Last summer, Kamal Martin was a rookie sensation for the Green Bay Packers and well on his way to a starting job before a knee injury set him back for the better part of two months.
This summer, Martin is falling down the depth chart and now experimenting with a position change.
Packers coach Matt LaFleur confirmed that Martin, a fifth-round pick in 2020, is being cross-trained at outside linebacker as the Packers attempt to find new ways of using his skill set and getting him on the field.
The starters at inside linebacker have been Krys Barnes and De’Vondre Campbell to start training camp, leaving precious few reps for a young player like Martin.
In fact, other inside linebackers such as Ty Summers and Oren Burks are ahead of him at inside linebacker so far.
“We’re trying to let these guys compete and find the best two to go out there at the inside spot,” LaFleur said.
Barnes was a 10-game starter as a rookie last season, and Campbell has 70 career starts at the NFL level. Barring injury, it’s unlikely either will be replaced in the starting lineup by Week 1.
Last season, Martin played only 190 snaps over 10 games, but he did show flashes of disruptive potential as a downhill player. As a second-year player, he’s learning a new defense and trying to find ways of contributing for Joe Barry.
The experiment with Martin at outside linebacker looks reminiscent of last year’s attempt to turn Burks into an edge player. It didn’t work, and now Burks is back at inside linebacker.
The Packers might be trying to find a coverage-type player on the edge, especially after losing Randy Ramsey to a significant ankle injury, and Martin could be big enough to survive on passing downs at outside linebacker.
At this point, there’s no guarantee Martin will make the roster.
“I love the way Kamal attacks everything he does, and he’s a great kid that puts in a lot of work,” LaFleur said. “But he has to earn it.”
[lawrence-related id=60050]
[vertical-gallery id=60021]