Moore Speeds Into Battle at Safety for Packers

Tarvarius Moore, who started 13 games for the 49ers, has overcome a torn Achilles to contend for a starting job in the wide-open battle at safety.

Author:
Bill Huber
Updated:
Jul 28, 2023 9:05 PM EDT
Original:
Jul 28, 2023

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Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Tarvarius Moore entered the NFL with 4.32 speed in the 40-yard dash. A torn Achilles tendon more than two years in the rear-view mirror, Moore said that elite athleticism has returned as he chases a starting job at safety for the Green Bay Packers.

“Definitely feel like all the speed is still there,” Moore said after Friday’s training camp practice.

Moore was a third-round pick by the 49ers in 2018. He started two games as a rookie, three games in 2019 and eight games in 2020. That progression had him in prime position to start for one of the best defenses in the NFL in 2021. However, he suffered a torn Achilles during an offseason practice and missed the entire season.

The pain was mental as well as physical.

“It was definitely challenging, just going through that, knowing the opportunity I had and then having to rehab. And just the things of, ‘Am I going to be the same when I return?’” Moore said.

“Just the grind, day in day out, not really seeing any progress for the first three, four months, like literally learning how to walk again. It was definitely a grind, and you have to have some good, strong people in your corner, definitely a strong mental, and I believe a good faith system to just keep you going, keep you motivated, and just having that tunnel vision.”

With a support system consisting of his mom, girlfriend, coaches and teammates, Moore returned last season and played in 13 games, with most of the action coming on special teams.

With the Packers, Moore is part of the wide-open battle to start alongside Darnell Savage. On Friday, for the first time this summer, he got some first-team reps alongside Savage.

“Great opportunity here,” Moore said. “Defense is very similar to what I’m used to, letting me play freely. It’s a great scheme, playing behind a great group of guys: great D-line, great linebackers and just a great secondary. They’ve made it really easy for me just to transition here, picking up the playbook, just welcome me in and be part of the group.”

To beat out Ford, who started four games last season and led the safeties with three interceptions, and Owens, who started 17 games last season for the Texans, will require Moore to show his complete skillset. That starts with the obvious – his speed – and becoming more of a playmaker.

The playmaking is what’s lacking on his resume. In regular-season play, he’s started 13 games and played 1,046 defensive snaps. He has zero interceptions and six passes defensed.

He does have one highlight play on his resume. After playing one snap on defense and 19 on special teams as the 49ers crushed the Packers in the 2019 NFC Championship Game, Moore played five snaps in the Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs. On one of them, he intercepted Patrick Mahomes.

“It’s in my house in a trophy case,” he said of the ball. “I have a big trophy case that my mom has always had. Literally from Little League, every sport I’ve ever played, every medal, trophy or anything I ever got is in that trophy case. I’ve got that framed, for sure.”

That’s a wild background. If Moore can intercept Mahomes, he can intercept anybody. He picked off Jordan Love during OTAs. With speed to burn and plenty of experience, a few splash plays on the practice field and in preseason action could get him the starting job he thought he would have won in 2021.

“Oh, definitely,” Moore said of adding to his interception total. “No, no, no, definitely. We’re going to change that.”