Overcoming injuries
After being fairly healthy in recent seasons, through the first four games of 2021, the Green Bay Packers have been able to overcome some huge losses due to injuries. They are, of course, without David Bakhtiari for the first six weeks while his replacement, Elgton Jenkins, has missed the last two games.
Za’Darius Smith hasn’t played since Week 1, Krys Barnes missed most of the San Francisco game and all of Week 4, and not having Kevin King the last two games hurts an already thin cornerback room. Now the latest injury that they’ll potentially have to deal with belongs to Jaire Alexander.
Kenny Clark has found some help, but he needs more consistent help
Against the Detroit Lions, Kenny Clark was a one-man wrecking crew along the interior defensive line and, for the most part, has been since that game. But we all know that he needs help inside, and recently we’ve seen him get some. In San Francisco, it was Dean Lowry and Tyler Lancaster who stepped up as the unit pressured Jimmy Garoppolo and contained the Niner run game. While this past Sunday, it was Kingsley Keke who made a few plays, including forcing a fumble.
However, the overall consistency from those interior defenders not named Clark is still very hit and miss. The contributions these past two games have been welcomed, but we need to see it with more regularity, and the big question is, who is going to provide that?
De’Vondre Campbell was a steal for the Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers signed De’Vondre Campbell late in free agency to a one-year $2 million deal, and it has turned out to be an absolute steal. Campbell leads the team in tackles, which can be a misleading stat, but not in Campbell’s case as he always seems to be around the ball–filling gaps at the line of scrimmage and making plays sideline to sideline.
He brings size and quickness to the linebacker position that we just haven’t seen in Green Bay. Campbell is an effective blitzer, reliable against the run, and steady in coverage, allowing only 5.1 yards per catch on 17 receptions, according to PFF ($$)–as I said, he’s always around the football.
Campbell has been a massive upgrade at the linebacker position for the Green Bay Packers.