Nate Hobbs will likely not participate in the remainder of the Packers’ training camp. The free agent signing underwent knee surgery over the weekend, as first reported by Sports Illustrated’s Bill Huber. 
Hobbs was dealing with a partial meniscus tear, ESPN’s Rob Demovsky adds. Playing through the issue could have been an option, but this preventative procedure has instead taken place with the aim of avoiding any missed time during the regular season. The surgery was a success, per Demovsky, who notes Hobbs is expected to miss the rest of camp.
That means the 26-year-old will be unavailable for Green Bay’s preseason contests, although he was already unlikely to take part in those. If Hobbs’ recovery goes as planned, he could still be back in time for Week 1. A clean bill of health would of course be key in this case given the investment made by the Packers on the open market.
After playing out his rookie contract with the Raiders, Hobbs was among the top cornerbacks in this year’s free agent class. He landed a four-year, $48MM pact with Green Bay. While the deal only contains $16MM guaranteed at signing, expectations are high for the former fifth-rounder as the Packers prepare for their first season since 2017 without Jaire Alexander in the fold. Hobbs could see notable time on the perimeter as well as in the slot this season while the team sorts out its best arrangement in the secondary.
News of Hobbs’ surgery and required absence helps explain the Packers’ recent decision to bring back Corey Ballentine. The veteran spent the past three years with Green Bay, making 37 appearances and seven starts. Ballentine is back in the fold as a healthy cornerback option for the time being, and he will look to earn a roster spot ahead of cutdowns later this month. Hobbs, meanwhile, will aim to recover in time for the start of the regular season.
Tried to tell Packer fans this off-season that a, this would be a problem because he’s never stayed healthy, and b, your CB room is a huge problem that’s going to get some people fired.
This is possible if Hobbs Valentine or Nixon can’t stay healthy.
Remember when they cut Jaire?
What a foolish move.
Tbh their CB room is better than it was last year. Jaire didn’t play after week 7, and they still had one of the best defenses in the league.
Hafley’s defense relies on quick reactions from safeties and LBs while making ample subs on the DL to keep a consistently fresh rush. CBs just need to cover their zone, they’re the least essential part of his defense.
It was not one of the best defenses in the league. Nobody was scared of the Packer defense. This is what staring at stuff on paper does to you versus looking at the games. When they’re getting lit up every week, don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Watch the games and you’ll see that the defense functions just as I described. Different defenses prioritize different positions based on their defensive coordinator/play caller.
Look at the 2024 off-season when they brought Hafley in. They drafted two early LBs, signed a FA safety who matched exactly what they were looking for, then drafted three more safeties. CB was already thin last year, but they only added a 7th round pick there, because it is a low priority for Hafley’s defense.
Questioning that the Packers had a top ten defense makes me question your credibility, especially when your argument is “trust me, bro”.
It’s not trust me. It’s just what it is. Nobody thinks the strength of the Packers is their defense. Nobody is scared of their DB backfield. Nobody is scared of their defense, period. LeFleur is a very good coach, so he gets the most out of what he has, but their defense is going to be a liability this year. A lot of the counting stats you’re boasting about came against some of the worst teams in the league last year.
😂😂😂😂 ok dude.
LeFleur isn’t the one in charge of the defense. Play calling comes from Hafley.
And you’ll say “but he’s the head coach, he’s in charge of everything”.
But he’s an offensive mind who is smart enough to give control of the defense to the defensive coordinator.
This is really basic stuff, man.
I’m pretty well aware of that, but he’s the head coach. I’m not going to sit here arguing with a fan boy about what it is. You got it. They have an elite defense. When they finish 9-8, don’t go making excuses for it. Like dude is seriously sitting here saying CBs aren’t important because of the scheme in the passing era of the NFL, lol. You’re just as bad as the dude arguing with me last week that Christian Wilkins was a star before the Raiders gave him that silly contract because PFF said so.
Like Cooper was one of my favorite picks last year. Their safeties are very good. Their pass rush is anemic, but they can work around that. But to sit here and act like that CB room isn’t a huge problem for them is delusional. I don’t care that they got by and shut down terrible teams like the Giants and Titans last year. This is this year, and they’re going to struggle on defense because they stupidly did not address that position but to bring in a guy who is very talented but very injury prone in Hobbs, and like I said most of the off-season when discussing his signing, Hobbs excels in the slot, not outside. But you’ll see.
Never said elite. And never said anything that implies I’m a fanboy. Instead you supply irrational ideas, and then say “everyone knows that” as if that proves you know anything about football. You sound like a used car salesman in reverse.
The area the Packers need to be concerned about on defense is edge, not CB. You’re right, it is the passing era in the NFL. Hafley’s scheme requires consistent and disguised pressure to force QBs into bad decisions that the quick/reactive safeties and linebackers capitalize on to force turnovers. Currently the talent they have at edge is questionable after Gary. The CBs are fine.
I said something irrational because I pointed out their CB room is booboo? Sounds like fan boy speak to me when you can’t even call a spade a spade. I know who their DC is. That doesn’t change that their CB room is a train wreck, more so than last year. No scheme is going to hide that when they play teams that aren’t terrible just like last year, and they have way more of them on the schedule this year. Like I said, you’ll learn though.
SoxRewl •20 hours ago
Tbh their CB room is better than it was last year. Jaire didn’t play after week 7, and they still had one of the best defenses in the league.
I guess we have different definitions of elite. When someone says they had one of the best defenses in the league, I tend to equate that with elite, but I guess you were just talking.
I guess for a “real football fan” I really thought you would understand how different defenses work.
Are you just embarrassed that you don’t know what you’re talking about and someone is accurately calling you out on it? They didn’t even play the Giants last year!
How is their CB room worse than last year? They’re returning their top three guys and added a mid-tier player in free agency. They have four guys who rank around 40-70 in the league and know how to cover their zone. In this defense, that’s more than enough.
LIS, if there’s a weakness in the Packers defense this season, it’s DE, not CB. As any real football fan should know.
And yeah, “one of the best” in any given year is different from “elite” unless you’re Skip Bayless or someone else just looking for clicks. You’ll understand when you get older.
I understand completely how they work. But acting like having D level corners is not a liability is something you should understand, regardless of scheme. Go ask Bill Belichick about that. Low round picks who haven’t taken a snap in the NFL, UDFAs, little Nixon who played way over his head last year and still was below average, and gimpy Nate Hobs are going to be fine though because of the scheme. Okay, buddy.
Sorry, didn’t realize you understand how they work since I had to correct some fundamental errors on your behalf.
The Packers have 4 CBs (yes, Bullard is a slot defender now) that are probably somewhere between the 40th and 60th best CBs in the NFL, which is more than good enough for the scheme. Hobbs’ skill set works perfectly on the boundary in this defense. That’s why Nixon is quite capable there. Same with Valentine.
Belichick runs a different defense than Hafley, but perhaps he did say that you need great CBs. That’s why he relied on stalwart defenders like WR Troy Brown at the position.
Again, the Packers returned their top 3 CBs from last year (Jaire was injured early in the season) and added a mid-tier free agent. Explain how the unit is worse?
He may play that first game but he isnt gonna feel right for a yr,,I had the same operation and it took me a year to feel confident in that knee again
Ja was hurt too much. So they replace him with a guy who has been hurt a lot. And he gets hurt right away. 😮💨