J. Michael Sturdivant just dropped a 29-yard touchdown pass that was so much more than just six points; it earned him a spot on an active NFL roster. This wasn’t some meaningless preseason score, folks. That play, a gorgeous connection from quarterback Kyle McCord, was the kind of tape that screams “keep this guy” and ended up landing both players jobs to kick off the 2026 regular season.
The Play-Action Deception That Broke Brains
You gotta hand it to the Packers’ offensive coaches, because this play was designed to perfection. They rolled out in 11 personnel, that classic 1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WR look, starting off in a 2×2 formation. But then, right before the snap, Will Sheppard shifts, boom, they’re in a Nub formation. That’s three receivers to one side and your tight end all alone on the other. It immediately tells defenses something’s cooking. Then McCord, the QB, flashes a quick play-action fake to Jaden Nixon, the running back, and turns left for a pump to the flat. On that side, Isaiah Neyor releases vertically on a post, and you see Sturdivant, our guy, showing a stalk-block. Sheppard, meanwhile, is releasing underneath Sturdivant into the flat. All that action screams “WR screen coming right at ya,” and the defense bites hard.
Sturdivant’s Sneaky Move and McCord’s Dime
This is where J. Michael Sturdivant really cooked. Quinton Newsome, the defender in the slot over Sturdivant, saw that stalk-block and the flat release from Sheppard and read “screen.” He played it by splitting the difference, trying to cover Sturdivant on the inside shoulder while getting ready to drive down on Sheppard. But Sturdivant wasn’t running a screen, no sir. He ran a “stalk-and-go” route: fake the stalk block, then explode vertically up the sideline. With the boundary defender already carrying Neyor on the post route, Sturdivant blew past Newsome like he wasn’t even there. And McCord? Man, he stepped back from the pressure, put his whole body into it, and launched a beautiful ball up the sideline, getting it there before anyone could recover. It worked because it tapped into that familiar WR screen look the Packers run enough for defenses to overreact. It’s genius, really.
From Preseason Flash to Regular Season Contributor
This wasn’t just a highlight; it was a job interview performance. That 29-yard bomb was a defining moment for both McCord and Sturdivant. Sturdivant officially made the Packers’ 53-man roster as the sixth wide receiver, especially after Savion Williams went on injured reserve. This play, this moment, it solidified his spot. Now that they’ve punched their tickets, the real test begins. We’ll be watching to see how McCord and Sturdivant build on that chemistry and if we see more of that slick stalk-and-go trickery in the regular season. These guys earned their stripes, and you know they’re ready to show what they can do when the games actually count.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Acme Packing Company.
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