GREEN BAY, Wis. – In a move that sent shockwaves through the NFL world, the Green Bay Packers have sidelined one of their biggest free-agency splurges just eight games into the season. Cornerback Nate Hobbs, signed to a lucrative four-year, $48 million contract to anchor the secondary, found himself unceremoniously benched for Sunday night’s thrilling 35-25 victory over Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers. In his place? Second-year undrafted free agent Carrington Valentine, who stepped up with poise and grit, earning himself a likely encore performance against the Carolina Panthers this weekend.
The decision marks a stunning reversal for Hobbs, who arrived in Green Bay amid sky-high expectations as the team’s top outside corner. Just last week, Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley publicly extolled Hobbs’ virtues, insisting he hadn’t lost an ounce of confidence in the former Raiders standout. “I think Nate’s had a really good week of practice,” Hafley said on Thursday, drawing parallels to legends like Darrelle Revis, Ronde Barber, and Richard Sherman. “You have to have a short memory. I’m not going to lose confidence in a player; I’m just not going to do that.”
Yet actions speak louder than words—or in this case, practices. Hobbs, who had played every defensive snap in Weeks 6 and 7, was limited to just four snaps against Pittsburgh. Valentine, meanwhile, logged the start and delivered a performance that, while not flawless, showcased the tenacity the Packers crave in their defensive backfield.
From Training Camp Setback to On-Field Slump
Hobbs’ Green Bay tenure got off to a rocky start. A knee injury in training camp sidelined him for Week 1’s loss to the Detroit Lions and required surgery. He returned strong, surrendering just one catch combined in Weeks 2 and 3 against Washington and Cleveland, per Pro Football Focus (PFF) data. But the honeymoon ended abruptly.
In Week 4 against Dallas, Hobbs was torched for two touchdowns. Post-bye, things worsened: He allowed 4-of-5 passes in Week 6 versus Cincinnati, then repeated the feat in Week 7 at Arizona—yielding 87 yards, including Green Bay’s first 40-plus-yard completion since last season’s opener. Across 109 coverage snaps this year, PFF ranks Hobbs 61st in completion percentage allowed and a dismal 89th in passer rating when targeted among 100 qualifiers.
Head coach Matt LaFleur offered measured support after the Arizona debacle, praising Hobbs’ competitiveness while urging resilience. “Nate’s a competitive dude that takes a lot of pride in his work,” LaFleur said. “You have to be resilient in order to have success in this league, and that’s what I expect from him. He will bounce back.”
That bounce back never materialized in Pittsburgh. Instead, the Packers opted for competition over loyalty, inserting Valentine into the lineup. The move wasn’t born of desperation but of daily evaluations unseen by fans. “A lot of it comes down to… what nobody sees is what we’re doing on a daily basis in practice,” LaFleur explained Monday. “CV got an opportunity, and he went out there and I thought he played really competitively the entire game.”
Valentine’s Grit Shines Through the Spotlight
Valentine, a rookie sensation last year with two of the Packers’ five cornerback interceptions, held his own against a Steelers passing attack led by a rusty Rodgers. He permitted just two completions until late in the game, when rookie Roman Wilson slipped past him for a 21-yard touchdown just before the two-minute warning. Even in defeat on that play—Wilson secured the ball after Valentine jarred it loose—the effort drew raves from LaFleur.
“I just loved how he competed for the football,” the coach said. “I thought that was big time… He showed physicality. He was challenging guys. There was just no gimmies.” In a league where zone schemes can mask deficiencies, LaFleur emphasized the need for “sticky” coverage. “We may be in a three-deep zone defense, but you still got to be sticky in your coverage. You can’t just be giving up freebies all the way down the field.”
Valentine’s insertion highlights the Packers’ youth movement at corner, where veterans like Jaire Alexander (currently injured) coexist with hungry upstarts. But it also underscores the gamble on Hobbs, who started only 38 games in four Las Vegas seasons—never more than 11 in a campaign—despite his nickel prowess and athleticism. The Packers inked him on Day 1 of free agency to be the guy opposite Alexander, leapfrogging Valentine and others.
A Season-Long Battle, Not a Final Verdict?
For now, the “assassin” they paid handsomely to hunt quarterbacks sits as a high-priced spectator. But LaFleur insists this isn’t a demotion—it’s Darwinism in shoulder pads. “It’s going to continue to be a competitive situation, because we still have a ton of confidence in Hobbs,” he affirmed. “All of those guys—Keisean [Nixon], they’re all going to be competing for playing time.”
To reclaim his throne, Hobbs must rediscover the form that made him a Raiders staple. For Valentine to hold it, he’ll need to blend his ball skills with the physical edge he flashed Sunday—something that eluded him as a rookie. The Panthers, with Bryce Young at the helm, offer a litmus test: Can Valentine build on his debut? Can Hobbs lurk as a motivated backup, ready to pounce?
In the cutthroat NFC North, where every snap counts toward playoff positioning, the Packers can’t afford sentimentality. They’ve “dropped” $12 million per year on Hobbs, but the bench is no charity. It’s a proving ground. And right now, Valentine is the one standing tall.
