Just prior to the 2023 NFL trading deadline, the Green Bay Packers made the decision to deal starting wide receiver Rasul Douglas to the Buffalo Bills. He’s been gone for a week now, yet he’s still had the most defensive snaps this season for the team.
Carrington Valentine, a rookie selected in the seventh round, was catapulted into a starting position by the Douglas trade. In two of the team’s last three games, Valentine has played all 100 percent of the defensive snaps. He is aware of the difficulty WR George Pickens will present going into Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and he appears prepared for it.
When questioned about his impression of the second-year wide receiver by reporters on Wednesday, he responded, via the team’s website, “He’s physical, a competitor.” “It seems like a show to me because I’m a competitor and a physical person.”
Valentine, who stands 6-0 and weighs 189 pounds, is about average in size for a cornerback these days, but the Packers’ only other options at the position are Jaire Alexander and Keisean Nixon. Eric Stokes, a former first-round selection, has been on the Reserve/Injured List for almost the whole year and is currently serving a second spell due to a hamstring injury. He won’t be able to be activated in time for the Steelers game on Sunday.
Regarding the opposite side of the ball, you may already be aware that Pickens has not been performing at his peak level lately, both on and off the pitch. Last week, he caught two passes and lost yardage. Naturally, he had a fantastic chance to haul in a touchdown pass, but he foolishly put his second foot out of bounds, which seemed to have been a rather simple fix.
However, there aren’t many players in the game now who can make plays like Pickens can. For starters, he is a back-shoulder machine, and it can be difficult to break the connection he has with quarterback Kenny Pickett.
It’s not like he has been doing nothing; thus far this season, he has 30 catches for nearly 500 yards and three touchdowns. When he’s not being given targets, his body language may be terrible, but he’s merely trying to make plays.
Pickens will be aiming to feast on Valentine on Sunday, depending on how things line up, so it will be a rather one-sided event. With the exception of his too-little, too-late touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars, he hasn’t shown us many fireworks in a few weeks.
