Paul Bretl | 8/11/2025
GREEN BAY, Wis. — The depth of the Packers’ safety position is going to be tested at least through the remainder of training camp.
Xavier McKinney is sidelined with a calf injury. Zayne Anderson, who stepped into a starting role when the Packers’ defense is in nickel while McKinney is out, was injured in the team’s preseason opener against the New York Jets.
Matt LaFleur said that Anderson will miss some time, but the injury isn’t long-term.
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So with the Packers down two of their top four players at the safety position, what’s next?
“I look at it as it’s time to develop the other players. That’s our job as coaches,” said defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley. “At any position when guys go down, you have to make sure as coaches that we’re developing the next guy, and that’s what we’re doing right now…”We need to bring those young guys along…”We gotta develop those guys.”
With Anderson exiting the Jets’ game fairly early, Kitan Oladapo saw a heavier workload in the preseason opener. He ended up playing 42 snaps on defense, where he recorded three total tackles, along with playing 12 special teams snaps and making a tackle in that phase as well.
“KT is obviously a big safety who can really run,” said defensive backs coach Ryan Downard. “You see when he turns it on he can really go. He’s done a good job with his communication. I’ve spoken about this up here, he’s very smart individual, smart football player, has good instincts. So similar to what you were talking about, this will be a good opportunity for him to get more reps, and the more the better for his development.”
Further stressing the safety position is that cornerback Nate Hobbs is out as well with an injury. If healthy, he could line up in the nickel, with Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine playing outside, while Javon Bullard and Evan Williams played deep at safety.
But without Hobbs, Bullard continues to pull double-duty, lining up at safety and in the nickel. And when Bullard is in the slot, the Packers called upon Oladapo to play alongside Evan Williams during Monday’s training camp practice.
“Communication has to be more crisp,” Oladapo said of working with the ones. “Guys are faster, playing faster, but also it ups your confidence because you have to make a confident call for guys to follow you.”
When working with the second-team defense on Monday, Oladapo came away with an interception off a high throw from Malik Willis.
Omar Brown factors into this equation as well. He is now the next man up at the safety position for the Packers and saw extensive work with the second-team defense on Monday.
While the flashy interceptions will garner the attention, day-to-day consistency is the key to making the final roster.
“He’s doing a good job,” Downard said of Brown. “Obviously the Family Night was a great performance by him, did a great job of capitalizing on the ball in the air opps. He’s gotten better as we go. Each day, he just keeps getting better and better, and I knew that was going to be the case with him arriving when he did.
“All these training camp reps for him are so valuable, so just a matter of consistency and how many days can you string together where you’d doing your job and plussing out on the grade sheet.”
Depth is one of the strengths of the Packers’ safety position–although it is being put to the test right now. With that depth, the competition in this room is extremely high with snaps and roster spots up for grabs.
However, as Downard described, McKinney’s presence has helped cultivate an environment where, even though these players are in a “cut-throat competition,” they’re each more than willing to help and learn from one another.
“We’re all hungry,” Oladapo said of the safety room. “Bull’s hungry. Evan’s hungry. X, Zayne. We all try to push each other, get each other better. Iron sharpens iron. Bull does certain things well, Evan does certain things well, X does certain things well. So, we’re all looking at other guys’ skill-sets.”