The Green Bay Packers appear to be on the hunt for some extra organs to compete for the wide receiver during this year’s training camp. With Devin Funchess retiring, the Packers have reportedly brought in a free agent receiver for a visit this week. However, the name is not likely to elicit significant excitement or intrigue.
According to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, that name is Malik Turner, a third-year pro who spent his first two seasons with the Seattle Seahawks.
Turner entered the NFL in 2018 after a college career in Illinois. After spending his first two years as a teammate with former Packer Geronimo Allison, Turner’s best varsity season came as a junior in 2016, when he recorded career highs in receptions (48), receiving yards (712), yards per reception (14.8), and touchdowns (six).
Turner was sidelined in 2018 draft practices with a foot injury, but signed with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent. He spent most of his rookie season on the practice squad, earning a season-ending call to the active roster for six games. In 2019, he made the opening week roster and has been active for 15 games, playing just over 20% of Seattle’s offensive shots. Turner would catch 15 passes for 245 yards and one touchdown per year.
Oddly enough, the Seahawks put Turner on a one-year tender for an exclusive rights free agency, which he quickly signed, but the team called off that tender in mid-April. Early indications from the Seattle Times suggested the team intended to sign him on a “split contract,” which would pay him different amounts if he was on the active roster versus if he landed on the injured reserve. However, they have chosen not to, at least so far.
