With Kevin King out and Jaire Alexander not at 100 percent, rookie corner Eric Stokes has been put through the ringer during his first training camp. In practice, Stokes has been targeted numerous times by Aaron Rodgers while covering the Green Bay Packers number one wide receiver Davante Adams. Now Stokes has experienced firsthand what it is like to face arguably the best pass catcher in the NFL.

“The first time I was going against (Adams), I was like I’m [going to] see what this 99 on madden is talking about,” Stokes told the media on Tuesday. “When he and (Aaron) Rodgers beat me. I just looked and I was like ‘He’s a 99 for a reason’.”

After surrendering a big play, Stokes quickly moved on as he tipped his cap to Adams. A short memory is required for a player in Stokes’ position, but it’s extremely helpful when your next rep is against another veteran capable of giving you crash course in covering an NFL receiver. According to Stokes, you can’t lack confidence when facing the best of the best.

That’s one thing you got to have,” he said. “The moment you start losing confidence is the moment your play starts dropping and that’s one thing I refuse to let happen.”

Sticking with Adams is a difficult task for even the best cover corners in the league. Now imagine what it must feel like for Stokes who is still waiting to see his first game action. In college, Stokes went through a gauntlet of some of the top receivers in the country, including Jerry Jeudy, Justin Jefferson, and Devonta Smith. However, Stokes currently finds himself facing arguably the best in the business on a daily basis. That is one thing his mentor knows all about.

As a fellow first-round pick, Alexander when through the same experience back in 2018. Ultimately, this helped Alexander grow into the top corner he is today and now Stokes hopes to follow in the same footsteps. Stokes said he frequently picks the brain of Alexander while trying to learn the ins and outs of why certain things are done.

As he learns, bad plays will happen but Stokes isn’t going to let anything get the best of him. Rodgers picks on rookies from opposing teams every chance he gets and Stokes happens to be his latest victim. The only difference is Rodgers doesn’t offer advice to opposing players, which is one of the benefits Stokes can use from having him as a teammate.

“He just said he was going to make me better,” Stokes recalled of a conversation he had with Rodgers during practice. “If I got any questions, he said don’t be hesitant to ask him.”

Rodgers knows that Stokes could play a vital role in the Packers 2021 season. If he can help get the rookie up to speed, it will ultimately help the team achieve their ultimate goal.