Green Bay Packers linebacker Isaiah McDuffie might be one of the most improved players on Matt LaFleur’s roster to start the 2022 season, and he was one of the standouts on defense during Friday night’s preseason win over the New Orleans Saints.
The second-year linebacker flew around the field, made impact plays to end drives and even created a two-for-one tackle highlight.
In the first half alone, McDuffie made a stop of Saints quarterback Ian Book on 3rd-and-12 to force a punt and then took down rookie Chris Olave after a short gain on 3rd-and-16 to force a field goal attempt. His speed sideline-to-sideline continues to look like a real asset.
LaFleur, without the benefit of a second viewing of the tape, said he thought McDuffie was flying around the field and making plays.
McDuffie, a sixth-round pick last year, finished with six tackles in the first half.
McDuffie also got credit for this wild sequence in which he went through Saints center Cesar Ruiz (a 2020 first-round pick) to take down running back Toby Jones Jr. at the end of a run in the first half:
That's one way to make the tackle 😂
📱: Stream #NOvsGB on NFL+ https://t.co/TG8NNQM32C pic.twitter.com/HXNzvguo1e
— NFL (@NFL) August 20, 2022
After two preseason games, two things are clear: McDuffie is a rock-solid lock for the 53-man roster, and he looks like a capable (and fast) backup linebacker who should be a vital part of the special teams effort for the Packers in 2022.
