As the most experienced player in the Packers’ safety room, Darnell Savage has been through plenty of highs and lows in his NFL career.
After hearing his name called in the first round of the 2019 draft, he was named to an All-Rookie team and had a promising trajectory as the next great safety in Green Bay. Over the next three seasons, however, Savage never took the next step. He actually regressed to the point where his performance led to getting benched halfway through last season.
Buy Packers TicketsThe Packers couldn’t afford to cut Savage after picking up his fifth-year option. That decision was criticized for months as many hoped the team would trade him and find a replacement in the draft.
Green Bay did neither under the belief that Savage could turn it around. Through the first three games of 2023, he has.
On the heels of a season in which Savage was plagued by coverage breakdowns and missed tackles, he is currently playing sound pass defense and is on pace for a career-high in tackles.
In the season-opening win over the Bears, he was one of the most active players on the field, crashing downhill and stopping multiple plays for negative or minimal yardage. It was a level of confidence the Packers hadn’t seen from him in quite some time.
Savage has also shown growth as a leader.
During Sunday’s come-from-behind win against the Saints, he was even-keeled while tension grew on the sideline during the first half. When the offense’s first drive stalled after a disastrous trick play on fourth down, Savage decided to say something to his visibly frustrated head coach.
“After we tried that trick play that failed miserably, (Savage) was like, ‘Don’t worry about it, we got you,’” Matt LaFleur recalled postgame.
According to LaFleur, Savage delivered the same message at halftime when the Packers had dug themselves into a 17-point hole.
While the offense failed to get anything going late in the game, the defense kept them in it. Excluding the 76-yard punt return for a touchdown in the second half, Savage and company surrendered only 10 points. They came away with timely stops, including when the offense scored on three straight possessions in the final quarter.
Green Bay finally took the lead with just under three minutes remaining but still needed one more stop from the defense. After a 28-yard completion down the sideline to wide receiver Chris Olave, New Orleans was nearly within striking distance. Two plays later, another 10-yard completion to Olave put them in field goal range.
All the defense could do at that point was make the attempt as long as possible. On 3rd and 8, quarterback Jameis Winston found receiver Michael Thomas in the flat where a first down may have lost the Packers the game. Savage had other ideas, coming down and wrapping up for only a two-yard gain. The potentially game-saving tackle forced the ensuing 46-yard field goal attempt that rookie Blake Grupe pushed wide right.
“I did assume that they were going to try to get the first down because the first down would have essentially not sealed the game — they still would’ve had to make the field goal — but it would’ve made it easier to win the game,” Savage said following the win. “They just ran a short out route, tackle it, and get off the field. The guys up front did a great job on the field-goal rush to force a miss wide right. Pack win.”
With veteran Adrian Amos now gone, Savage has had no choice but to step up his play and become more vocal. So far, he has done everything that has been asked of him and his defensive coordinator is taking notice.
“He’s really taken a step this year as far as a leadership role,” Joe Barry said Tuesday. “I love the playstyle he’s playing with right now. He’s flying around, he’s throwing his body around — I love it.”
Against all odds, it’s not too late for Savage to revive his career in Green Bay and live up to his first-round selection. He will need to play well for an entire season, but no one can deny he’s off to a promising start.
