Safety Depth Still An Open Question for the Packers As the Preseason Is Ending

As the preseason draws to a close, the Green Bay Packers still have more questions than answers when it comes to safety depth. We know that when healthy, Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage will be the starters. But after that, things are very uncertain.

Savage has missed much of training camp and all the preseason after suffering an injury during Family Night. While that gave other players more opportunities to get reps in both practices and games, nobody has come forward to claim the job. In fact, cornerback Rasul Douglas has seen some reps at safety during training camp while Savage remains out of the lineup.

Vernon Scott was considered a candidate to fill the third safety spot, but he was also injured and then waived with an injury designation. The Packers could bring him back once he’s healthy if he doesn’t decide to sign with another team at that time. Scott will not open the season on the Packers active roster.

Shawn Davis has gotten some starting reps in Savage’s absence and is the healthiest and most able player available right now. Still, should either Savage or Amos be lost to injury for an extended time, the Packers are not sure if Davis, who has never taken a snap on defense in the NFL, would be ready to assume a starting role.

The Packers also signed former Raiders safety Dallin Leavitt this offseason but Leavitt injured his shoulder in the preseason opener against San Francisco and has yet to return to action. He was acquired primarily for his special teams abilities to begin with as he worked with special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia in Las Vegas. Leavitt was burned badly in the 49ers game and may not be a good choice on defense. He may make the team if he’s healthy but his primary job will be on special teams.

GM Brian Gutekunst selected Tariq Carpenter in the seventh round of this year’s NFL Draft. Carpenter is big at 6’3” and 230 pounds. The former Georgia Tech star was drafted primarily to play on special teams and with the idea of developing him into a hybrid safety/inside linebacker.

Carpenter has also been dealing with injuries throughout training camp which have limited the reps he’s gotten in preseason games and in practice. He is not ready for an extended role on defense in his rookie season and other than special teams, is more of a developmental project.

Innis Gaines has also missed significant time in camp due to injuries. He has still yet to take a snap on defense in an NFL game. The former TCU star was elevated from the practice squad for one game last year and took five snaps on special teams.

The Packers signed Micah Abernathy before the Saints game. He spent the spring playing in the USFL. He stepped in and played well against New Orleans, making an acrobatic interception and a tackle for loss on a screen pass five yards behind the line of scrimmage. Abernathy lined up in many different areas against the Saints and played well but it’s only been two weeks of practice and one preseason game thus far.

The Packers also signed former University of Virginia star De’Vante Cross last week. Cross has good size at 6’2” and 215 pounds. The undrafted rookie was in camp with the Washington Commanders this spring but was let go in May. Although he had been with the team for less than a week, Cross saw action against the Saints and made one solo tackle in the game.

The Packers are optimistic that Savage will be ready to play when they face the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1 on September 11th. They have two starting safeties who are among the best duos in the league. But with the season barely more than two weeks away, depth at safety remains a major concern.

Don’t be surprised if the Packers look to add another player who is not yet on the roster after cuts are made to provide some veteran depth at the safety position. It remains one of the team’s biggest questions as training camp comes to a close.  

 

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Comments (13)

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splitpea1's picture

August 25, 2022 at 12:16 pm

Abernathy may be our man (at least one of them) if he has a strong follow-up performance. No NFL experience, but at least we know he's a quick learner. Davis might be fine against the run, but coverage? Have any of the three done anything noteworthy on special teams?

If Gute decides to look outside the organization, he must be hoping for a surprise cut because the options were pretty mediocre and limited when the market opened--and even a couple of them are long gone.

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Coldworld's picture

August 25, 2022 at 01:05 pm

Davis is an emergency option only in coverage in my opinion. He’s better in the box and best as a STer.

In this roster only Gaines has hinted at coverage ability (even playing some slot in practices), but we haven’t seen him in a game. This is his chance to show why he was challenging Scott pre injury.

Abernathy is athletic undoubtedly, though we haven’t seen range yet. He’s a guy with the metrics but who wasn’t a college standout. Has something clicked? If it has, he’s certainly got the physical talent. A second and longer performance on a par with last week and perhaps we have found a gem. Without that we just have a conundrum.

It’s worth noting that all 3 of these players could make this roster and 2 probably will do so absent Gute picking someone up. Ideally all 3 show well and at least one looks viable deep.

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stockholder's picture

August 25, 2022 at 01:48 pm

Isaiah McDuffie. would be my option. He played it in college. Maybe Thomas.

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Coldworld's picture

August 25, 2022 at 02:02 pm

McDuffie has a job. I’d move Nixon before Thomas. Bigger and better tackler.

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jannes bjornson's picture

August 25, 2022 at 07:56 pm

Davis earned the # 3 spot last season. He knows where to be on the field. Savage still a question mark. A one pick at free safety has to make plays on the ball and take it away. There should be a move by Gutedkunst next week.

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BuckyBadger's picture

August 25, 2022 at 12:19 pm

I wouldn't be surprised if a player wasn't signed at a few positions such as OLB or OT. I feel the team is another off season away from putting out a contender you can hang your hat on. Will see how things gel during the season.

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Grandfathered's picture

August 25, 2022 at 12:26 pm

I agree that it is most likely - outside of Davis or Abernathy suddenly looking great - that the #3 or #4 Safety is not yet on the roster.

Depending on Scott's shoulder injury, but he might make it to the practice squad He was a healthy inactive most of 2021 and the Pack must see something in him. Then he couldn't beat out Henry Black, so that says something too.

I was rooting for Gaines, but he also seems like JAG. He doesn't seem to have any advantage after spending last year on the PS.

I'm hoping that Carpenter can bring ST ability and be kept, Davis has not been a great tackler on ST, but might be serviceable as #4 Safety.

GPG

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stockholder's picture

August 25, 2022 at 01:19 pm

The problem - injuries. The best never get injured. Thats just a fact. No matter how smart a guy is. They got to get on the field.
Laziness, miss tackles, proper technique and stupidly. The difference between mental toughness and the trainer’s table.
I hate to call anyone a pussy. But unless they have something broken. Save the picks, the money, and the excuses.
We had Micah Hyde. He became an All-Pro. Why didn’t anybody see that? We had Butler. And what about the great ones from the 60s.
If a Guy can’t make it anymore at CB. Seems the best place is Safety. I’m all for Douglass at Safety. CB. Where ever he fits.
And isn’t that the solution. Try them out at safety before you sit, or release them. They just might surprise.

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Roadrunner23's picture

August 25, 2022 at 02:23 pm

The big cut down to 53 is coming, there will be guys available to fill that safety spot if needed.
Still a few weeks to go, Gutey will get it figured out

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jcod3's picture

August 25, 2022 at 02:29 pm

I think Abernathy is the guy for now. He is fresh from USFL and has made good contributions in the little time he had been here.

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PhantomII's picture

August 25, 2022 at 09:10 pm

Douglas is the FS we have been needing. He's got good ball tracking ability and unlike 95% of our DB's...Actually holds onto the ball and has a couple pick sixes. Jug machine for ALL DB's.....Everyday. Miss the ball...You Run Sprints. That's how you fix the drop issue. I also like this Abernathy guy. He's active on the field and makes plays.

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Fubared's picture

August 25, 2022 at 09:47 pm

I was all in on Abernathy but after his lack of play in the KC game he may have played himself off the team. The injuries may save him but he is no Safety thats for sure. Looked lost played lost.

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Fubared's picture

August 25, 2022 at 09:47 pm

I was all in on Abernathy but after his lack of play in the KC game he may have played himself off the team. The injuries may save him but he is no Safety thats for sure. Looked lost played lost.

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