The Green Bay Packers are 8-3-1 after their strong win over the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving. The team has won their last three games and are in an excellent position to make the playoffs. While players like Micah Parsons and Jordan Love make headlines, there are other Packers players who are not stars, but are doing their jobs well and quietly contributing to the team’s success. By no means are these the only players who fit this category, but as of late, they have been doing a lot to help this team win.

Packers Who are Quietly Contributing to the Team’s Success, Number Five: ST Zayne Anderson

Special teams coverage is rarely glamorous, but Zayne Anderson is the Packers most consistent player on “we fence.” He made a big impact against Minnesota when he pushed a blocker into a bouncing punt and then recovered the muffed ball at the Vikings five. That set up a key touchdown for the Packers.

Anderson provides experienced leadership on a young special teams unit. He can also fill in, when necessary, on defense. He has been quietly helping the Packers succeed this season.

Number Four: P Daniel Whelan

Usually, punters only get attention when they make a major mistake or on those rare occasions they make a very long kick. Packers punter Daniel Whelan has been playing well all season. It’s never easy punting in Green Bay, especially in the second half of the season when the conditions are windy and cold. But Whelan seems unphased by the weather and continues to help the Packers tilt the field and win the field position battle.

For the season, Whelan has averaged 51.4 yards per punt. He’s placed 12 kicks inside the 20 and just six touchbacks. His net punting average is 42.4. Both marks are career highs.

No Packers full-time punter has ever averaged 50 yards per punt for the season. The record for a single season was set by Corey Bojorquez with 46.5 in 2021. The highest net yards by a Packers punter in a single season is 41.6 set by Justin Vogel in 2017. Whelan could break both records this season.

Packers Who are Quietly Contributing to the Team’s Success, Number Three: RB Chris Brooks

Josh Jacobs gives the Packers an elite starting running back and Emanuel Wilson provides them with a solid backup. Chris Brooks remains third on the depth chart, but he plays a vital role for this team. Brooks has only carried the ball 11 times and caught 10 passes through 12 games, but he is the team’s best, blocking running back.

Brooks helps protect Love. He does a good job of reading stunts and picking up blitzers. This is critical for the offense.

Packers quarterbacks have been sacked just 17 times in 12 games, which is among the best numbers in the league. Brooks won’t make headlines, but his contributions are a big reason that Love isn’t sacked more often.

Number Two: LB Isaiah McDuffie

Isaiah McDuffie has started eight of the Packers first 12 games. As the third linebacker on the depth chart, he plays in base defense and in obvious running situations. He has played 44 percent of the team’s defensive snaps, but that number includes the last two games when Quay Walker was out of the lineup due to injury and McDuffie was thrust into full-time duty.

McDuffie plays the run very well and gives the Packers leadership on defense. McDuffie is considered a quiet person but when he speaks, teammates pay attention.

He has one sack, one interception and three tackles for loss so far this season. Despite playing less than half the defensive snaps, he’s fifth on the team in tackles. McDuffie doesn’t make headlines, but he does make a difference.

Packers Who are Quietly Contributing to the Team’s Success, Number One: S Evan Williams

Evan Williams surprised a lot of people as a rookie last year but has played even better in year two. Williams has always played the run well, but he’s doing a better job this season in pass coverage.

The second-year man out of Oregon leads the team with three interceptions on the season. He gives the Packers smart play at safety and teams with Xavier McKinney and Javon Bullard to give Green Bay a strong group of safeties. McKinney plays deep centerfield while Williams and Bullard do their best work closer to the line of scrimmage.

Williams has developed into a quality starting safety and he could continue to improve as he gains more experience. He’s not a Pro Bowler yet, but he has quietly helped the Packers defense play well.

 

 

 

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