Packers: Five standout performances from Week 3 win vs. Saints
By Jesse Fry
3. Kingsley Keke
Stat line: 2 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 batted pass, 1 forced fumble
Injuries are inevitable in the NFL. It’s not a matter of if, but when they occur.
The Packers lost valuable nose tackle Kenny Clark in the second quarter of the opening game and have not seen him back on the field since. The defense has missed Clark’s production in both the run game and pass rush. Clark is a space-eater in the middle and can collapse the pocket with the best of them.
For this reason, the Packers have struggled a bit on defense. They have been reliant on big plays at key moments to help stop opposing offenses and have been inconsistent.
One of the bright spots for the defense was second-year pro Kingsley Keke. Filling in for Clark on the line, Keke showed many of the traits that made the Packers take him in the fifth round of the 2019 draft.
Keke gave the Packers something to be very excited about. When Clark comes back, the team could now have two players in the middle of a defensive line to apply pressure into the arms of their three edge rushers.
Keke showed glimpses of what he could bring last year with a quick first step and good strength. If he can put together more performances like he did Sunday, the Packers defense might be able to come around sooner rather than later.