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Rob Demovsky
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Packers cornerback Nate Hobbs, who was signed this offseason to be one of many cornerstones of their protection, underwent knee surgical procedure over the weekend, sources confirmed to ESPN, however could possibly be again for the regular-season opener Sept. 7 in opposition to the Detroit Lions.
Hobbs is anticipated to overlook the rest of coaching camp, nonetheless.
Sports activities Illustrated was the primary to report late Monday evening that Hobbs had undergone a process.
Sources on Tuesday instructed ESPN that the surgical procedure was to restore a partial meniscus tear. The surgical procedure befell Saturday at 7 a.m. and didn’t embody some other issues, based on one supply. Hobbs may have performed with the damage, based on one other supply, nevertheless it may have probably gotten worse, so the choice was made to care for it instantly.
Hobbs final practiced Thursday. When he missed Friday’s follow, the Packers mentioned he had a knee damage however didn’t present some other specifics.
The Packers signed Hobbs to a four-year, $48 million contract in March as a free agent. He stood out straight away in coaching camp due to his physicality. In reality, at one level coach Matt LaFleur needed to ask Hobbs to dial it again and put it aside for reside soccer.
“The factor you admire most about him is he is passionate concerning the recreation and he likes to compete,” LaFleur mentioned earlier in coaching camp. “That is one of many causes we went out and received him is he reveals it. He is that persistently each day.”
Hobbs, who performed his first 4 seasons for the Raiders, missed six video games final season and 16 over the earlier three seasons mixed due to ankle accidents, a hand damage and sickness. The Packers signed Hobbs partially as a result of former cornerback Jaire Alexander couldn’t keep wholesome. Alexander performed in solely seven video games in every of the final two seasons and was released in June when he and the Packers couldn’t conform to a revised contract.
Hobbs, 26, is anticipated to begin as one of many two exterior cornerbacks together with Keisean Nixon. Each Hobbs and Nixon have performed extensively as nickel/inside corners, however the Packers consider each can play on the sting and have been utilizing Javon Bullard as nickelback. With Hobbs out, Carrington Valentine is probably going subsequent up at exterior cornerback.
The Packers additionally introduced again veteran cornerback Corey Ballentine, who performed in 37 video games for Inexperienced Bay from 2022-24, however was not re-signed till Monday.