The Packers are still hopeful for Darnell Savage’s best in 2023, despite their season of disappointment
The Green Bay Packers aren’t ready to give up on safety Darnell Savage despite a 2022 season full of disappointments. After a midseason benching, Brian Gutekunst has a positive outlook about Savage. He also switched to nickel.
“I think he’s very versatile,’” he said. “Middle of the season, we sat him down for a little bit, and he came back and played more in the nickel, which allowed him to get closer to the ball and make some plays. He was definitely more motivated once he returned, which was a good thing. He is more like his first years. He is capable of doing anything. He can cover the back end with his incredible speed and range. But when you put him back there, he gets further away from the ball and doesn’t have as many chances to make plays. He can do a lot of things.”
To put it bluntly, it wasn’t a great year for the former first-round pick out of Maryland. Savage was to have been an integral part in what seemed to be a talented team of secondaries. Savage’s constant struggle never allowed him to achieve that goal.
Savage’s worst statistical season was undoubtedly his worst.
Savage received the lowest coverage rating of his career from Pro Football Focus. He also missed 12 tackles, while playing fewer snaps as a rookie. Savage was eventually benched by Rudy Ford, and he played just two defensive snaps in a span of three weeks (12-15).
“I think there were some reality checks as he went through this season,” said Gutekunst.
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Savage was eventually able to get back on the field after Ford had to deal with similar breakdowns in communication and coverage.
Savage entered the game against the Miami Dolphins on Christmas Day. He did not give up any catch to Tyreek Hill and Jalen Wadeddle who combined for nine touchdowns and 246 yards.
The following week, Savage made his biggest play of the season – perhaps restoring some faith fans had in him before the season. At 5:17 in the first quarter, Savage intercepted Kirk Cousins. He returned it 75 yards for a touchdown that made the score 14-3. The defensive touchdown took the wind out of the Minnesota Vikings’ sails and eventually led to a 41-17 blowout victory.
In both games, Savage played free safety and in the slot, which doesn’t provide much clarity on where he is best suited moving forward. It is not a good idea to have a clear position in your fifth season.
After Savage showed signs of regression in 2021, many thought he would be cut if he didn’t show signs of improvement. Last offseason, the team took his fifth-year option and guaranteed salary of $7.9million. It’s now almost a foregone conclusion he will return for another year.
However, given the state of the Packers’ safeties, retaining Savage for another season isn’t the end of the world. Unless Ford and veteran Adrian Amos are brought back, Savage is the only remaining starter at the position. Savage could at most be a placeholder while there is talent through free agency or the draft.
Gutekunst believes that Savage will turn things around for him in 2023.
“I’m hopeful as we go into next season that we’re going to see his best.”