The Green Bay Packers just made one of the most surprising roster cuts of the offseason, waiving sixth-round pick Domani Jackson as they finalized their roster on Sunday. This isn’t just some camp body getting cut; this is a draft pick, one of only six the Packers made back in April, and it’s a move that immediately has fans talking.
The Brutal Preseason That Undid a Draft Pick
Jackson, a cornerback out of Alabama, was already playing from behind. He missed the start of training camp after undergoing core muscle surgery in the offseason, putting him squarely “behind the eight ball” from day one. He did manage to get on the field for Green Bay’s final two preseason games, but man, those were rough. He was targeted eight times and gave up six catches for a staggering 112 yards and a touchdown. The kicker? In the finale against the Cardinals, he allowed a passer rating of 149.3. That’s a brutal number, and he also missed three tackles in the preseason. It seemed like a continuation of some of his tape from Alabama, where he seemed to lack that corner confidence you absolutely need at the NFL level.
A Surprise Cut Even With the Numbers
Despite the tough preseason, Jackson’s release still comes as a bit of a shock to many. For one, the Packers had an unusually small draft class this year, partially due to the Micah Parsons trade last August. You’d think that would make them hold onto their picks a bit tighter. Plus, General Manager Brian Gutekunst hasn’t exactly made a habit of cutting his rookies; this is only the ninth time since he took over in 2018. They did cut seventh-round corner Micah Robinson last year, but a sixth-rounder is a different story. You’d think they might give a guy the benefit of the doubt, especially when he was put in such a tough spot with that late start to camp. But the preseason performance? That was just too hard to ignore.
Jackson’s departure means Green Bay is now down to just five true cornerbacks on the roster. Brandon Cisse, Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine, and Benjamin St-Juste are all locks. Kamal Hadden is likely to make it as the backup slot corner behind Javon Bullard, who’s actually a safety by trade. Other corners like Shemar Bartholomew, MJ Devonshire, and Jaylin Simpson have also reportedly been released. It’ll be interesting to see if Jackson lands on the Packers’ practice squad. Maybe a year there is exactly what he needs to acclimate to the NFL.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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