GREEN BAY — Micah Abernathy has been with the Green Bay Packers for just eight days.
In that short time, he’s been early, stayed late, spent what little free time he could find at home on his tablet learning the playbook, doing his best to make the most of what little time he was given and prove himself worthy. the rest.
On Friday night, when the Packers defeated the New Orleans Saints, 20-10, in their second preseason game, Abernathy did just that.
“I feel like I showed that I can play fast and I feel like I have a lot left,” the first-year safety said. “I feel like I’m fit and I can play and I just wanted to get out there. there and try that and I feel like I did, hopefully.”
Abernathy was signed Aug. 10, a full-fledged training camp corps, after starter Darnell Savage and backup Innis Gaines suffered hamstring injuries Aug. 5 at Family Night.
When Dallin Leavitt suffered a shoulder injury in the Packers’ preseason opener against the San Francisco 49ers, the security unit got a little thinner. And on Friday night, when Vernon Scott, the safety who had seen the biggest play increase from Savage’s injury, left the game with an upper-body injury, the door opened even wider for Abernathy.
“You really don’t want any kids to get hurt,” Abernathy said. “That’s not what you expect. But try to make the most of your opportunities. I was able to play more tonight due to injuries. So try to make the most of it.”
Abernathy’s first big play of the night came when he intercepted Saints quarterback Ian Book. With less than a minute left in the second quarter, Book and the Saints were on the Packers’ side of the field. The book rolled to the left, targeting tight end Taysom Hill 11 yards downfield near the sideline. Hill went down and Abernathy, while tripping over the 6-2 Hill, picked the ball up in the air and fell forward inbounds for the interception.
“Actually, my coaches called it. Coach (Jerry) Gray called him off the bench,” Abernathy said. “We actually got that play this week. I got that same play this week and didn’t make it in practice. So I just tried to go out there and make the catch. … I didn’t know if I was (in bounds), but I was going to act like I was.”
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Midway through the third quarter, Abernathy showed off his speed and power. Playing near the line, the safety read a swing pass to the running back early on. When Tony Jones Jr. made the catch, Abernathy was there to attack him for a five-yard loss.
“It was really just game recognition,” Abernathy said. “I feel like that’s a good part of my game. I can really think critically when I need to and I could see the runner sliding and I could see the big lineman, I didn’t want them to touch me so I had to slide under them and be as fast as possible. and just make the play.”
The 25-year-old safety who played his college ball at Tennessee has spent the past few months playing in the USFL. The developmental league helped Abernathy stay in football shape, which is what he largely attributes to his ability to make an immediate impact with the Packers.
“It’s definitely crazy, but it’s what I prayed for,” he said. “So I’m happy for the opportunity that the Packers have given me. I was happy for the opportunity to play in the USFL. I am grateful and I have to thank God for it.”
The Packers have another wave of cuts in the coming days. They must lose five players by Tuesday. With the opportunity in front of him and the plays to prove himself, Abernathy is using his short time in Green Bay to show the Packers that he’s a name worth keeping.