GREEN BAY – Eric Wilson may have led the Packers' special teams in tackles during each of the past two seasons, but he's never forgotten the position on his job description.
On Sunday, the eighth-year linebacker was an unsung hero during the Packers' 16-10 win over the Indianapolis Colts after making a trio of big plays in the second half.
Near the end of the third quarter, Wilson forced a fumble of Colts running back Jonathan Taylor. It went out of bounds, but it helped the defense regain a little momentum after giving up 18 yards off a screen pass.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, he stayed home on Anthony Richardson's read-option run and forced Indianapolis' quarterback to pitch the ball to running back Trey Sermon for a loss of four yards. The Colts then missed a 50-yard field goal.
On the next series, Wilson maintained inside leverage while lined up across from Colts receiver Michael Pittman Jr. and picked off Richardson on an attempted slant route at the Green Bay 40. It was Wilson's first interception in almost three years.
"It feels great because I'm a linebacker first," Wilson said. "To go out there and fly around, try to get the ball out. … It's just a matter of getting population to the ball. That's why running to the ball is so dang important. It's fun."
Wilson signed with Green Bay off New Orleans' practice squad in October 2022, starring on the Packers' special-teams units while occasionally rotating in on defense.
This summer, the 29-year-old linebacker competed hard to secure a starting job in the new 4-3 defense Green Bay installed under new coordinator Jeff Hafley. Despite the Packers selecting two rookies at his position on Day 2 of the NFL Draft, Wilson has made it hard to take him off the field.
His game-altering play late on Sunday was evidence of that.
"It means a lot to have the opportunity, first and foremost, and then go out there and make the most of the opportunity," Wilson said. "I've said it before – any way it is, on special teams, on defense, it doesn't matter. I'm gonna give it my all. It's awesome to go out there and make plays for our team."
Head Coach Matt LaFleur praised Wilson after the game for his consistency and the regimented approach he takes to the profession, which is reflected in his physical appearance.
LaFleur joked how special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia calls Wilson "Body Beautiful" for that very reason. But he's also been a key cog in the Packers' system for the past two years.
"Eric Wilson, he was 'him' today," cornerback Jaire Alexander said. "He was flying around. That's what meditation will do for you."
Another trifecta: The Packers generated three takeaways for the second straight week, with safety Xavier McKinney again nabbing a first-quarter interception and rookie Evan Williams capping the game with a pick on Richardson's final Hail Mary.
McKinney, signed as an unrestricted free agent in March, also picked off Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts on the Eagles' opening possession last Friday in Brazil.
McKinney is just the third player in team history to post an interception in each of his first two games in a Green Bay uniform, joining linebacker John Anderson (1978) and defensive back Doyle Nix (1955), who both had an INT in each of their first three games as Packers.
"That's something that we made an emphasis of in the offseason … being able to create turnovers and be able just to do something productive to be able to get that ball back for the offense," McKinney said. "So, the fact that we've been able to go out there, execute and get our hands on the ball with these turnovers has been great."
Williams still hadn't put down the football he intercepted in the postgame locker room. The rookie fourth-round pick rotated with Javon Bullard alongside McKinney, who gave Williams a little impromptu advice this past week in practice.
According to Williams, McKinney chose to intercept a pass during a two-minute drill in practice instead of batting the pass down. What McKinney told the rookie stayed with him Sunday.
"I was like, 'You don't want to swat it down?' He was like, 'I'm never swatting it down in that situation. I'm always coming up with the pick,'" said Williams with a smile. "So, when the ball was in the air, I was like I probably shouldn't swat this down. I think I'm probably gonna try catch this one. Yeah, it came to me and just fell down."
It's the first time the Packers have posted three-plus takeaways in each of the first two games of the season since 2001. Green Bay's six takeaways this season are its most in the first two games since 2009 (also six).
The Packers already have secured five interceptions through two games after having just seven during the 2023 regular season.
Hot topic: The warm temperatures in Green Bay on Sunday resulted in center Josh Myers going viral after TV cameras caught him vomiting a moment before snapping the ball to Willis.
Myers, who said he also threw up last week in Brazil, said he felt fine afterwards. He just wondered if he'd drunk too much water.
"Unfortunately, no one cares if I'm throwing up, if I give up a sack, you know? So I've got to block 'em," Myers said. "So I'm just like, 'Oh, my God, I can't not block this guy right now, I have to get this.' It's pretty much the only thing going through my mind."
Willis to Wicks: Second-year receiver Dontayvion Wicks had the honor of catching Malik Willis' first NFL regular-season touchdown on a 14-yard TD in the first quarter.
Receiver Romeo Doubs, who led Green Bay with 62 receiving yards, also chipped in by blocking the defensive back at the goal line.
"He believed in me. He gave me a chance on the outside," Wicks said. "Rome helped me out a little bit with blocking, shading out the corner to help me get to the touchdown. Just doing what I do with the ball after I get it."
Whelan's house: Punter Daniel Whelan factored heavily into the team victory, finishing with a net average of 46.3 yards per punt and placing all three of his punts inside the 20-yard line.
That included Whelan pinning Indianapolis back at its own 5-yard line on a 38-yard punt during the final minute of regulation. The Colts did not score following any of Whelan's punts.
"Dude's got a leg on him, a long leg and he boots that thing," Wilson said. "It's awesome to see him pin it inside because it helps the defense tremendously. We talk about complementary football. The way the offense kept running the ball, defense kept getting the ball back for them, special teams pinning them back. It all works together."
