[ad_1]
The Green Bay Packers don’t necessarily get injured at the cornerback position entering the NFC Championship game. Jaire Alexander, Kevin King and Chandon Sullivan, the team’s favorite starting line since training camp began, are all in good health. The position is in such good hands at depth that Josh Jackson and Ka’dar Hollman, two recent draft picks, were good claws for the Packers last week in the divisional round.
Enter Tramon Williams. Specifically, enter again.
The starting defense in the slot machine game for every game last season, Williams officially returned to the Packers on Thursday, joining the team on a practice group deal after being released by the Baltimore Ravens on Monday.
Defensive coordinator Mike Pettine said bringing Williams back was a “great move” that provides a “calming veteran presence” for the position group and “certainly gives us some options.
At the very least, Williams is a seasoned veteran who has played a ton of clichés in a ton of big games and knows the Pettine defense inside and out. As a potential one-day play-day elevation from the practice squad, Williams would provide instant cure for any injury to the top three, especially Sullivan in the lunge.
Coach Matt LaFleur has said he will give Williams the week to see what he can deliver, but the Packers probably haven’t added the veteran cornerback to the practice squad without knowing – or less firmly assuming – that he could help them one way or another during this playoff run.
Williams played six games with the Ravens in 2020, including 12 defensive shots in Baltimore’s loss to the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round. He may be 37, but he should be ready for the game.
Williams also knows the cornerback and safety positions in Pettine’s scheme, which makes him even more valuable if an injury or two hits the secondary on Sunday against the Bucs.
It is certainly possible that Williams is nothing more than an emergency backup plan. The secondary Packers, who placed second overall in Pro Football Focus in 2020, doesn’t really need to fill a gap anywhere. But at this time of year, when a fine line exists between elite teams, insurance policies can be vital, especially for such a large group of positions.
The Packers are betting on Williams as a more reliable option if a key moment comes Sunday against Tom Brady.
GM Brian Gutekunst has retroceded his playoff list with veterans who know how to play and can fill specific roles. Williams, the latest addition, joins receiver / returner Tavon Austin, defensive lineman Snacks Harrison and versatile offensive tackle Jared Veldheer.
The four may not be the winning difference for the Packers on Sunday. But they’re much less likely to be the reason the Packers lose if they have to play a role against the Bucs.
Note: Running back Mike Weber changed his uniform number to 40, allowing Williams to have his old number 38.
[ad_2]
Source link