The Packers still need Romeo Doubs, and Romeo Doubs needs the Packers

Romeo Doubs has limitations as a wide receiver. However, the Packers still need him to reach their ceiling, and he needs to help the team achieve its potential to secure his future.

In the span of a few days, Romeo Doubs' professional life changed dramatically and perhaps permanently. Before, he held the mantle as the Green Bay Packers' most experienced and venerated wide receiver. But after a spat with the coaching staff resulted in a one-game suspension, Doubs' stature within the walls of 1265 Lombardi Ave. no longer seemed secure.

As The Leap reported over the weekend, Doubs went "M.I.A." after expressing frustration over his role in the offense directly to Packers head coach Matt LaFleur on multiple occasions. The incidents led to the receiver missing practice on Thursday and Friday, ultimately forcing the team to suspend him for Sunday's matchup with the Los Angeles Rams.

Following the game, LaFleur acknowledged that the two sides planned to talk again the following day and that he anticipated Doubs returning soon thereafter. That meeting apparently produced the intended result.

"I'm not going to get into the specifics of it, but I think it was productive," LaFleur said Monday. "We look forward to getting him back on Wednesday."

Though the situation now appears headed toward a reunion, such an outcome did not always look inevitable. At one point, Doubs scrubbed his social media of references to his team, the calling card of the disgruntled athlete. It also probably didn't help that the suspension meant he would miss his first chance to play an NFL game in his hometown of Los Angeles.

Even so, the Packers believe they have reached an understanding with Doubs, one that will bring him back into the fold for Week 6's matchup with the Arizona Cardinals. How the team will reintegrate Doubs remains unclear, however. Other members of the receiving corps have outperformed him to this point in the season, and Green Bay can't justify reducing their roles in order to satisfy Doubs. At the same time, a strong rebound effort could help alleviate any lingering resentment.

While some might dismiss Doubs' contributions to Green Bay's offense in the wake of his suspension, other clubs see value in the third-year receiver. According to CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones, multiple teams contacted the Packers last week regarding Doubs' availability in a trade, but general manager Brian Gutekunst had no interest in moving him.

With the Packers chasing a Super Bowl, the idea of trading a starter might seem outlandish. However, they have gone down this path multiple times before under similar circumstances. Under Gutekunst's watch, the team shipped out safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and cornerback Rasul Douglas for mid-round draft picks. Both served as preferred starters prior to being traded, and each deal occurred in October of the player's final season in Green Bay.

And despite that track record, Gutekunst didn't entertain offers for his unhappy wideout. Certainly, he had multiple reasons for rebuffing those overtures. However, Doubs remains in Green Bay mainly because the Packers still need him, he still needs the Packers.

Why the Packers still need Doubs