GREEN BAY – If five years in the NFL taught Corey Ballentine anything, it's the importance of being ready for every possibility.
A year ago, the 5-foot-11, 196-pound cornerback was fighting tooth and nail for a spot on the Packers' roster. Ballentine came up short but stuck around on Green Bay's practice squad.
Less than three months later, he was starting at cornerback.
"What I've learned in my football career is everything is a process," Ballentine. "You've got to work your way through the rough patches. I think that's what I had to do – weather the storms."
A small-school standout from Division II Washburn University, Ballentine has worked for every rep he's taken in the NFL. Drafted by the New York Giants in the sixth round in 2019, the 28-year-old played for five other clubs before joining Green Bay midway through the 2022 season.
In addition to being a valued special-teams contributor, Ballentine helped the Packers stem the tide at perimeter corner last year while All-Pro Jaire Alexander battled shoulder and back injuries that cost him more than half the season.
Ballentine registered a career-high 43 tackles and seven passes defensed, and nabbed his first in-game interception since his senior year at Washburn when he picked off Jaren Hall last December in a 33-10 rout of Minnesota.
"He was in a tough situation because there were a lot of games where maybe he wasn't anticipating starting and then on a Friday or a Saturday, 'Hey, you're going in there. You got to go play ball,'" Head Coach Matt LaFleur said. "I thought he did an outstanding job, just whatever we asked of him he was always prepared and that's the expectation because you don't know. I know it's a cliché, you're one play away, but you've got to have that mindset. You've got to prepare like a starter. I thought he handled that like a mature player and went in there and played a lot of meaningful snaps for us and also gave us a boost on special teams."
After the season, the Packers rewarded Ballentine for his play with a new contract that included a signing bonus. Now, Ballentine is back doing what he does best – playing everywhere. With both Alexander and former first-round pick Eric Stokes back from injury, Ballentine has been spelling starting nickel cornerback Keisean Nixon in the slot.
Playing inside isn't new to Ballentine, though you'd have to go all the way back to his rookie season with the Giants in 2019 for the last time he lined up there in a regular-season game.
It's an opportunity Ballentine has welcomed with open arms, especially after practicing inside during practice to stay sharp as the next cornerback up in the secondary last season.
"Just trying to add more versatility under my belt – I think adding some depth to the room, as well," Ballentine said. "Knowing that position helps me know where all my help is at corner. I feel like it's good to be well-rounded. Having me in there to do some blitzes and also fit in the run (game) fits me well."
This summer, Ballentine is hoping to make his first initial 53-man roster in four years and understands the competition he faces to do it.
The Packers didn't draft a cornerback until the seventh round this past April but have a well-stocked room with Alexander, Stokes, Nixon, Ballentine, Carrington Valentine, Robert Rochell and rookie Kalen King, who's impressed during the first week of training camp.
Ballentine takes a lot of pride in his journey, which included two stints on the Packers' practice squad. While it took a little time, the sixth-year veteran feels at home in Green Bay.
"I already knew I could do it," Ballentine said. "I feel like a lot of other people probably had doubts. Not necessarily in the building but people that weren't familiar with me or my game were probably like, 'Who is that?'
"My teammates have confidence in me, coaches, everyone here does, and I knew I could do it. It's just I have to show everybody else that isn't familiar with me that I can do it. … I've been here for a reason. I'm going on six years now. It wasn't a confidence thing for me. It was just the opportunity."
