Packers' Nate Hobbs out after right
knee surgery for torn meniscus
[August 06, 2025]
By STEVE MEGARGEE
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay Packers cornerback Nate Hobbs won't
be practicing for a while after undergoing surgery for a torn
meniscus on his right knee over the weekend.
How much time he will miss remains uncertain.
“I’m not going to put a timetable on it, but unfortunately he had to
have something cleaned up,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Tuesday.
“We’re hoping to get him back here sooner than later.”
While talking to reporters after Tuesday's practice, Hobbs was asked
about his confidence level about being ready for the start of the
season. Hobbs expressed his optimism by referring to his faith.
“I’ve been hurt before,” Hobbs said. “I came back before. I played
in big games. I’ve been asked to do things that I didn’t know I
could do till I did them. So, I have full confidence in God, first
and foremost.”
Hobbs said the injury arose from a collision during Thursday's
practice. Hobbs hasn't been practicing since. Hobbs said he
initially didn't consider it anything more than a minor bump but
added that “it turned out to be something deeper than that.”
The Packers signed Hobbs to a four-year, $48 million contract in
March after he spent his first four seasons with the Las Vegas
Raiders. The 26-year-old Hobbs started 38 games, forced three
fumbles and intercepted three passes during his time in Las Vegas.
He made his presence felt early in training camp by displaying such
a physical style that LaFleur had to offer a warning about not
getting overly aggressive as the Packers try to remain as healthy as
possible.
Now Hobbs is the one dealing with an injury.
“I was having a good camp and I was proving to my teammates and
gaining their trust," Hobbs said. “That’s something I take real
serious. Just trying to be the best version of myself out there. And
so, whenever you truly try to do that and something like that
happens, it hurts. But you either take that and use it or take that
as something that’s going to hold you back or look at it like a
lesson. I’m a big spiritual guy, so I felt like God’s trying to talk
to me, tell me something and send me down, honestly.”
Hobbs is expected to help the Packers absorb the loss of two-time
Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander, who got released in June and
has since signed with the Baltimore Ravens. The Packers entered
training camp with Keisean Nixon, Hobbs and Carrington Valentine as
their top three cornerbacks.
The Packers have attempted to increase their cornerback depth by
having wide receiver Bo Melton work primarily on defense in training
camp. They also added a familiar face Monday by signing Corey
Ballentine, three days after the Indianapolis Colts released him.
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Green Bay Packers' Carrington Valentine (24) and Nate Hobbs (21) run
a drill during an NFL football practice Sunday, July 27, 2025, in
Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)
Ballentine, 29, made seven starts and appeared in
37 regular-season games and three playoff games with the Packers
from 2022-24. He contributed primarily on special teams last season.
“I’m looking forward to the opportunity,” Ballentine said. “I had
fun when I was here and I know the guys already. I know the defense,
I’m familiar with it. I was looking forward to the opportunity.”
Ballentine said he didn't have any hard feelings after the Packers
had allowed him to leave for Indianapolis via free agency five
months ago.
“I think traditionally the team has been a younger team in the
league and I’m going on Year 7, so I wasn’t really surprised that
that happened,” Ballentine said. “There wasn’t any type of bad
blood, I feel like. I wasn’t upset about it. So things happen. It’s
business. It’s the league. So, yeah, I wasn’t to stressed about it,
but I’m happy to be back.”
Quay Walker discusses his surgery
Linebacker Quay Walker participated in 11-on-11 drills Tuesday for
the first time in this training camp after undergoing ankle surgery.
The 2022 first-round pick discussed the surgery while speaking to
reporters.
“I came back for OTAs (organized team activities) and tried to do
something and I just knew something ain’t feeling right,” said
Walker, who has led the Packers in tackles each of his three
seasons. “I didn’t want it just to linger on throughout the season,
so I was like, I think the smart idea, probably go in and have
surgery during OTAs and get it out the way.”
NOTES: LaFleur said he has decided on whether he will play starters
in the Packers' preseason opener against the New York Jets, but he
didn't detail those plans in his Tuesday news conference. He has
told his starters to be ready. “Well, they’re football players, so
everybody’s got to go into it expecting to play," LaFleur said. ...
The Packers signed offensive lineman Lecitus Smith and waived wide
receiver Sam Brown because of injury.
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