Green Bay Packers: Second quarter rookie report

Undrafted Rookies

Kentrell Brice is undoubtedly the best of this batch of undrafted guys. He’s seen the second-most special teams snaps of anyone on Green Bay and usually does a decent job there (the Colts game notwithstanding); it is his name I see pop up most often when I look at the coverage unit when it makes stops. He’s also seen some time as a dime package safety for the Packers. He hasn’t been great in that regard, but pretty average; for an undrafted rookie getting thrust into duty due to injury problems, that tends to be the best you can reasonably expect.

Don Jackson was brought up a few weeks ago as an emergency option due to the injuries which struck down Eddie Lacy and James Starks. He hasn’t gotten much work in the three weeks he’s had on the roster (just 10 carries), but he’s done alright when they’ve given him the ball (average 4.0 yards per carry against the Colts). Regardless, between the team’s lack of emphasis on running the ball, James Starks being expected back in the next couple weeks, and the emergence of Montgomery as a running option, he may not get much work going forward barring more injury problems ahead of him and a switch of the gameplan.

Geronimo Allison was brought up from the practice squad a couple weeks ago, and has already made an impact. Against Atlanta he caught a touchdown, and he still saw snaps against Indianapolis even with the returns of Cobb and Montgomery. As long as the guys around him stay healthy he probably isn’t going to see much time, but he has shown he can be turned to when needed and be a threat. With Green Bay struggling to gain separation from coverages on offense still, his size could be handy in the coming weeks as a bit player.

Marwin Evans is one of the main special teams contributors on the Packers right now; his 93 snaps on that unit are bested by just seven other guys as of now, and they have been slowly increasing over the week (29 through four weeks; 14+ in each week since, reaching 22 against Indianapolis). He hasn’t seen much work on defense (two solitary snaps against the Colts) but could see time there if another injury were to hit the guys usually playing in dime packages.

Joe Kerridge was just added in the wake of the special teams catastrophe that was Week 9. With the release of Jermaine Whitehead (who was one of the players at fault for the game-opening TD return by the Colts), he seems to be getting a chance to take over in that limited role on kickoff return coverage. Hopefully he does better at keeping to his assignments properly.

Josh Hawkins hasn’t seen much work since an early-season appearance against the Lions. That makes sense — he was the one getting thrown down durin Marvin Jones’ first of two TD catches — but it does bring up a question as to why he’s even here if he’s not getting used, especially with the issues decimating the cornerback spot. He has seen some special teams snaps, but those numbers are still pretty low compared to most other players. He seems like a guy who sits perilously on the roster bubble; if another need arises or a better player elsewhere becomes available in the near future, he may be gone.