Sam Shields knows he needs another good week

It’s taken him nearly all of the preseason to get healthy but now that Sam Shields appears to be over the elbow injury that kept him out of the first two exhibition games, he knows exactly what he needs: One more good week.

“I think so,” Shields admitted after making his preseason debut Thursday at Cincinnati. “There’s always opportunities out there, and I’ve got one more week to do it.”

Shields likely will get extensive playing time in Thursday’s preseason finale against Kansas City.

Shields’ preseason debut against the Bengals was a mixed bag. He fell down in coverage against receiver A.J. Green in the second quarter only to get bailed out when Andy Dalton overthrew Green. Had the ball been on target, it might have gone for an 80-yard touchdown.

“I just tripped up,” Shields said. “Things like that happen, so you’ve just got to go to the next play. The turf was kind of bumpy, but that’s not an excuse.”

He also allowed a 30-yard reception by rookie Justin Hilton in the second half. But he made an athletic interception in the fourth quarter, picking off a Zac Robinson pass intended for receiver Ryan Whalen.

After playing most of the last two seasons as the Packers’ third cornerback in the nickel package, Shields now appears to be fighting for a roster spot. He has been demoted to the dime defensive back and hasn’t factored into the competition for the starting right cornerback spot, which appears to be down to Jarrett Bush, Casey Hayward and Davon House (if healthy). It could be an indication that Shields’ play hasn’t been up to par, or perhaps it’s a sign of how much more depth the Packers have at cornerback.

“I feel good about the secondary,” starting left cornerback Tramon Williams said. “All the guys have shown they can get the job done and make plays when they’re out there. This might be the deepest we’ve been in a long time in that secondary. Whatever move they make, I don’t think they can go wrong.”


(greenbaypressgazette.com)