4 Cornerbacks That Could Give The Green Bay Packers' Secondary A Lift
Detroit also ranked No. 2 in total offense and No. 1 in points per game (33.2) in 2024.
The Lions come to Green Bay in Week 1 of the regular season, where the Packers already have injury issues in the secondary.
Green Bay cornerback Nate Hobbs underwent knee surgery on Aug. 2 to repair a partial meniscus tear. Sports Illustrated was first to report the news.
Hobbs, who signed a four-year, $48 million free agent contract with Green Bay in March, is expected to miss the remainder of training camp, but could be back for the season opener against the Lions.
'I'm not going to put a timetable on it, but unfortunately he had to have something cleaned up,' Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Tuesday. 'We're hoping to get him back here sooner than later.'
Hobbs missed six games with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024 and 16 in the last three seasons due to a bevy of injuries.
Cornerback is undoubtedly the thinnest position on Green Bay's roster.
Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine are the projected starters with Hobbs out. The top reserves are an inexperienced group that includes Kalen King, Micah Robinson, Bo Melton and Kamal Hadden, along with Corey Ballentine, who played in Green Bay from 2022-'24, then resigned with the Packers on Monday.
If the Packers choose to add another corner to the mix, here would be some options.RASUL DOUGLAS
Douglas played in Green Bay for 2 ½ seasons from 2021-'23.
Douglas led the Packers with five interceptions in 2021, and returned picks against the Rams and Chicago for scores. Douglas wasn't as good in 2022, when he allowed receptions on 67.1% of his targets, up from 50.8% in 2021.
Douglas was traded to Buffalo midway through the 2023 campaign, where he played relatively well, but wasn't resigned after last season.
The 6-foot-2, 209 pound Douglas turns 31 later this month.STEPHON GILMORE
Gilmore, a five-time Pro Bowler with 32 career interceptions, could provide a Band-Aid.
Gilmore was the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year in 2019, a two-time, first-team All-Pro and had a respectable grade of 63.9 from Pro Football Focus last season. That ranked 94th out of 222 cornerbacks in football.
The downside is Gilmore turns 35 next month and has lost a step — or more.KENDALL FULLER
Fuller, a third round draft pick in 2016, spent six of his first eight seasons in Washington and the 2024 campaign with Miami.
The 30-year-old Fuller has 16 career interceptions and 82 pass deflections.
His overall grade of 66.2 by Pro Football Focus last season ranked 75th out of 222 cornerbacks.ASANTE SAMUEL JR.
This is probably a longshot, especially for an organization as conservative as Green Bay.
Samuel Jr. underwent neck surgery in April, and while he has been cleared to play, teams have been hesitant to bring him aboard.
In four seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers, Samuel Jr. has played well, posting six interceptions and 37 passes deflected. His father, Asante Samuel, was a four-time Pro Bowler and a two-time Super Bowl champ.
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