Almost 150 selections after the Green Bay Packers called Datone Jones’ name in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft, general manager Ted Thompson used the second of his two fifth-round picks on little-known Mississippi State defensive lineman Josh Boyd. 

While Jones continues to battle nagging ankle injuries, Boyd—an important reserve up front—has begun taking the second-year leap that head coach Mike McCarthy predicted he’d take back in February. 

"I think Josh has a flexibility. He's shown he can play the nose and he can play the three-technique," McCarthy told Cheesehead TV's Brian Carriveau from the NFL scouting combine, while the Packers were still deciding on what to do with the likes of B.J. Raji, Ryan Pickett and Johnny Jolly. "So I really like what Josh gave us as a rookie, but he needs to take a huge step, a big step. And I think he'll be one of those players that does that in his second year." 

The 310-pounder started at right defensive end Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings. He played 25 snaps, marking the fifth-straight game he’s received at least 25 snaps along the Packers defensive line. Employed mostly in the base defense, Boyd flashed disruptive ability for the third week in the a row.

In fact, there’s an argument to be made that Boyd has been the Packers’ best defensive lineman since the bye week. 

According to ProFootballFocus.com, Boyd has nine “stops” over the last three games. The football analytics site considers a stop to be any tackle that constitutes an offensive failure. Eight of Boyd's nine stops have come against the run, which is tied with J.J. Watt—yes, that J.J. Watt—for second most among 3-4 defensive ends since Week 10. On the Packers defense, only Clay Matthews (10) has more total stops during the same stretch. 

The Vikings struggled to stay in front of No. 93 Sunday. 

On Minnesota’s second offensive play, Boyd blew off the ball and bullied his way into the backfield. The run to Jerick McKinnon went the other way. Had it been to Boyd’s side, a sizable collision might have occurred behind the line of scrimmage. 

His next snap came on the first play of the Vikings’ second series. Initially knocked to the ground by right tackle Phil Loadholt, Boyd picked himself off the turf and stuffed McKinnon for no gain. A play later, he stacked and ripped the right guard, flashed inside and nearly put a hit on Teddy Bridgewater before he released a quick throw. Boyd finished off the drive on 3rd-and-22, when he spun off the block of left guard Charlie Johnson and tracked down McKinnon after just five yards to force a punt. 

The Packers reinserted Boyd on the 4th-and-1 during Minnesota’a third series. He used a swim move to maneuver around Loadholt off the ball, bounced off fullback Jerome Felton and nearly tripped up McKinnon behind the line of scrimmage.

Later in second quarter, Boyd hand-fought through Johnson’s block attempt and ended up in the face of Bridgewater as he threw a quick slant. 

On Micah Hyde’s sack in the second half, Boyd muscled past Pro Bowl center John Sullivan and was in Bridgewater’s lap as Hyde made the takedown. 

Maybe his worst play of the contest came in the third quarter, when he was late getting off the ball and the Vikings blocked him out of his gap—leaving McKinnon room to run for 10 yards on first down. His handful of empty snaps were typically the result of slow get-offs or effective double teams. But he still fought for stalemates against two blockers, hustled to the ball on every play and found ways to get into the backfield, all while playing all three positions along the Packers defensive line. 

Per PFF, Boyd finished Sunday with the highest total grade on the defense (plus-1.6). 

Boyd may never be a difference-maker at the level of former fourth-round pick Mike Daniels. And he’ll likely continue to play behind Jones, the first-round pick, and Letroy Guion, who has made his share of plays this season. But Boyd’s emergence recently has given Green Bay another effective option up front, which no team can ever have enough of—especially as winter approaches and stopping the run becomes more important. 

The departures of Pickett and Jolly, an early injury to Raji and nagging ankle issues for Jones have opened the door for Boyd to play important snaps. He’s making the most of them this season, all while proving both his general manager and head coach correct. 

Zach Kruse contributes to Cheesehead TV. He is also the Lead Writer for the NFC North at Bleacher Report. You can reach him on Twitter @zachkruse2 or by email at [email protected].