GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Aaron Rodgers knows what Green Bay Packers fans think about Jeff Janis. It was apparent again even in an offseason practice last week, when fans cheered for him a little louder than usual and reporters continued to ask questions about a third-year player with four career regular-season catches.

"I know you guys love Jeff Janis," Rodgers said after an organized team activity last week. "All you people out there love Jeff. I love Jeff, too. Jeff made some great plays there at the end of [the season], and he's coming along."

This isn't just about Janis.

There's Jared Abbrederis, Davante Adams, Ty Montgomery and even rookie fifth-round pick Trevor Davis. They give the Packers the potential -- along with Randall Cobb and a healthy Jordy Nelson -- for one of the deepest receiver groups in Rodgers' tenure as the starting quarterback.

There's so much depth at the position that the Packers decided early this offseason not bring back James Jones, who led them in receiving yards (890) last season, and yet there's the possibility that general manager Ted Thompson could keep seven receivers on the roster come September.

"I'm really excited about the group," first-year receivers coach Luke Getsy said. "They're working really hard. I think you just take each individual by themselves and you give each guy everything he needs to be successful. Those guys are working their tails off right now trying to do everything we're asking them to do."

If things come together as Getsy and coach Mike McCarthy hope, it could give Rodgers a more diverse group of weapons than he's had since perhaps 2011, when Nelson, Cobb, Jones, Greg Jennings and Donald Driver all were productive. In 2013, the Packers went into the season thinking they had a chance for three 1,000-yard receivers (plus a 1,000-yard tight end in Jermichael Finley), although injuries left only Nelson with that kind of production.

In 2014, the Packers relied heavily on Nelson and Cobb, who combined for 189 receptions, 2,806 yards and 25 touchdowns. That offense ranked sixth overall and eighth in passing. Last year, without Nelson, the Packers fell to 23rd overall and tied for 25th in passing.

There's reason to believe this year will be better, especially if Janis and Abbrederis can be counted on like they were in the playoff loss at Arizona. Janis caught seven passes for 145 yards and touchdowns, while Abbrederis caught four passes for 55 yards against the Cardinals.

"These are important years for young guys like that," Rodgers said. "Years 1-to-2 and 2-to-3 are when you can really take jumps. You've seen a lot of them over my course of 12 seasons, where you see guys really take jumps and start to figure it out."

But nobody's ready to declare that Janis and Abbrederis have, as Rodgers said, started to figure it out.

"We're early in the offseason and maybe when we get into training camp we can talk a little bit more about that," Gesty said. "But I think anytime you're going into your third year the comfort level -- and Davante is the same way -- the comfort level of that third year, you've had a chance to learn the ropes. I think that part of it is where you see the improvement in those three guys."

Janis and Abbrederis are just part of the "ifs" that people speak of when asked about the Packers receivers. If they can make the next jump … if Adams can bounce back from a disappointing year … if Montgomery can stay healthy … if Nelson comes back as good as he was before his knee injury … if Davis can find a way to use his speed.

"I'm just going to say there's a lot of guys who've made some good strides," Rodgers said last week. "But we're going to temper expectations."