GREEN BAY — Eric Stokes was at the forefront of the Packers’ offseason hype train with all the typical spring clichés from those inside 1265 Lombardi Ave. about how good he looked and how he was in such great shape.
Georgia native Stokes, a 2021 first-round cornerback, had a fantastic rookie campaign before faltering in the first part of his sophomore year and sustaining a foot injury that ended his season in Week 9. Stokes did not play much in 2023 either because he was injured quickly after making a comeback, which kept him out of the game for a long period of time both times. Stokes will want to demonstrate in a contract year that he is still the player Green Bay drafted and benefited from three years ago when he had 14 passes defensed and an interception as a rookie. The Packers did not pick up Stokes’ fifth-year option this offseason.
Even though Stokes only participated in one drill without pads during training camp, he showed on Wednesday why fans are expecting a big year from the player they believe will be a reliable backup to Jaire Alexander in Green Bay’s secondary. By intercepting backup quarterback Sean Clifford twice and intercepting another deep ball down the right sideline intended for wide receiver Christian Watson, Stokes hinted that perhaps there is more to the fanfare off the field than meets the eye.
“Stokes has got great energy all around the building. We all love him,” defensive tackle Kenny Clark said. “Every day he’s bringing in the right energy. Even when he was hurt, you really couldn’t tell. He’s never one of those guys that’s down. High character, good overall dude and somebody that you root for. … And he got a pick today, two picks. It’s good to see him getting back to himself.”
Eric Stokes: “We want to be remembered as one of the best defenses out here. We don’t wanna be like, oh, we relying on the offense and all this stuff. Nah, we want … when people think about the Packers, they think about our defense, not our offense.”
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) July 24, 2024
The play that started Stokes’ incredible day was his breakup of Clifford’s perfectly delivered go ball to Watson, which prompted an intense response from Alexander across the field. He was on wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks, who ran a slant, shortly after that. Although Clifford’s throw went slightly behind Wicks and glanced off the receiver’s hands as he reached back for it and into Stokes’ clutches, Stokes argued he should have been tighter to Wicks on the play. After jumping a stop route to Watson, Stokes was hit in the chest by Clifford’s throw, which resulted in his second pick.
Stokes recalled the several occasions he spent watching colleagues play from the sidelines while he was injured, as well as how good it feels to be among them now. His first injury occurred during the Packers’ devastating Week 9 loss to the Lions in Detroit in 2022. Although Aaron Rodgers threw three red-zone interceptions, the game ended in a 15-9 loss for the Packers, who also suffered long-term injuries to wide receiver Romeo Doubs (high-ankle sprain), defensive end Rashan Gary (torn ACL), and tight end Stokes (sprained MCL). Stokes’ foot ailment prevented him from playing until Week 7 of the 2023 season; however, following four special teams snaps in a Broncos defeat, he suffered a hamstring injury. He didn’t
According to Stokes, his main goal for the offseason was to strengthen his calves and hamstrings. He added on Wednesday that his legs are the strongest they have ever been after seeing the same Madison, Wisconsin, specialist that Watson did following the previous season for his persistent lower-body issues.
“Man, just be out there, to not miss a game, that’s my biggest thing,” Stokes said. “Just being out there, staying 100 percent healthy and just letting everything else flow because I know what I can do when I’m out there and just being out there is the most important thing for me.”
Brian Gutekunst, general manager, was added: “He looks just like Christian — he’s attacked this thing. You couldn’t ask (for) more than what he’s done. He’s kept a great attitude. He looks great. Again, as we get into this part of our season where it’s probably the most stressful on these guys’ bodies and minds, I think he’s ready to attack that and we need him. I’m expecting a big year from him.”
Stokes used to run in the off-season in Atlanta at around nine in the morning to get his training done and have the rest of the day to himself. This offseason, he pushed himself by running in the 90s and above at two or three in the afternoon.
“I wanted to go back to my UGA days where coach (Kirby) Smart had us out there in the heat at 3 p.m.,” Stokes said, while adding he also did hot yoga this offseason and hot cycling, which entails a Peloton-style setup of riding a bike for 15 minutes with a woman speaking at you on a screen but in a 130-degree sauna. Stokes said that helps his endurance when playing in the Green Bay summer heat, which he called cool and nice compared to the sauna.
While the vibes around Stokes are mostly immaculate early in camp, there are still things to clean up. On Clifford’s underthrown and wobbly bomb down the left sideline to Watson on Wednesday, Stokes committed blatant defensive pass interference near the goal line and said after practice that he has to turn his head back to the ball quicker and that he didn’t know how fast it was going to drop.
Despite his largely fruitful day, Stokes will harp on his mistakes instead as he strives for a return to the healthy, productive player he thinks he can be again.
“I’m watching that DPI and I’m watching that third down during our last period, the first play that (Doubs) caught on me on the third-and-4,” Stokes said. “I’m definitely looking at that. I did not like that. He speed-released me and he sat it down. I did not like how I did not come out of the break, so that’s one of the main things that I’ll be focused on for the next practice, is at the top of the route, we’ve got to get out of there.”
3 things to know
1. The biggest alteration to the lineup on Wednesday was the addition of 2023 undrafted rookie Kadeem Telfort at right tackle, who took the spot of veteran Andre Dillard. Remember that Zach Tom will start at right tackle in 11-on-11 games after he recovers from pectoral rehab, but it was noteworthy that Telfort took Dillard’s job following two days of practice with the starting lineup. Telfort studied under offensive lineman Caleb Jones and Tom this offseason while on the practice squad the previous season. To further hone his footwork, he spent three months working out in South Florida alongside wide outs Wicks, Jayden Reed, and Grant DuBose.
“Practice squad last year, it was a humbling experience,” Telfort said. “Even though I felt I was ready, I really wasn’t. It didn’t really start clicking for me until I’d say third quarter, fourth quarter of the season. This offseason, I really hit the ground and attacked it.”
2. On Wednesday, it was undrafted rookie James Turner’s turn on the Packers’ kicking carousel. Once more, he was 4-for-6 on field goals, missing wide right on both 39 and 41 but hitting on 38, 44, 45, and 46 yards. Turner now has an 8-for-12 record in reporter-accessible practices, compared to Anders Carlson’s 6-for-6 and Greg Joseph’s 5-for-6.
3. Reed’s return to practice on Wednesday was the greatest injury update. He began camp on the non-football injury list after sustaining a minor toe injury while hosting a youth camp in Wisconsin. Elgton Jenkins, a left guard, was absent from practice due to a vet rest day. Running back MarShawn Lloyd (hip), cornerback Corey Ballentine (hamstring), offensive tackle Caleb Jones (hamstring), and offensive lineman Donovan Jennings (knee) missed their third consecutive practice due to injuries, while quarterback Jordan Love’s hold-in lasted three days as his camp and the Packers attempted to come to an agreement.
(Top photo: Mike Roemer / Associated Press)
