While Darnell Savage is an assumed starter for the Green Bay Packers at safety, the second starting safety spot could be one of the best competitions for Matt LaFleur’s team during training camp.
On Day 1 of practice, Rudy Ford held the title of favorite.
Ford, who started six games for the Packers last season and has 12 career starts, was on the field alongside Savage with the first-team defense, per Paul Bretl of Packers Wire.
His appearance with the starters wasn’t a big surprise given he played with the first-team defense throughout the offseason workout program. Can Ford hold onto the job throughout camp?
Per Bretl, Jonathan Owens and Dallin Leavitt were the second-team safeties. Tarvarius Moore, the other offseason veteran addition along with Owens, is currently on the non-football injury list. The other competitors include rookie Anthony Johnson Jr. and veteran returnee Innis Gaines.
The Packers signed Ford after he was released by the Jacksonville Jaguars before Week 1 last season. He appeared in all 17 games, playing mostly on special teams during the first half of the season before emerging as a starter for a struggling position group in Week 10. Over the final eight games, Ford played at least 30 defensive snaps seven times.
Ford’s six starts in 2022 were a career-high. A sixth-round pick of the Cardinals in 2017, Ford has never gone into a season as a starter on defense. At a position of potential weakness, the Packers are banking on Ford being a late bloomer.