Matt LaFleur's club hosted the New England Patriots on Saturday night. What Green Bay Packers players made an impression one way or another?
The Green Bay Packers were coming off an encouraging 36-19 win over the Bengals in Cincinnati and hosted the New England Patriots on Saturday night. The teams had engaged in joint practices on Wednesday and Thursday.
Early in the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field, New England cornerback back Isaiah Bolden, the team's seventh-round pick in April, went down after a collision with teammate Calvin Munson. Bolden would be taken off the field on a stretcher. The game would end with 10:29 to go and the Patriots ahead, 21-17.
Referee John Hussey (via ESPN's Mike Reiss and Rob Demovsky) made the announcement. "At the agreement of both head coaches and team leadership, we have elected to suspend play for the evening. The game is officially over."
Packers who earned roster spot No. 3: OLB Kingsley Enagbare
The franchise has always relied more on the draft than free agency. Joe Barry's defensive unit was a bit of a disappointment in 2022 and the team's run defense finished 26th in the league.
However, the Packers were also hoping to aid a pass rush that came up with just 34 sacks in 17 contests. General manager Brian Gutekunst used a fifth-round pick on University of South Carolina product Kingsley Enagbare.
In the second quarter on Saturday night, the former Gamecock turned the corner on Patriots' rookie tackle Andrew Stueber and nailed quarterback Mac Jones. The ball came out, Enagbare recovered and it set up a touchdown that would give the Packers a 14-7 lead.
He played 14 plays on defense and finished the night with both of Green Bay's sacks, as well as the aforementioned forced fumble and fumble recovery.
Packers who earned roster spot No. 2: WR Malik Heath
A year ago, general manager Brian Gutekunst dealt All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders. He enjoyed a productive year with the Silver and Black, catching 100 passes for 1,516 yards and 14 scores. Adams earned All-Pro honors for the third consecutive year.
He was certainly missed by the Packers. Allen Lazard (now a member of the New York Jets) was Green Bay's top pass-catcher in 2022, totaling 60 receptions for 788 yards and six touchdowns.
The club got some solid contributions from a pair of rookie wideouts in Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson. The latter struggled early but when it was all said and done, he averaged 14.9 yards per reception and not only led Green Bay in TD receptions (7), but total touchdowns (9) as well. In April, Gutekunst added three more wideout in the 2023 draft, including Michigan State's Jayden Reed in the second round.
So far this summer, the wide receiver that has received plenty of attention is undrafted find Malik Heath. On Saturday vs. the Patriots, the Ole Miss product was targeted five times and caught each attempt for a combined 75 yards. A week earlier, Heath caught three passes for 36 yards in the team's win at Cincinnati.
Packers who earned roster spot No. 1: CB Carrington Valentine
The franchise wound up making 13 selections in the 2023 NFL Draft. There were seven picks on offense, five on defense, and former Auburn University kicker Anders Carlson was a sixth-round choice.
Four of those 13 picks came in the seventh round, the first of those 6'0", 194-pound cornerback Carrington Valentine.
The 232nd pick in April has not only started both of Green Bay's preseason game, no defensive player saw more action in either contest for Matt LaFleur's squad. Last week against the Bengals, the former University of Kentucky standout led the club with four tackles (all solo). There was a 17-yard interception return while Valentine was credited with three passes defensed.
On Saturday night vs. the visiting Patriots, the emerging performer had two more solo tackles and knocked down two passes. He has also been a contributor on special teams as well.
Defensive coordinator Joe Barry's unit could certainly use another playmaker in the secondary and one that could also help with run support. The Packers allowed 40 offensive touchdowns in 17 games. Green Bay gave up 139.5 yards per game on the ground and nearly half of those aforementioned 40 TDs came via the ground (18). Valentine seems destined for a big role in 2023.
Packers cut candidate after Preseason Week 2: FB Henry Pearson
While there's been plenty of discussion lately regarding the role and finances of NFL running backs, the fullback has been an endangered species for even longer. All kidding aside, not many teams utilize the position these days. The Packers have a versatile performer in Josiah Deguara, a third-round pick in 2020 from the University of Cincinnati.
Call him a fullback/tight end/H-Back. The former Bearcat serves a variety of roles and comes off a season in which he played in all 17 games.
Undrafted free agent Henry Pearson saw action on just three offensive plays on Saturday night and wound up seeing more time on special teams. However, midway through the first quarter, the Packers' defense forced a punt. Wide receiver Samori Toure returned the pick 15 yards to Green Bay's 29-yard-line. However, the play was wiped out as Pearson was called for holding.
To make matters worse, the former Appalachian State product suffered a knee injury vs. the Patriots, as reported by the team. It was unknown as of this writing the severity of the injury. The 6'2", 249-pound performer had a career year for the Mountaineers in 2022, catching 25 passes for 329 yards and five scores. He's an intriguing prospect and it will be interesting to see what the future holds.
