The Green Bay Packers have begun their offseason team activities. This is an important time for all players, but especially for young rookies and other fringe personnel who are hoping for a shot at the 53-man roster. For everyone who is new to the team, it is their time to show that they can take what coaches teach in the film room and put it into practice on the field.
For the Packers, this is true of every player on defense because of the new system being installed by former Boston College head coach Jeff Hafley, who was hired to replace Joe Barry as defensive coordinator. If the defense is to be any better this year than it was in the last three seasons, Packers defenders will have to master the playbook over the summer.
And while both veterans and rookies have been in Green Bay for weeks now, one 2024 NFL Draft pick has had to sit out of practice.
Green Bay Packers Safety Kitan Oladapo Has a Fractured Toe
The Packers selected three safeties in the 2024 NFL Draft: Javon Bullard (second round), Evan Williams (fourth round), and Kitan Oladapo (fifth round). While Bullard is projected to be one of the team’s starters, all three were selected by Green Bay because of their versatility.
Unfortunately for Oladapo, he is going to have to wait to show the Packers his skills on the practice field until the beginning of training camp. While doing drills at the NFL Combine prior to the draft, Oladapo broke his toe on the turf at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Earlier this month, he told reporters:
“Everyone was tripping on that turf at the Combine and just messed it up. Planted real weird [and the] side of my cleat kind of ripped and my toe just got really swollen.
“I was like, really? It was the third drill. I did the vertical, the 40 and but I just wanted to put on a good show for all the teams there. It was devastating but you’ve got to get through it. I did power through it and did my pro day, and figured out it was more than just turf toe.”
Oladapo powered through the rest of the drills, but was limited by the injury.
For now, Olapado is watching from the sideline and doing rehab work to get the range of motion back in his toe. He says that he will be ready by training camp.
Kitan Oladapo Grew Up as a Green Bay Packers Fan
Football Asu Osu Fb Oregon State At Arizona State © Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK
In that same interview, Oladapo revealed to reporters that he had grown up in Oregon as a Packers fan:
“I was a Packer fan growing up.
“I loved Aaron Rodgers growing up. I did like Brett Favre, you know, Jordy Nelson, Clay Matthews. That was fun. I was 84, so I did like Sterling Sharpe when I was little.”
Hopefully Oladapo can heal soon and get on the field. Playing for the team one grew up cheering for as a child is a common goal for perspective athletes, and he has the opportunity to live it.
For More Great Wisconsin Sports Content
Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19 and follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here!
