We’d say that the Green Bay Packers might want to run a few more punt return drills in practice this weekend but we’re not entirely sure that’ll ever do anything to help punter JK Scott recover from what Jacksonville Jaguars’ returner Keelan Cole just did to him.
With a little over 10 minutes left in the first half, the Packers led the Jaguars 7-3 and found themselves punting from inside their 25-yard line. Punter JK Scott lined up the kick and boomed it all the way to the Jacksonville 9-yard line. There, Keelan Cole retrieved the ball and found plenty of running room ahead of him. He split Green Bay’s punt unit around the 30-yard line and then, once he crossed the 50, only Scott stood between him and a punt return touchdown. This kind of scenario doesn’t usually end well for a punter and this was no exception, as Cole juked Scott so badly that you’re reading a post about right now.
Keelan Cole takes the punt 91 yards to the 🏠! @Air4Cole #DUUUVAL
📺: #JAXvsGB on FOX
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/6yCTrUNGY8 pic.twitter.com/OMMX0rcD6y— NFL (@NFL) November 15, 2020
What’s so impressive about the juke move is that Scott doesn’t fall or go tumbling, and yet, somehow, that might have been better for him if he had.
JK Scott might have to retire after this. pic.twitter.com/I7nJWD8oWg
— Bryan Fischer (@BryanDFischer) November 15, 2020
JK Scott didn't fall down on that juke but it FEELS like he fell down.
— Kevin Clark (@bykevinclark) November 15, 2020
JK Scott has to let Keelan Cole drive his car and sleep in his bed tonight pic.twitter.com/C3XQoW0pVc
— Reese Waters (@reesewaters) November 15, 2020
Former NFL punter and current media personality Pat McAfee took to Twitter to defend Scott, or at least note that this wasn’t entirely his fault.
“He outkicked his coverage” is such a lazy way to blame the punter and not explain the coverage team’s responsibilities..
Now should JK Scott have hit it that low and far? No.. but see also
🗣🗣 5 GUYS COVERING THE SAME EXACT LANE
They should look like a net.. “Lane integrity” pic.twitter.com/1Dx3CDSms8
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) November 15, 2020
But of course, it’s not really about whether or not Scott is to blame for the touchdown, but whether or not Scott can brush off such an absolutely brutal juke move that may just haunt his nightmares for years to come. At the very least, he’s going to think twice about punting directly to Cole for the rest of today’s game.
[NFL]