Rodgers and was phased out of the Green Bay offense before the team let him walk in free agency. A downfield threat who averaged 15.2 yards per reception in his career 2018 season, Allison could crack Atlanta’s Week 1 roster.

The Lions are struggling to find production at wide receiver, with Quintez Cephus on injured reserve. Their top wide receivers have been brutally inefficient, with Amon-Ra St. Brown averaging 1.10 yards per route run and Kalif Raymond at 1.09. Allison is unlikely to have much of an impact, however. The former Packer has a career yards per route run of just 1.02.

Allison was with Detroit last year before he opted out of the 2020 season. The 27-year-old played 63 percent of snaps with the Packers in 2019, posting a 34/287/2 line. The Lions are expected to open the season with Tyrell Williams, Kalif Raymond, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Quintez Cephus as their top four wideouts.

Allison wasn’t projected to start for the Lions but he did have a chance to take the field on some receiver-heavy sets. He was expected to be the fourth receiver, behind Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones, and Danny Amendola. Allison caught 34 passes for 287 yards and two scores in Green Bay last year.

Allison took a step back last year after flashing in 2018, finishing with a 34/287/2 line while playing 63 percent of snaps. His 60 targets were third on the Packers, but Allison faded down the stretch, failing to clear 40 yards after Week 4. Signing with Detroit allows Allison to stay in the division, but it would take an injury ahead of him to open 2020 higher than the No. 4 receiver behind Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones, and Danny Amendola.

So ends a nightmare season for Allison that saw him fail to clear 40 yards after the month of September. Allison was given the opportunity to make noise in the slot, but he did no such thing. The 6-foot-3 Allison did play nearly 75 percent of his snaps in the middle of the field, but he ground to a “production” standstill with Allen Lazard and Marquez Valdes-Scantling behind Davante Adams. The Packers learned they have a truly dire need behind their No. 1 wideout. 25-year-old Allison is headed to free agency and may not be back in 2020.

Allison is good to go for Sunday’s matchup against the 49ers. Still, he’s worked behind Allen Lazard and Davante Adams for most of the second half of the season. The continued involvement of Marquez Valdes-Scanting and Jake Kumerow renders all of these complementary WRs as low-floor/ceiling fantasy options in this tough matchup against the beastly 49ers’ secondary that ranked among the league’s top-three units in net yards allowed per attempt (No. 1), explosive pass-play rate allowed (No. 3) and pass defense DVOA (No. 2).

The Packers were relatively healthy for Wednesday’s practice, missing only WRs Ryan Grant and Allison for health reasons. Bryan Bulaga (illness) also returned after being removed from Green Bay’s Divisional Round win over the Seahawks with the flu. No matter Allison’s final status for Sunday, both Jake Kumerow and Allen Lazard (ankle) are fully expected to be involved as a rotating group in three-wide sets behind him.

Allison isn’t really the Packers’ full-time slot WR considering how many snaps Jimmy Graham spends as more of a pure receiver. Regardless, the Packers’ pecking order in the passing game behind Davante Adams has been a mystery since getting their stud WR back in the lineup. Allison continues to largely split targets and snaps alike with Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Allen Lazard and Jake Kumerow. Lazard is probably the best dart throw of the group for somewhat consistent production.