At first it started as a pestering joke that would never end. Everybody wanted Jeff Janis to play because he was the fastest Packers’ wideout and easily the most electric.

Play him.

Janis may be a sloppy route runner, he may have an icy relationship with quarterback Aaron Rodgers and he may have a hard time adjusting to the NFL in general. But after Thursday night, it’s time.

“Too many mental errors,” said coach Mike McCarthy following the embarrassing 17-13 loss to Chicago. “So we just got to keep working and we definitely need to get better as we go into Detroit.”

Play him.

The person that McCarthy was talking about was second-year receiver Davante Adams. The second round pick not only dropped a would-be 47-yard touchdown but also dropped the go-ahead touchdown on fourth-and-goal from the 8 with 29 seconds left. He was targeted 11 times, but only hauled in two passes for a pedestrian 14 yards. For the season, he’s been targeted 64 times, but has only made 32 catches.

This isn’t anything new this season. The Packers have had plenty of receiver issues this year. From a lack of separation, miscommunication and now the dropsies.

“It’s frustrating because we shouldn’t have some of those issues 11 games in,” said a discouraged Rodgers. “But we’re having those, short week. Now we have a normal week and then a break.”

Play him.

Ever since Jordy Nelson went down with an ACL tear in his right knee this past August, I thought the Packers would be OK. They haven’t been. They have nobody that can stretch the field and make the defense honest. And Randall Cobb, the one guy that could stretch the field, has been playing with a bad shoulder all year.

Play him.

Janis only has two catches for 79 yards this season — with both coming vs. San Diego. His most important reception was the 50-yard pass interference penalty that Janis drew on Minnesota cornerback Terence Newman on a pass that was underthrown.

Play him.

“We got to be better at the little things,” said Packers right guard T.J. Lang. “Finishing our blocks, catching the ball, finishing runs. We got to be better at the small things. We’re running out of time, because we only have five games left so it has to be a quick turnaround for us.”

The first six games seem like they were so long ago. Race out to a 6-0 record and have the NFC North clinched by Halloween. This is such a pronounced tailspin that even McCarthy doesn’t believe there’s anything of significance that’s wrong.

“There’s no big something’s broke here,” he said. “We got to do a better job on the little things.”

Play him.

The smallest move McCarthy can make right now is to play Janis and let Adams think about it as a reserve. Other players notice Adams blatantly hurting the team and soon you have an entire locker room of doubt running through your team.

Even if Rodgers doesn’t throw it to Janis, teams will have to respect it seeing as how Janis has the ability to run by everyone.

Janis isn’t a parlor trick or just some funny sound that sports talk radio has been having some fun with. With the offense being off the rails combined with Adams looking like he’s confused, the Packers need to bring in some energy to get some life back at 1265 Lombardi Ave.

Play him.