GREEN BAY – They're both young and hungry and by no means finished products.
In the battle to start at cornerback opposite Jaire Alexander, the Packers have one contender who started 14 games as a rookie in 2021 and led the team (as well as all NFL rookies that year) with 14 passes defensed. Eric Stokes is physically in a good place after a season and a half of injury issues.
They have another contender who started 12 games as a rookie in 2023 and led the team (ranking seventh among rookies) with nine passes defensed. Carrington Valentine is also physically in a good place after remaking his body in the offseason.
"I know me and him are going to push each other no matter what," Stokes said.
If that's the case, Valentine is probably due for some highlight-reel plays when the Packers return to the practice field Friday after a day off. Because Stokes, who's currently getting a greater share of the reps with the No. 1 defense, had himself a day on Wednesday.
Somewhat lost in that performance, though, was Valentine's nice pass breakup over the middle early in practice and tight coverage on a deep corner route by Dontayvion Wicks that resulted in an incompletion.
Fueling the strong work by both corners has been an important and productive offseason, in different respects.
Stokes, who developed hamstring problems stemming from a long and arduous rehab from a serious foot injury that wiped out the second half of his 2022 season, visited with specialists at the University of Wisconsin to figure out a better path forward.
He also challenged himself in his summer workouts leading into training camp, shifting his running time from the mornings to the hottest part of the afternoons, mimicking how his college coach at Georgia, Kirby Smart, set up training schedules. Adding in hot yoga and what Stokes calls "hot cycling" – riding an exercise bike in a 130-degree sauna for 15 minutes – has him feeling like he's physically ready for anything.
Most of all, the former first-round pick is thrilled to continue what he started in OTAs, which is taking the field every day, after extended periods of non-participation in '22 and '23.
"It was a lot of days where I remember … just being on the sideline, looking at everybody else ball," Stokes said. "Now it feels great for me to get a li'l action."
Meanwhile Valentine learned during a somewhat unexpectedly busy rookie season that he didn't have the overall size to play his preferred style. So he attacked the weight room and adopted a new diet to change that, putting on a shade under 20 pounds.
"I was light. I was going out there tangling with bigger receivers at 183 (pounds)," Valentine said. "I always was a physical player, but now I feel like adding the weight can match the aggression I really want to play with.
"I'm 202 pounds now. But I didn't want to be a heavy 202. I still wanted to be able to run, still be able to feel how I did at 183, just (with) more physical power and strength."
Consider it mission accomplished, as the added size is noticeable in Valentine's chest and arms. It's worth remembering he was an early entry in the draft from Kentucky who lasted, perhaps partly due to his lack of size, until the seventh round. He won't turn 23 until after Week 1 of the regular season, so the physical maturation isn't entirely surprising.
As for seeing his good friend and position mate become the star of practice Wednesday, Valentine admitted, "It's motivating. You feed off of it."
He's confident his turn is coming, and the battle is barely underway.
"We go out there and compete," Valentine said. "No matter what role I'm in, no matter what happens, I'm going to be myself.
"I love Eric to death. We're really close. Whatever happens, happens. I'm a competitor. We make each other better, so that's the point of football."
