With potential roster spot open at CB, Packers Kiondre Thomas taking advantage of opportunities

Quite quickly this summer, the Green Bay Packers cornerback room began to take shape.

We knew that Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes, and Rasul Douglas would see most of the playing time. Meanwhile, Shemar Jean-Charles appears to be taking that Year 2 jump, with Keisean Nixon bringing added slot and special teams experience.

The sixth — and most likely final — roster spot at cornerback appeared to belong to Rico Gafford, who has consistently worked with the second team defense and been utilized on special teams regularly.

However, while the first five roster spots are set, Kiondre Thomas has been making a run at that final roster spot over the last week.

Kiondre Thomas has stood out at cornerback during the Packers two preseason games

Thomas was signed back in January to a futures deal. He went undrafted in 2021 after spending his college career at Minnesota and Kansas State, where he allowed a 62% completion rate on 109 targets at 11.1 yards per such with eight pass breakups and an interception.

As a rookie, Thomas saw 28 special teams snaps with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Prior to the preseason beginning, we hadn’t really heard much about Thomas—whether that be good or bad. But over the first two preseason games, he has stood out on defense.

During that stretch, Thomas has mostly played on the boundary and has been targeted six times, allowing only one completion for eight yards with a pair of pass breakups per PFF ($$).

Thomas has also been a sound tackler with six tackles recorded, no misses, and two run stops.

While defensive performance matters, for a sixth cornerback, special teams contributions are going to be that player’s path to the roster.

In Week 1, Thomas finished tied for 18th on the Packers in special teams snaps, and Gafford was tied for second.

This week, however, Thomas had 12 special teams snaps, the fifth most, and included playing on five different units. Gafford, meanwhile, had just three.

Perhaps these most recent snap counts are a bit telling as far as where things currently stand between Thomas, Gafford, and that sixth cornerback spot.

Thomas has made more plays on defense than Gafford in the two preseason games, but it’s worth keeping in mind that he is playing later in the game while Gafford is among the “starters.” Also, just because Thomas had more special teams opportunities doesn’t mean he outperformed Gafford, who has fared well in that phase of the game up to this point with his 4.22 speed.

We also need to keep in mind that while the games carry a lot of weight when it comes to roster decisions, it’s only a glimpse of what has taken place. The Packers have about 17 practices to date.

The Packers’ final preseason game will be played this coming Thursday in Kansas City. Then on August 30th, NFL rosters have to be trimmed to the final 53 players, and with the emergence of Thomas, this is one position battle that may come down to the wire.