Green Bay Packers: Countdown to kickoff – Nine Nods
By Jamie Wright
Green Bay Packers tight end Mitchell Henry (85) practice with full back Aaron Ripkowski (22). Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
ST – Aaron Ripkowski
Though he isn’t truly needed as a fullback or running back – and the Packers couldn’t afford to keep him as such – Ripkowski has more than proved his worth on special teams.
Against the Steelers and Patriots, he made a few single-handed plays in the backfield on kickoffs and punts … the kind of plays that make you say, “wow … where did he come from?”
He caught the eyes of his teammates and coaches, too; many analysts feel like Ripkowski is too valuable in special teams, to let get away; especially to a team that vowed to do a complete overhaul of its mediocre special teams of the past.