We’re only six days into Green Bay Packers training camp, but defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt has already started to look like a player ready for his second-year jump. Wyatt turned in another impressive performance on Tuesday, starting with one-on-ones.
Wyatt’s play strength was on full display in matchups against Josh Myers and Jean Delance, where both players ended up on their butts. His goal wasn’t necessarily to embarrass his teammates, but he wanted to send a message.
“Just trying to prove my point,” Wyatt said of the two reps. “Just letting them know I’m here this year, and I’m not here to play. I got a point to prove.”
Wyatt is a potential breakout candidate for Green Bay now that he has assumed a starting spot. Despite being a first-round pick in 2022, Wyatt had a limited role on defense. It could have been very easy to get frustrated, except he went through a similar experience upon arriving at Georgia.
“Basically, I was being patient,” he said of his first season. “I wasn’t frustrated because the same thing happened my freshman year, and it just takes time learning the playbook and getting comfortable with the scheme.”
That patience paid off for Wyatt, who averaged only about 10 snaps per game until starter Dean Lowry exited Week 16 with a calf injury. Wyatt took over for the final two and a half games, showing his progress and recording his first career sack in the season finale.
He has taken that momentum and brought it with him it to Year 2, using the offseason to focus on his conditioning while burying his head into the playbook. As a result, Wyatt is playing much faster than he was this time a year ago.
Doing it in practice is one thing, but the Packers needs to be able to count on Wyatt during the regular season. He hopes to continue his ascension past the first week of training camp.
“It feels good, but you got to keep stacking days every week and bring it to the season.”