Packers: Rasul Douglas has helped fortify Green Bay’s secondary

This unusual story begins back in early October, when the Green Bay Packers were among the teams rumored to be in line to secure the services of former All-Pro cornerback Stephon Gilmore.

The Packers were in dire need of help in the secondary due to the loss of superstar corner Jaire Alexander, so the timing of these rumors couldn’t have been more ideal.

As you well know, Gilmore would eventually be dealt to the Carolina Panthers on October 6, leaving Packers Nation disappointed in the team’s inability to secure the services of a much-needed impact cornerback.

Little did Packers fans know, losing out on Gilmore’s services would end up being a blessing in disguise, because later that day, GM Brian Gutekunst would make an in-season impact signing that would end up fortifying the Packers’ secondary in a major way.

Rasul Douglas was promptly signed off Arizona’s practice squad October 6 in effort to add depth to a depleted Packers secondary. This would be Rasul’s sixth team since 2017, and his fourth team in less than a year. So, it’s understandable that many weren’t overwhelmed with this addition.

A vocal portion of the fan-base felt as though the signing of Douglas was the Packers’ way of cheaping out after having missed out on their main target. They had no idea just how wrong they were going to be.

Now, after appearing in just eight games for the green and gold, Douglas is becoming a bit of a folk hero in Green Bay.

The Rasul Douglas revenge game

On October 28, the Packers played the Arizona Cardinals (Douglas’ former team), in a meeting of NFC powers. In just his third game with the Packers, Douglas would play 59 snaps.

With 15 seconds remaining and the Cardinals driving to win the game, Douglas made his former team pay. Douglas would intercept Kyler Murray in the closing seconds and secure a 24-21 victory for the Green Bay Packers.

Back to back pick-sixes

With pick-sixes in each of the teams last two games (LA, CHI), Douglas became the first Packers player since Herb Adderley to return an interception for a touchdown in back-to-back games.

https://twitter.com/packers/status/1470217925638377472

From afterthought, to starting cornerback

Through eight games, Douglas has started five of them – securing three interceptions and two pick-sixes. Pretty darn impressive for a player that the lowly Houston Texans cut back in August.

He’s proven to be an aggressive/instinctual corner with a knack for making big-time plays. Douglas has been sticky in coverage, allowing just 21 catches on 43 targets for 277 yards. On top of that, Douglas has added 39 tackles, 10 pass deflections (20th in the NFL despite appearing in just eight games), and a forced fumble.

Douglas was a player once considered an afterthought depth signing, and now he’s firmly entrenched himself as a preferred starter on a Super Bowl-caliber team. And at just 26 years of age, it’s not unfathomable to think Douglas might just have a future with the franchise beyond this season. Either way, the decision to bring in Douglas has proven to be one of Brian Gutekunst’s most important decisions of the season.

Once fully healthy, you’d be hard pressed to find a trio of cornerbacks better than Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes, and Douglas. This is a secondary nobody wants to face in the playoffs.