With Eric Stokes still sidelined from the ankle injury he suffered last season, the depth behind fellow cornerbacks Jaire Alexander, Rasul Douglas, and Keisean Nixon was a major question mark for the Green Bay Packers.
Due to the strong play of Carrington Valentine throughout training camp, that concern has been alleviated.
During Green Bay’s Family Night, Jon-Eric Sullivan, the Vice President of Player Personnel, mentioned Valentine as a player that “looks like they belong.” The 232nd overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft continued to display that he’s right where he belongs in the preseason opener against the Cincinnati Bengals on Friday evening.
During the Bengals’ second possession, Valentine recorded a pass breakup and showed his willingness to get his nose dirty against the run when he recorded a tackle for no gain.
On the next drive for the Bengals, Valentine recorded a pass breakup on third down that forced a Bengals field goal.
Valentine capped off his strong first half with an interception off a tipped pass. Valentine’s interception led to a Sean Clifford touchdown pass to Tyler Davis to give Green Bay a 21-16 lead at halftime.
.@run_carri7 gets the pick!#GBvsCIN #GoPackGo
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— Green Bay Packers (@packers) August 12, 2023
“It’s only one game,” Packers head coach Matt LaFleur told Larry McCarren following the win. “He’s got a ton of talent…He’s an exciting young player.”
Valentine finished his first preseason game with four tackles, three pass deflections, and one interception. He was sticky in coverage and continued to play with confidence.
“He’s got the skillset you look for,” LaFleur said. “He’s athletic and he’s long…He’s extremely coachable. He’s been working really hard…He makes plays and competes.”
With Alexander, Douglas, and Nixon penciled in as starters and the eventual return of Stokes, Valentine’s chances to log snaps on defense may be limited. If something happens to one of those four, the Packers have to feel confident that Valentine could handle being thrown into the fire if he continues his strong play this summer.
There is no doubt he’ll make an impact on special teams during his rookie campaign. During his final two seasons at Kentucky, Valentine logged 294 snaps on special teams and he saw snaps on special teams tonight against the Bengals. While he waits his turn on defense, Valentine’s competitive spirit and toughness will shine through on special teams.
