Packers' Jonathan Owens is a name to remember over the coming months
The Green Bay Packers have to figure out who they want to do at the safety position after Darnell Savage's 2022 struggles and losing Adrian Amos to free agency earlier in the year. Veteran Rudy Ford showed a lot of promise last year and he's back with the team after signing a one-year deal back […]
The Green Bay Packers have to figure out who they want to do at the safety position after Darnell Savage's 2022 struggles and losing Adrian Amos to free agency earlier in the year.
Veteran Rudy Ford showed a lot of promise last year and he's back with the team after signing a one-year deal back in March. But, he still has to show he can provide quality snaps on a consistent basis, which leaves the door open for the job.
There's another name to throw into the mix, as well, and that's recent free agent signing Jonathan Owens.
Owens is coming off his best year as a pro. He started all 17 games for the Houston Texans last year and recorded career-highs in total tackles (125), solo tackles (84), pass deflections (4), sacks (1.0), and quarterback hits (1).
Unfortunately, things didn't work out. New head coach DeMeco Ryans was able to bring in one of his former and best defenders in Jimmie Ward, which basically flushed Owens out of Houston.
"New team, new coach. Coach [Ryans] comes with his new system and they brought a guy from the team he was with. I get it," Owens told reporters Tuesday when asked what happened in Houston. "The previous coaching staff, I kind of grew up with them, and so I earned my start with them. It's the NFL, man, that's how it goes. There's no hard feelings. They gave me my opportunity to start and it was amazing, so I'm ready to move on to this next chapter."
Owens' story is one of perseverance and gratitude. He was an undrafted free agent and has had to work his ass off in order to make NFL rosters. He finally got his opportunity in 2022 and made the best of it.
"Just taking advantage of opportunities and that's it," said Owens. "I got an interception during my second start on Justin Herbert and that was really what changed the course of my life, I guess. Because then, I have film. There's no longer just practice squad opportunities."
Now, he's ready to take on his next big opportunity: starting for the Packers.
"It was tough, man, but I just waited my turn," said Owens. "Having the support of family and my fiancée at the time – they were keeping me motivated and [helped me] keep my head in it… I always took it as I had something else to work on, whenever I was on practice squad."I never stopped working, never got discouraged, and I just waited for my opportunity…
"… It was a bigger selling point for me and my agent. My agent kind of explained that it's an open [safety] room and everyone is coming in here to compete and make each other better… I was really just waiting on the perfect opportunity."
Owens knows the opportunity that awaits him up North. The Packers need a strong safety after Amos' departure and Owens fits that mold to a "T". His a very good tackler who is also physical in run defense. The Packers' run defense struggled mightily, again, in 2022, so adding a guy like Owens could really help improve that area.
And on a personal level, Owens has a chance to really ingrain himself as an effective starter on the Packers roster.
Or, to start the "next part of his legacy", as he mentioned earlier in the week.
"Absolutely, because it's an environment and a city where you can just really come in and focus and hone in on football and just get better at your craft," said Owens. "It's such a historic organization – I'm just excited. I was walking around the field and everything and you can just feel the energy, you know, of all the Hall of Famers and people that have played here. So I'm just excited to come here and make this the next part of my legacy."
