The Green Bay Packers cornerback battle just took an interesting twist. Carrington Valentine was expected to be firmly in the mix as the starter this year. However, he suffered a hamstring injury and will miss at least the next week of practice.
Head coach Matt LaFleur said the injury is not serious and will not be long-term.
This will open the door significantly for second-round rookie Brandon Cisse and free agent signing Benjamin St-Juste. Both were already pushing Valentine for his spot.
Green Bay Packers Corner Competition Takes Turn With Carrington Valentine Injury
GettyBrandon Cisse #2 of the Green Bay Packers
Brandon Cisse has been the winner of the cornerback competition so far in training camp. The rookie has been thrown into the fire and has been getting work with the first-team since the first day of camp.
They have moved him up and down the depth chart to see how he has taken to learning, and so far he has been passing every test. Reports indicate that he is getting the majority of the work with the first team now that Valentine is out of the picture.
This will be tough for Valentine to overcome, even if he is expected to be back on the field soon. The Packers drafted Cisse high with big expectations attached to it. The plan is for him to start down the road.
So, if he is flashing enough to be in consideration right now, the team is not going to delay his development because of Valentine.
That does not even bring in St-Juste. St-Juste has mostly worked with the second team. However, he is entering his sixth NFL season, and he has 47 career starts.
So, the team still has a veteran to lean on if things get too overwhelming for the rookie. For now, they are going to let the rookie take his lumps. St-Juste might mix in occasionally.
Valentine Might be Entering Final Year With Packers
Valentine was a seventh-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft. However, he found a way to get on the field right away, starting in 12 games as a rookie. He was in and out of the lineup again in 2024. He started in seven games for the Packers. Then, he started in 11 games for Green Bay in 2025.
However, none of his performances have been good enough to earn a long-term starting spot. The team has to start him because other options did not ascend. If Cisse can take his spot, they are not going to feel that he deserves to keep it because he held it down over the past three years.
Beyond that, Valentine is entering the fourth-year of his rookie deal. That means he will be a free agent at the end of this year anyway. The team has Cisse and St-Juste with longer investments. So, they could bench Valentine when he gets healthy. He would sit out the year and look for a new team in free agency next year.
It is a disappointing end because Valentine turned out well for a seventh-round pick. However, it is becoming the likely outcome.
Packers Injury Suddenly Changes Major Position Battle