GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Packers spent a first round draft pick three years ago on cornerback Eric Stokes, but leg injuries have plagued his career. Now, a healthy Stokes is hoping to fulfill his potential.
Through all of his injuries, Stokes has not lost the vision of who he thinks he is on the field.
"My confidence is still high," said Stokes. "At the end of the day, I know what I can do. So everything else, it is what it is. I just had to get back healthy. So now that I’m back healthy, everything else is good.”
Stokes is a popular player in the locker room, so it’s no surprise that he’s getting a lot of support.
“I think he's as good as I've ever seen him, both mentally and on the field,” said Packers Head Coach Matt LaFleur. “I really mean that. He's out there competing each and every day. He looks fully healthy. He's doing a great job of challenging our wide receivers. I think you see that personality is back. He looks in great shape. And I think the play says the same.”
"I'm actually really excited for Eric Stokes,” said Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander. “He’s come out here in these OTA’s and he’s preformed really well. He’s battled through a bunch of adversity. Just for him to come out every day and just working to get better, that’s just a blessing in itself, man. I’m very proud of him.”
Stokes also thinks that his University of Georgia background has prepared him well for Jeff Hafley’s Packers defense.
“I love Hafley’s schemes and everything he’s got going on,” said Stokes. “It’s pretty much how I used to play at UGA. It’s a lot of personnel, it’s a lot of, I’m opening up. There’s a lot of small little things similar to how we ran it at UGA, so I love it.”
It’s no surprise because of Stokes’ injury history that the Packers didn’t pick up the option year on Stokes’ rookie contract. But Stokes isn’t sweating his future.
“I always feel like I’ve got something to prove,” said Stokes. “Especially coming off of two injuries, especially the two seasons I had previous. I always feel like I’ve got something to prove. I just can’t wait to come out there Week One and just show everybody.”
Eric Stokes hopes his strong and healthy play will speak for itself this season.