Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Joe Barry has the defense playing very well the past couple of weeks. The passing defense has been especially impressive with the team missing their top three preferred cornerbacks to injuries or trades. One of those players is third-year cornerback Eric Stokes. He came back briefly this season only to be injured again. Barry talked about how frustrating it has been for the team and for Stokes.
Joe Barry on Eric Stokes' increasingly lost season: "It's been incredibly frustrating for us, but insanely frustrating for the kid, because a player — they want to be out there. That's just the way they're wired. So I hope it's not a waste. We still have some time."
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) November 30, 2023
Green Bay Packers Joe Barry On Eric Stokes
The whole season isn’t lost but it’s getting close. Stokes got injured early last season and has been rehabbing ever since. He came back in a limited fashion in 2023 playing in a limited special teams role against the Denver Broncos. He was reinjured and had to be placed back on the injured reserve list. Barry talked about the frustrations of the team and Stokes.
“It’s been incredibly frustrating for us, but insanely frustrating for the kid, because a player — they want to be out there. That’s just the way they’re wired. So I hope it’s not a waste. We still have some time.”
The Packers want to see what they have in Stokes who had a promising rookie season. For Stokes, he wants to be back on the field playing for his team. It is a frustrating situation all around.
Hoping For A Full Recovery
I think Stokes is a promising young corner and I can’t imagine what he is going through. He is wired to play and basically losing almost two seasons has to be aggravating. Still, it behooves the team and Stokes to be patient and have him make a full recovery. Long term, the Packers’ secondary could be scary. Jaire Alexander is still one of the best at his position. If Stokes can come back healthy, Carrington Valentine has shown promise as a good corner meaning the Packers could have some good depth at cornerback.
The Packers have a huge matchup this week against the Kansas City Chiefs. While the wide receivers have had their struggles, any offense led by Patrick Mahomes is dangerous. The defense will have their hands full and we will see if they are up to the challenge.
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