Three Standout Performances by Packers During Preseason

Standout performances in the preseason are about getting noticed.

Back in the days of two-a-day practices, players used to say the best way to get noticed on the back end of the roster was to start a fight. Obviously, those are largely discouraged now, and there are fewer practice opportunities across the NFL.

Preseason football is like giving a morsel of food to a hungry dog. It’s gobbled up immediately, but always leaves us wanting more. That’s true of this preseason, as well, but there are some positives to take from it.

Who does not love a good story from training camp and the preseason? Desmond Howard’s standout performance earned him a spot on the roster of the 1996 Packers. The rest, as they say, is history. Standout performances – those get-you-noticed moments by a player on the back end of the roster – can be the difference between earning a job and looking for a new place to live.

Through two weeks of the preseason, here are three standout performances.

Amar Johnson, Week 1

Amar Johnson is playing in a loaded position group that includes four players who were on the roster last season.

The backfield belongs to Josh Jacobs, and everyone knows it. Behind him, the Packers love MarShawn Lloyd’s skill-set if they can keep him on the field. Chris Brooks is their best pass protector and a primary special teamer. Emanuel Wilson averaged 5.0 yards per carry as the No. 2 back last season.

Despite that, Johnson wanted to come to Green Bay.

Johnson was on the injured list at the beginning of training camp, which could have caused him to fall far enough behind in the competition to make a run at a spot on the 53-man roster or the practice squad. Fortunately for Johnson, he was able to make his way onto the field in time for the team’s first preseason game against the New York Jets.

In an otherwise forgettable night, Johnson was the team’s biggest bright spot, which included a touchdown run that will end up in preseason highlight reels. Johnson finished the night as the team’s leading rusher.

Of the running backs outside of the top four guys, Johnson has been the most impressive through two preseason games, as he followed up his big performance in the opener with another touchdown run against the Indianapolis Colts.

A spot on the roster still seems like a long shot, but Johnson should be a preferred candidate for the practice squad.

Nazir Stackhouse, Week 1

When you’re an undrafted free agent, you have to make big plays. That could be difficult for a defensive tackle who is going to make his money as a run stuffer. As important as stopping the run is, it simply doesn’t pop off the screen in the same way as a quarterback sneak. One way to make sure your big plays jump off the screen is to have it result in a turnover.