The Green Bay Packers ruled out wide receiver Malik Heath for Sunday’s showdown with the New York Giants due to a coach’s decision on Saturday. Heath, who has played in all nine games for the Packers this season, will not travel with the team to New York for Week 11.
Heath, a third-year receiver, has six catches for 86 yards while playing 188 snaps — or roughly one-third — of the offense’s snaps through nine games. He played 20 snaps and did not have a catch or a target last week against the Philadelphia Eagles.
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With Heath out, the Packers will have Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson and Dontayvion Wicks as the only healthy receivers on the roster entering Sunday. Rookies Matthew Golden (shoulder) and Savion Williams (foot) are both questionable to play, although it appears both have a good chance to play Sunday.
The Packers also used Bo Melton — who converted to cornerback in training camp — more at receiver last week against the Eagles, increasing the squeeze for snaps at receiver.
It’s possible Heath was going to be inactive for Sunday and wasn’t happy about the team’s decision. There is likely more to this story — possibly on the disciplinary front — that is currently unknown.
Looking ahead, Heath’s roster spot could soon be in jeopardy. Jayden Reed, who is on injured reserve, is inching closer to being designated for return, and Heath would likely be the odd man out at receiver.
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The Packers also added veteran kicker Brandon McManus to the injury report on Saturday. He is doubtful to play with a right quad injury, the same issue that has bothered him for over a month, so Lucas Havrisik will likely be the kicker on Sunday against the Giants.
The last time Heath played the Giants in New York, he caught a go-ahead touchdown pass from Jordan Love in the fourth quarter of an eventual loss in 2023.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers rule out WR Malik Heath vs. Giants due to coach’s decision
