Packers 2022 roster preview: Isaiah McDuffie enters year two

Isaiah McDuffie was a sixth-round pick by the Green Bay Packers a year ago.

McDuffie didn’t play a single defensive snap but did feature on special teams as a rookie. The Packers have now added first-round pick Quay Walker, so opportunities on defense could be even tougher for McDuffie.

What can we expect from McDuffie in Year 2?

2021 stats

McDuffie was active for 13 games last season. While he didn’t play on defense, he was a regular on special teams and made two tackles.

According to Pro Football Reference, McDuffie played on 192 special teams snaps, 44.34 percent of the Packers’ total.

2021 season review

Opportunities simply weren’t there on defense for McDuffie.

All-Pro De’Vondre Campbell rarely came off the field. Krys Barnes was the No. 2 and played around half of the defensive snaps. When the Packers were without their top two, it was Oren Burks who filled in.

McDuffie did play the seventh-most special teams snaps for the Packers, which will help him moving forward.

Will he make the roster?

Green Bay kept five inside linebackers on the 53-man roster last season and four the year before. As he contributes on special teams, McDuffie should have a good chance of making the initial roster again this year.

What to expect in 2022

A role on defense might be even less likely for McDuffie this season. The Packers re-signed De’Vondre Campbell to a five-year deal after his All-Pro season, then drafted Quay Walker in the first round.

Campbell, Walker, and Krys Barnes will be the team’s top three at linebacker.

Where McDuffie can contribute is on special teams. The Packers lost core special teams player Oren Burks in free agency, so this potentially frees up another spot at inside linebacker.

If Green Bay keeps five inside linebackers, McDuffie will likely be one of them. If it’s only four, he will need to earn a spot ahead of another special teams contributor, Ty Summers.