Returning From IR, Packers’ Darnell Savage Ready To Be More Than ‘Silly Face’
GREEN BAY, Wis. – On the cusp of returning from injured reserve, Green Bay Packers safety Darnell Savage is feeling better physically and emotionally.
“Definitely feels a lot better just being able to practice again,” Savage said. “I’ve been a little bored sitting around in Green Bay. Can’t necessarily do anything, so it’s not necessarily ideal. I’ve been a little bored so it’s good to get back out there with the guys and have a little fun playing some football.”
To say Savage is getting “back out there with the guys” is accurate in a sense. In another sense, he’s never left.
While Savage has missed the last five games with a calf injury, he’s never left his teammates’ side. Literally from his first practice on injured reserve, Savage’s presence has been felt from the start of the pre-practice warmup routine, with him going from player to player to exchange high-fives or engage in a quick conversation.
Before the last game at Lambeau Field against the Chargers, just as the offense was ready to go against the defense, Savage joined the defensive huddle at the start of one of the final segments before kickoff.
Savage didn’t remember what he said, then continued: “You just try to do what you can do and leave no stone unturned and whatever happens, happens. It’s felt good to be around everybody and smile around everybody, see everybody’s face, shake everybody’s hands. I know it means a lot to me. So, hopefully, it means the same to them.”
Savage’s level of involvement while on injured reserve has been rare. It’s not unusual for injured players to say they barely feel like they’re part of the team. Rather than practicing and preparing, they’re on the side going through rehab workouts. Savage, though, has kept himself involved with a positive voice and veteran presence.
Why has that been so important?
“That’s just how I was brought up. I’m a part of this team,” he explained. “I think these guys enjoy seeing my silly face around and a smile all the time and just upbeat. I just try to bring the energy that I have to everybody else. The more that I can do that, it’s a lot harder when you’re not playing, obviously, but you’ve got to find ways to maneuver and make sure the guys feel you. It’s been tough, though, for sure.”
Savage’s calf injury, originally sustained against Las Vegas and aggravated the following week against Denver, came at an unfortunate time. Coming off a couple disappointing seasons and entering his final season under contract, the 2019 first-round pick and all-rookie performer was having a strong bounce-back season in taking command of a position group that had been led the previous four years by Adrian Amos.
While Savage had no interceptions or passes defensed, his aggressiveness and physicality – two knocks on his play – had come to the forefront. While his missed-tackle percentage was still far too high (16.7 percent in 2023, down only slightly from his career mark of 17.3 percent, according to Pro Football Focus), his snaps-per-tackle went from 16.5 in 2021 and 14.4 in 2022 to 10.4 in 2023. His snaps per reception allowed, on the other hand, went from 18.3 in 2022 to 22.1 in 2023, according to PFF.
“I was happy with his play style to start,” position coach Ryan Downard said. “It started in practice. He’s placed a great importance on finishing to the ball. That’s how you improve tackling in the National Football League because you’re not going to hit guys in practice. You have to track all the way to the ball and you’ve got to fit up on the hip every time. Him doing that has helped him in his tackling.
“I’ve talked about him pulling the trigger and trusting himself; I thought he’s done that. There’s still places to grow and those are the things that I’m in his ear about. I’m happy with his improvement but it’s going to be the same approach. We’ve got to continue to develop him and he’s got to be a player for us, and he knows that. He’s not only got to control the back end with ball command, but he has to make plays for us. How do you make plays? You do your job and you make the plays that come to you.”
Savage was full participation at Wednesday’s practice, a sign that only a fluke re-injury will keep him out of the starting lineup for Sunday night’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Savage couldn’t contain the smile when asked what it will mean to be back on the field.
“I can play football again,” he said. “It’s been a long however many weeks it’s been. A lot of just sitting around and trying to find different ways to get better when I get back.
“Not being able to practice or play in Green Bay in the middle of the season is not ideal,” he continued with a laugh. “I’m just happy to be back with the guys, talking to them, laughing with them in a different aspect than just off the field. To actually go out there on the field and talk to them and see their faces and hear what they have to say has been great.”
