The Green Bay Packers’ safety room has turned into a real strength in a hurry, and that shift is shaping how the defense is being built around the slot. Xavier McKinney and Evan Williams give Green Bay a strong tandem on the back end, while Javon Bullard took a big step forward in the slot last season. Put those three together, and the Packers suddenly have one of the better safety groups in the league.
That matters because new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon has a very specific idea about who belongs in the slot. This week, it became clear that he prefers safeties there instead of the more traditional smaller cornerback. That goes a long way toward explaining why Packers fans haven’t seen Keisean Nixon or Carrington Valentine working there this summer.
With Bullard dealing with an ankle issue, the team has been looking for answers, and Kamal Hadden has been the cornerback most clearly pushing for that role. He has been getting more and more work in the slot, and Wednesday was his best showing yet. Hadden has mostly played outside corner, but he does bring a little slot and safety background with him, along with good size, which makes the move easier.
There’s also a natural reason Kitan Oladapo has been next up after Bullard. If Gannon wants the slot to function more like a safety spot, the depth chart starts to make a lot more sense.
Hadden’s Wednesday practice stood out for another reason, too: he intercepted a pass from Kyle McCord. McCord answered with a highlight of his own, dropping a beautiful rainbow to J. Michael Sturdivant for a big gain.
Elsewhere in camp, rookie Dani Dennis-Sutton returned to the field after a heat-related illness. The handling of that situation is a reminder that the NFL now has strong protocols in place for players showing signs similar to the ones that preceded Korey Stringer’s death from heat stroke during training camp.
And in the locker room, Xavier McKinney continues to show the kind of leadership that has made him so important to this group, including taking the rookie kicker under his wing. As Smack put it: “He’s dead serious…and I’m dead serious, too.”
In Other News...
Packers Guard Battle Took Shape With One Early Preseason Warning
The Packers guard competition is already taking on shape in August, and the early signs have been mixed. Rookie Jager Burton and third-year lineman Jacob Monk both got turns with the first group in team drills and again in a preseason game, giving Green Bay a real look at how each might fit if the job becomes available.
Monks night was especially revealing because of the way the line kept shifting around him, while Burton was trying to make his own case in live action. Neither player delivered the kind of clean, decisive outing that settles a battle this early, and the Packers now have at least one preseason warning to sort through before the evaluation gets any tighter. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Could Face An Unexpected Roster Twist From NCAA Lawsuit
A new NCAA eligibility fight could end up creating an odd kind of roster ripple for NFL teams, including the Packers, as some members of the 2022 college class explore whether they can reclaim another year in school after the NCAA approved a five-year eligibility agreement. The first official case centers on former LSU player Jack Byburn, who signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but could head back to college football if he is released and the courts give the green light.
For Green Bay, the wrinkle is less about the headline names and more about the possibility that roster plans could get nudged by players suddenly weighing college over the pros. A Louisiana lawsuit involving 33 athletes has already put the issue on a bigger stage, and with other players getting temporary legal protection, the Packers have at least one more off-the-field variable to monitor as camp decisions start to matter more. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Rookie Absence At Camp Just Took A More Concerning Turn
The Packers Wednesday injury report offered another reminder that training camp can turn quickly from routine to worrisome, especially for a rookie trying to make a first impression. Green Bay listed players on the Physically Unable to Perform list and others who did not practice, and the attention naturally fell on edge rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton, whose recent absence had already made him a player to monitor as the preseason and regular season calendars keep moving.
Matt LaFleur offered the first real explanation for Dennis-Suttons missed time, saying the rookie was dealing with overheating and then an illness rather than anything tied to conditioning. The update helps narrow the focus for a player whose camp availability has become a point of concern, even if the full picture around his early August setback still leaves one important question hanging for the Packers as they work through the rest of practice. [Read more 🡒]