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Rob Demovsky, ESPN writer
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Rasheed Walker thought he had déjà vu after what he saw Brenton Cox Jr. do in Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears.
Walker, the Green Bay Packers’ starting left tackle, watched from the sideline as Cox, the second-year defensive end, ran into the backfield and tackled Bears running back D’Andre Swift for a 3-yard loss in Chicago’s first possession. game.
But there was no way Walker would have done that before Sunday, because Cox hadn’t played a single snap this season.
Nine games into 2024, Cox had been inactive (a healthy zero) in each of them. This after Cox suited up for just five games last season as a rookie, appearing in four of them for a total of 13 snaps: nine special teams and four defensive snaps.
Then Walker recalled one of the team’s meetings last week, when coach Matt LaFleur showed a clip from practice.
“It was literally the exact same scenario,” Walker said this week. “Brenton didn’t hesitate and attacked the net. It was literally like the spitting image of what he ended up doing on that play in the game. That’s practicing with a purpose.”
But Cox didn’t finish with just one tackle for a loss against the Bears. He darted back into the backfield and sacked Caleb Williams. In 22 plays, Cox finished with three tackles (including those two for loss) and a pair of quarterback hits. If the Packers hadn’t traded Preston Smith earlier this month, Cox may never have gotten that opportunity.
“It’s been hard, man, just showing up to work and doing the same thing every day to no avail is…” said Cox, who couldn’t even find the words to finish the sentence. “You have to be a very patient guy for that. I love what I do. I love coming in and making plays, so that kept me motivated.”
It also lifted his spirits that what he had done in practice was reflected in the team meeting.
“I think that’s powerful, I really do,” LaFleur said of showing practice clips. “It really paints a picture of practicing with a purpose.”
Cox also showed remarkable poise for someone eager to play. While blocking a punt return in the second quarter, Bears linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga head-butted Cox. Ogbongbemiga was flagged for unnecessary roughness, and because Cox did not retaliate, the Packers were not flagged for a subsequent penalty.
“He had the move in [special teams] where he committed a personal foul,” LaFleur said. “He kicked the guy in front of him in the butt, pushed him back, the guy got frustrated, head-butted him and then didn’t respond. He kept his poise and that’s something we talked about.
“I have to give him a lot of credit because that’s not always easy to do in the heat of battle, so I was very happy with his game and happy for him.”
It also showed how much Cox had grown since his college days. He went undrafted largely because he was cut from both the Georgia and Florida teams. In his last college game, he threw a punch at the end of a play. Florida coach Billy Napier indicated that was just the final straw, telling reporters at the time that Cox’s firing was “a cumulative effect.”
Still, Cox was allowed to participate in Florida’s pro day and the combine, where he impressed scouts with his skill and also with his explanation of what happened in college and how he would learn from it.
The Packers gave Cox a measly $3,000 signing bonus in May 2023 to come in and try to earn a roster spot. They got their money’s worth in Sunday’s win over the Bears alone.
“I remember getting a phone list during this process and calling the young man,” Packers defensive line coach Jason Rebrovich said shortly after Cox signed. “And I said, ‘Hey, I don’t want to know anything about football. I want to know who I’m going to meet on a daily basis. Am I going to get this idiot who’s been through this stuff or am I going to get a guy who wants to become in professional and have the opportunity to become a star in this league?
“Because he’s got a lot of talent, but he needs to be pushed, and a lot of guys need that, they need that kick in the butt.”
Cox played almost as many snaps against the Bears as fellow defensive end Lukas Van Ness, the Packers’ first-round pick from the same rookie class. That speaks to what Cox did with his first real opportunity to play a major role.
And it looks like that could be just the beginning for him.
“I would hope to see him more and I hope he continues to grow as a player,” LaFleur said. “But I think it all starts with approach, how you attack, how you get into the building. He’s had to earn everything he’s gotten up to this point, but I’m excited about him and I think there’s more to come.” there for him.”
