The Green Bay Packers thought they had their next great corner after a strong rookie season from Eric Stokes. Unfortunately, injuries have derailed the career of the young star out of Georgia. He missed most of his sophomore season with a serious hamstring injury. Then, after playing only a handful of snaps, Stokes reinjured his hamstring and was done for the year again. He now feels healthy and, at OTAs, got some high praise from head coach Matt LaFleur.
Green Bay Packers Eric Stokes Looking Good
It isn’t just the physical recovery that is exciting for Eric Stokes. Having two massive injuries can take a toll on the mind as well. Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur thinks Stokes looks good in both ways. He and teammate Christian Watson both saw hamstring specialists this offseason. The early results seem to be good.
“I think what this offseason has afforded him was an ability to train. It’s a lot different when you’re coming off an injury and you’re trying to rehab versus when you’re fully healthy and you can train the right way,” LaFleur said last week. “When you look at him physically, his body looks different. He’s hitting some fast speeds out there at practice. I can tell mentally he feels like he’s in a great place.”
It is the hitting of fast speeds that fans love to hear. Stokes showed a lot of promise in his rookie season after he had to take over the role of CB1 when Jaire Alexander went down with an injury. Fans have to be excited to hear he is healthy going into the season.
Projected Secondary
If Eric Stokes can return to form, the Green Bay Packers could have a scary secondary with new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley. Stokes would be opposite Alexander, with promising second-year player Carrington Valentine also on the roster. Xavier McKinney was brought in during free agency and the safety position overall got a massive upgrade. While the offensive side of the ball remains mostly unchanged, the defense will look very different in 2024.
The Green Bay Packers are one of the most interesting teams for 2024. They saw success in 2023 when many projected them to struggle with so many young players. The team continued to get younger and made some upgrades in key positions in the offseason. If Jordan Love can continue to improve, this team could be in the mix for the NFC. They almost upset the San Francisco 49ers last year. If they can build on last season, watch out for this team.
About The Author
Matt Brown is one of the owners at Total Apex. He has been writing about sports and entertainment for over two years and currently works as a banker in Wisconsin. His passion for sports and entertainment knows no bounds, but football is the sport he follows most closely. However, he is never afraid to branch out, and you will see him talk about anything sports with anyone who will listen.
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