In 94 career touches (88 receptions, six rushing attempts) spread out over 42 career regular-season games, Green Bay wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling had never fumbled the ball. That changed on his 95th career touch, a reception in overtime on Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts.
After catching a pass from Aaron Rodgers on the second play of OT, Valdes-Scantling fumbled the football, which set up a game-winning field goal for the Colts just four plays later.
Following the fumble, which came just moments after Valdes-Scantling hauled in a 47-yard deep pass that was instrumental in the Packers tying the game in regulation, the 26-year-old wideout said he was the recipient of death threats, likely through social media.
“Death threats over a football game?” Valdes-Scantling wrote on Twitter. “Jesus you people need help. It’s actually sick. I’m good. My team got my back.”
Valdes-Scantling, who only had three catches for 55 yards but also drew a key pass interference penalty in the first half, was referencing his teammates and coaches coming to his defense following the loss, which dropped the Packers to 7-3 on the season.
“I know he’s really hurting right now,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said following the 34-31 loss. “He made so many plays for us and not only in the pass game but in the run game, stuff that you guys probably don’t even notice that we’re not getting the yardage that we get if he’s not blocking his ass off. So I can live with MVS. I’ve got more confidence in him now than probably ever. I think he continues to get better each and every day. Every time we go out there, he’s providing big plays.”
This is not the first time a player for the Packers has received death threats following a bad play. In 2015, Brandon Bostick was also threatened after botching an onside kick in the NFC championship game against the Seahawks.
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