Having made ‘great impression,’ Ibraheim Campbell returns to Packers

It's the ending safety Ibraheim Campbell thought might happen as he came back from a torn ACL.

Ibraheim Campbell is back with the Green Bay Packers, just as he had a hunch might happen as he rehabbed his torn ACL.

“I kind of got that sense,” Campbell said after Saturday’s practice. “I obviously stayed in contact just because of the injury, but also I left a great impression when I left here. I was fortunate they called me back and we were able to work something out.”

With last year’s trade of Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, release of Jermaine Whitehead and injuries to Kentrell Brice, the Packers signed Campbell on Nov. 5. Ten days later, he was on the field at Seattle. Another 10 days later, he played 53 snaps on defense and an additional 25 snaps on special teams at Minnesota. A week after that, Campbell was in the starting lineup against Arizona. Campbell played 46 snaps on defense that day, with 17 of those snaps coming at linebacker, and tallied a career-high 10 tackles. However, while covering a punt, he suffered a torn ACL.

Still, Campbell’s three games with the Packers – and his history with defensive coordinator Mike Pettine – kept Campbell on Green Bay’s radar over the past several months.

“Just who I am as a football player,” Campbell said. “I play my game, do what I was supposed to do. In this league, that says a lot.”

It’s been about 250 days since the injury. While Campbell is on the physically unable to perform list and not eligible to practice, he said he’s been running for more than four months. When the time is right, he’ll be cleared to return.

“Right now, I say I’m waiting on science,” he said. “Just the longer I wait at this point, the lower the statistical rate of re-tear.”

Campbell adds a bit of intrigue to the defensive backfield. With first-round pick Darnell Savage moving ahead of Raven Greene and into the starting lineup alongside Adrian Amos on Saturday, the questions are about depth. Campbell, Greene and Josh Jones can play the hybrid safety/linebacker position. On Saturday, Greene manned that position with the No. 1 defense. Meanwhile, Natrell Jamerson and Will Redmond can play cornerback and safety. That’s a lot of potential flexibility for Pettine – and a lot of versatile pieces for GM Brian Gutekunst should things turn south with Jones.

“It’s good to have another veteran safety around,” coach Matt LaFleur said.