Rookie Dontayvion Wicks has breakout day for Packers on day he pays tribute to college teammates killed in shooting last year at Virginia

Dontayvion Wicks made three key catches for the Green Bay Packers offense Sunday in the team’s 23-20 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.

Three was a special number for Wicks today beyond the field.

As he used his feet to allude defenders on his way to several big gains, the rookie wide receiver was paying tribute on his cleats to three people who were close to him.

Wicks had the numbers of his former college teammates at Virginia — Lavel Davis (1), Devin Chandler (15) and D’Sean Perry (41) — written on his shoes.

The three were killed in a shooting nearly one year ago on Nov. 13, 2022, in a parking garage on the Charlottesville, Virginia, campus upon returning from a class trip to Washington, D.C.

Davis was part of the Virginia wide receiver room with Wicks, who the Packers selected with the 159th overall pick in the 2023 draft.

Wicks’ 91 receiving yards Sunday were a team-high for the Packers and a career-best for the 23-year-old rookie.

His 30.3 yards per catch were also his best as a pro.

Wicks helped set up the Packers for the winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter with a game-changing play. What appeared to be a modest gain on second-and-10 from their 39-yard line ended up being a 35-yard reception after Wicks broke a tackle and then used his speed to race down to the Chargers 26-yard line.

Earlier in the second half, Wicks also got the Packers going with a 27-yard reception on an eventual touchdown drive.

Wicks was evaluated late in the contest with a head injury.

For the season, Wicks has 20 catches for 331 yards and one touchdown. He’s averaging 16.5 yards per catch.

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