Both Aaron Rodgers and Matt LaFleur see running back A.J. Dillon as an ascending player who has improved greatly in the passing game since the Green Bay Packers took him in the second round of the 2020 draft.
Expect to see Dillon catch a lot of passes from Rodgers in 2022.
“When he came in here, he was a big back who you’d expect to be able to run power really well. I feel like, of all the people we’ve had the last three years, he’s gotta be on a very short list of guys who have improved so drastically,” Rodgers said Wednesday. “His pass-catching ability is really, really solid. He’s made difficult catches look easy over the last couple of years and this training camp. I couldn’t be more proud of 28 and his approach.”
Dillon caught only 21 passes over three seasons at Boston College and just two passes as a rookie in 2020. As a second-year player, Dillon made huge strides, catching 34 of 37 targets for 313 yards and two scores in the passing game in 2021.
A highlight reel of difficult catches made by Dillon can be viewed here.
Now, Dillon is entering a third season in which he could be a featured player on offense, especially in the passing game. During a practice this week, Dillon made a terrific leaping catch of a pass from Rodgers for a big play.
LaFleur and the Packers were confident Dillon had pass-catching potential coming out of Boston College, but the 247-pound back has gone above and beyond expectations so far.
“We knew he had pretty decent hands coming out, although they didn’t throw him the ball a whole bunch, but as a receiver out of the backfield, he’s exceeded all of our expectations,” LaFleur said Thursday. “It’s a great luxury to have a guy – because rarely do you see a back of his stature that has the body control he has, and the hand-eye (coordination) that he has. He’s done some damage in the passing game, whether it’s catching a flat route and turning up the sideline…he just has really good body control. We’re lucky to have him as a running back for us, and he’s done a great job in pass protection as well.”
Dillon said his goal entering the 2022 season is to be an “all-purpose back.”
“Coming in, I was always the big back, and still am to a lot of people, the big back, only good for third-and-short,” Dillon said earlier this year. “I really want to be — and I see myself as — an ‘APB’, all-purpose back, no matter what the situation. Last year was a good start…I’m happy with the improvement, but obviously still working on it.”
LaFleur said Dillon “goes about his business the right way” and has done “a hell of a job” since arriving in Green Bay.
Rodgers called him a terrific teammate who has become a beloved character in the Green Bay area.
Catching a few touchdown passes from Rodgers will only endear him to more fans and teammates in 2022.
“You see it on the field each and every day,” LaFleur said. “He’s extremely intelligent, he’s a great teammate. But you have seen him mature as a man over these last couple of years.”