Thursday Cheese Curds: Is Josiah Deguara an X-factor for the Packers offense?

When the Green Bay Packers made the decision to release Jimmy Graham, everyone assumed Jace Sternberger’s time had arrived to be the starting tight end.

That still may be the case, but when Green Bay drafted Cincinnati tight end Josiah Deguara in the third round eyebrows were raised as to what exactly the Packers’ plan was.

The idea it seems is to use Deguara as more of an H-back if coach Matt LaFleur is indeed planning on utilizing more of his offensive concepts in 2020 instead of the hybrid of old and new the team ran with mixed results in 2019.

In Deguara the Packers are getting as versatile a player as it gets. From the H-back role to that of a traditional receiving tight end to trick play specialist, Deguara did it all in high school and college and possesses a unique skillset that is tantalizing to a coach like LaFleur.

With a three-headed attack of Sternberger, Deguara and Marcedes Lewis, the Packers will definitely have flexibility with their tight end class. Expect a lot more two tight end sets similar to what the San Francisco 49ers run under Kyle Shanahan.

Every team can’t have a George Kittle but the Packers are going to at least try to replicate San Francisco’s success with this tight end group.

Now for today’s curds.

Uniquely-talented rookie Josiah Deguara can do a little bit of everything for Packers’ offense—PackersNews.com (subscription required)

Deguara’s story is as unique as the player. We just don’t think he’ll be throwing the ball much with Aaron Rodgers under center.

Unfortunate ending leads to new beginning for Simon Stepaniak—Packers.com

Simon Stepaniak blew out his ACL in practice for the Gator Bowl and saw his draft stock tumble. Now Green Bay hopes they found a diamond in the rough in the former Indiana team captain.

Packers Linebacker Surprises Mom With House on Mother’s Day—Heavy.com

May all of us strive to be as good of son’s as Christian Kirksey. The Packers got a good one in the inside linebacker.

Packers to push WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling to take ‘next step’—Packers Wire

It’s no secret it’s put up or shut up time for the speedy receiver. After being a breakout candidate last season, Valdes-Scantling instead vanished. He may have been given a longer leash thanks to the team not drafting a receiver but time is running out.

Monkey Breaks Into ATM, And The Surveillance Footage Is Bananas—Huffington Post

Talk about monkey business. I’d be going ape if I were the bank manager.