GREEN BAY – Circumstances create opportunities, and a significant one has come Ty'Ron Hopper's way this week.
The rookie linebacker took a large portion of snaps with the No. 1 defense in Tuesday's training camp practice at Nitschke Field, in part due to Quay Walker taking some periods off and fellow rookie Edgerrin Cooper's hip injury.
The work represented Hopper's first notable stretch with the ones since arriving as a third-round draft pick from Missouri. But to say he moved up the depth chart simply by default might not be entirely accurate.
For one, he initially got some snaps alongside Walker and Isaiah McDuffie as the third linebacker in the base 4-3, a starting spot held down impressively thus far by veteran Eric Wilson and where Cooper had rotated in occasionally before being sidelined. Hopper wouldn't get those snaps if the coaches didn't want to get a look at him there. Then he got additional work with the first unit in nickel in Walker's place when he stepped aside (afterward Walker said he's fine and didn't elaborate).
For another, Hopper ended Saturday's Family Night practice with a darn good play in the live-tackling period with the reserve units, standing up running back Jarveon Howard shy of the goal line after he caught a short pass over the middle from rookie QB Michael Pratt on fourth-and-goal from the 6. Standout plays like that earn greater opportunities for young players, so that can't be discounted as a factor in Tuesday's developments.
After practice, Hopper low-keyed his change of scenery in a brief chat but was grabbing his tablet out of his locker, perhaps eager to review his own film.
"Honestly, I'm just getting comfortable with the scheme and trying to play fast and physical," he said. "I just feel like I'm getting better every day, taking coaching and try to put it into team (11-on-11) and trying to be consistent.
"But I feel like I've got to do more."
He did lay quite a hit in the hole on running back MarShawn Lloyd during a second-team snap, showing the physicality packed into his 6-2, 228-pound frame. That play style attracted the Packers to use a second-day draft pick on him.
One round earlier, the speedy Cooper (6-2, 229) was chosen from Texas A&M, and he finished the spring coming on strong. But the hip injury has temporarily halted his trajectory, so he's doing what he can – which is standing 40 yards away in the middle of the field during 11-on-11 taking mental reps to keep engaged.
"It's hard to stay with the plays not being able to take reps and see everything physically," Cooper said. "I read what I can read, go through my steps each play to keep everything fresh in my mind.
"It's hard playing football without doing football."
It helps to wear a green-dotted helmet when he's not in there, so he can hear all the play calls and process everything pre- and post-snap as though he's actually playing. He hopes to be back soon, calling his rehab a "day-to-day process" and trying to stay upbeat.
He did give his draft classmate a thumbs up for the work he saw from afar.
"I was glad to see him make a few plays," Cooper said of Hopper. "I was getting pumped up back there. I'm sure coach will see on film, him filling all his gaps. It was nice to see him progress, taking that big step."
Walker concurred, saying Hopper is improving with "the small things" and coming along. However the depth chart shakes out come Week 1, the Packers appear to have a collection of five off-ball linebackers in Walker, McDuffie, Wilson, Cooper and Hopper that can anchor the middle of their defense, and depth never hurts.
Hopper is just the latest to step forward and try to show he belongs. Getting to a good place mentally with the playbook has made a difference.
"I definitely feel more comfortable, feel like I'm playing fast … not thinking, just playing ball, not in my head," he said. "Feel like I'm being me, basically."
