GREEN BAY – Having missed all of rookie minicamp, OTAs, mandatory minicamp and the start of training camp while recovering from toe surgery, Packers rookie safety Kitan Oladapo was told by his position coaches to focus on one thing in his first preseason defensive action Sunday night in Denver.
"Just go out there and play fearless, and we'll correct the mistakes later," Oladapo said after Tuesday's practice. "Put on tape being physical, be aggressive, and maximum effort. We'll do the assignment (stuff) later."
So that's what the fifth-round pick from Oregon State did, flying around and making four tackles (three solo) in 32 snaps on defense. He also played 13 snaps on special teams, adding to his nine snaps in the third phase from the preseason opener in Cleveland, where he didn't get in on defense.
Oladapo's prolonged absence and recovery – he injured the toe at the NFL Scouting Combine in late February – put him well behind the Packers' other two draft picks at safety. Javon Bullard and Evan Williams are in line for potentially significant defensive roles, with Bullard currently starting alongside veteran Xavier McKinney and Williams making enough plays to be right on his heels.
Meanwhile Oladapo is just getting his feet wet and trying to solidify a roster spot, and the outing in Denver was a positive start. Head Coach Matt LaFleur mentioned seeing "a lot of good moments" from Oladapo on the game film.
"The more he gets to play the better he'll do, the faster he'll play," LaFleur said. "I thought he showed up and showed good physicality, good range.
"I think he's still trying to get his legs underneath him, but I'm excited about the player. He's shown consistent growth every time we go out and practice, both on defense and on teams."
Oladapo's most impactful play in the game came late in the third quarter. With the Broncos backed up on their own 6-yard line following a holding penalty, Oladapo filled his gap and stopped running back Tyler Badie for just a 1-yard gain on an inside run. On the next snap, Zach Morton sacked Broncos QB Zach Wilson in the end zone for a safety. Earlier, Oladapo also would've been credited for another tackle against the run when he forced the back out of bounds after a short gain, but the play was wiped out due to an offensive holding penalty.
At 6-2 and 216 pounds, Oladapo has no qualms about playing near the line of scrimmage to defend the run. He's lined up there at times as well as the traditional deep safety spot, versatility that was foundational to his game as a three-year starter in the Pac-12.
"I love getting physical," he said. "That's why they brought me here, to have a big safety in the box. Whatever role they want me to have or pursue, I'll do that."
On special teams, he's been lining up as a wing on the punt team and as an outside rusher on punt return, while working in the middle of the field on kickoff and kickoff return. Some of the blocking and shedding blocks is new to him, but he's diligently plugging away.
The Denver game wasn't flawless by any means. Those mistakes the secondary coaches said they'd correct later were there, mostly in the areas of alignment and technique.
"Going over tape, there's a lot of things I do need to improve on," Oladapo said. "But just one thing at a time. Working on my breaks one day, working on my hands the next day, and then always working on alignment and assignment stuff."
Mentally, Oladapo felt he learned the playbook as best he could while not on the field, so now it's just melding all the mental reps he's taken with the physical ones. He also feels the areas that don't require coaching, like effort and communication, are on point as he hits the last week of training camp, which features both a joint practice and preseason game with Baltimore.
It's stating the obvious how important the home stretch is for a player in his position, and if the Denver game was a "good stepping stone" as he called it, then it's time for another one.
"Just keep going," he said of his approach. "I think my process is right. The coaches are helping me. I'm buying in. Just keep on the path I'm going and I'll be all right."
