Packers surprise rookie with big opportunity in training camp practice
Training camp is nothing but ebbs and flows. Even for star players. That's why it's always important for players to keep their heads up, regardless of any situation. Green Bay Packers rookie Anthony Johnson Jr. has had an uphill battle ever since he was drafted back in April. He's currently fighting several veterans -who have […]
Training camp is nothing but ebbs and flows. Even for star players. That's why it's always important for players to keep their heads up, regardless of any situation.
Green Bay Packers rookie Anthony Johnson Jr. has had an uphill battle ever since he was drafted back in April. He's currently fighting several veterans -who have plenty of NFL experience- for a place on the 53-man roster, which is obviously never easy. Especially for a seventh-round draft pick.
Johnson hasn't ran with the starters, at all, during camp. But that changed on Sunday when he stepped onto the field with Darnell Savage and the 1s on the Packers defense. What makes it even better is Packers safeties coach, Ryan Downard, surprised Johnson by keeping the plan under wraps until practice started.
“Oh, man,” Johnson said after practice, via Packer Central. “I always say to myself: [If] I just put my head down and work, eventually, what you do by that is when your opportunity comes, you’re able to make the most of it. I don’t really try to count whether I’m running with the 3s, the 2s, or the 1s. I just put in the work so that when my opportunity comes, that I’m ready for it and I can make the most of it…
"… I would say that I was prepared for that moment and I was able to go in there and execute because I wasn’t hung up on, ‘Hey, I’m with this group’ or ‘I’m running with that group.’ I just focused on getting better day in and day out and being ready for my moment.”
The former Iowa State Cyclone played 23 snaps against the Cincinnati Bengals on Friday night and he looked pretty good. He finished the game with three total tackles and a pass break-up that was almost an interception. Per Pro Football Focus, he added an additional 10 snaps on special teams and tied for the team lead with two tackles. His overall grade of 64.9 on special teams ranked him 11th out of the 58 Packers that received at least one snap on teams.
“Man! Man! I need that one. I need that one. I wanted that one bad,” Johnson said when asked about the near-interception. “When I get another opportunity, I’ll make the most of it.”
Johnson's play on defense obviously matters, but right now, his best shot at making the roster is through his special teams play. Tyler Davis' ACL injury creates a 346-snap-void on the unit, so the Packers need someone to step up and fill that void.
It's not unheard of for teams to carry five safeties on their roster, either. In fact, the Packers have done it the last three straight years – so there's certainly a path for Johnson to make the roster.
Granted, Johnson's promotion is a temporary one, but that doesn't take away from the enormous opportunity he was given. He just has to keep building and taking advantage of the opportunities that are handed to him. And as long as he does that, he'll continue to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
“You’ve got to focus on your assignment, where are you now, where your feet are,” said Johnson. “I’ve put the focus on getting better. Anytime you’re focused on getting better and improving, you’ll be fine. Everything else will drain itself out. Nothing else matters. I’m very critical of myself, so I know what I’ve put on film and how I practice and stuff like that. I just focus on getting better each day. That helps me. That soothes my mind.”
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Featured image via Wm. Glasheen/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK
