The Green Bay Packers expected a lot out of cornerback Casey Hayward in his second season.
Hayward led the team with six interceptions as a rookie and looked like a genuine playmaker. Unfortunately, Hayward’s sophomore campaign has been derailed by injuries and ineffectiveness.
Hayward has played in just three games this year. He started off the season sidelined with a hamstring injury. He was injured again last Sunday in the Packers loss to Philadelphia and now coach Mike McCarthy says he’ll be out at least a couple weeks.
Hayward’s line on the year? Not too impressive. Eight tackles, no interceptions, no passes defended.
We won’t go so far to say that Hayward has looked lost when he’s been on the field, but he’s been nowhere near the player he was last season. Most guys show a dramatic improvement in their second season.
Hayward looks like he’s gone backwards.
Whether that has something to do with the injuries or not, we can’t say for sure. He certainly was given plenty of time to heal.
What we do know is Hayward isn’t making any kind of impact for the Packers and it doesn’t look like he’s going to this season.