Greg Jennings monster start in 2008 only accentuates the relative invisibility of the Green Bay Packers No. 1 receiver at times in 2009.

Through four games last season, Jennings had 25 receptions for 482 yards and two touchdowns.

At the same point this season, those numbers have been cut roughly in half 11 receptions for 240 yards and a touchdown, including the first shutout of his four-year NFL career in Week 2 against Cincinnati and three receptions for 31 yards on Monday at Minnesota.

The Packers lost both of those games, in which they also allowed a combined 14 sacks. For a receiver such as Jennings, who does so much of his damage downfield, the offenses inability to protect and get the ball out on time can have a direct impact on his chances.

It was certainly part of the reason (Monday) night, without any question, receivers coach Jimmy Robinson said this week. It just has turned out that for whatever reason, hes not getting as many opportunities as he would like and as we would like him to have. Its certainly not by design.

The NFLs most basic offensive mantra get the ball to your playmakers suggests the Packers will find a way to force-feed Jennings after this weeks bye.

But unlike last season, when coaches made a conscious effort to get the ball to receiver Donald Driver after his similarly slow start, it could prove difficult to manufacture playmaking opportunities for Jennings until they can shore up other issues.

The shutout against Cincinnati on Sept. 20 provides a perfect example. With former first-round pick Leon Hall shadowing him much of the afternoon, Jennings had the ball thrown his way five times. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers was pressured on two throws one of which Jennings dropped tossed a wobbly post into triple coverage, misfired on a run-pass option and, with Jennings open deep against single-safety coverage in the fourth quarter, was sacked by Antwan Odom before he could get rid of the ball.

I think we can get (Jennings) involved, get him the ball more, offensive coordinator Joe Philbin said. Sure, no question about it. But weve got to get some of these other things fixed first.

Driver is ahead of last years pace with 18 receptions for 288 yards and two touchdowns. Hes been targeted a team-high 29 times to Jennings 23, in part because Driver works more often from the slot, where slants and other quick-hitting passes are a safety valve in many pressure situations.

It hasnt been all bad for Jennings, whose big numbers in 2008 80 receptions for 1,292 yards and nine touchdowns yielded a new four-year, $26.885 million contract in June.

Hes tied for the league lead in catches of 40 yards or more, with a 50-yard touchdown catch to beat Chicago in the opener and receptions of 53 and 50 yards in a Week 3 win at St. Louis. But like the offense as a whole, Jennings production has been feast-or-famine, with 64 percent of his yards coming on those three plays.

Robinson spoke highly of Jennings offseason work and hasnt seen any fundamental changes in the way teams are covering him, saying most teams just kind of do what they do.

Chicago jammed some with cornerbacks Nathan Vasher and Danieal Manning, whom Jennings beat deep on a second-quarter post Rodgers underthrew because of pressure. Cincinnati leaned on Hall. St. Louis made the disastrous decision to give some single-safety looks, leaving cornerback Ronald Bartell in press coverage with no help on Jennings two big plays.

Minnesota mostly played off with Pro Bowl cornerback Antoine Winfield, content to let Jennings catch a few balls underneath and discouraging Rodgers from throwing deep even once, with help from a pass rush tallied 19 pressures and eight sacks. The strategy also allowed Winfield to sucker Rodgers into his first interception by squatting on an out route to Jennings, who declined an interview request on Wednesday.

Im sure Gregs a little frustrated by it, Robinson said of the slow start, but at the same time, sometimes it comes in bunches, and early last year for him, it did, and he made a lot of big plays. Weve got to get the offense clicking.

Additional Facts
Starting slow

Packers WR Greg Jennings is off to an unusually slow start, with the fewest receptions and touchdowns hes posted in four NFL seasons through four games:

Year Rec Yds Avg. TD
2006 15 259 17.3 2
2007* 14 228 16.3 3
2008 25 482 19.3 2
2009 11 240 21.8 1
*Missed first two games. Stats are for Weeks 3-6.