One preseason game an NFL career does not make, but cornerback Jumal Rolle has done enough through the first couple weeks of the preseason for us to take note.
He was perched ahead of sixth-round pick Demetri Goodson on the Green Bay Packers first depth chart and then there was his play against Tennessee in the first preseason game. Rolle made two plays — sticking Bishop Sankey for no gain and a strip sack late in the game — that made us say who the hell is No. 20?
Rolle has taken a circuitous route to his present position, much like running back DuJuan Harris and safety Chris Banjo before him. In fact, Banjo is a good comparison. He made the Packers as a tryout player last year because he made too many plays in the preseason to ignore.
So far, Rolle looks like this year’s version of Banjo.
This was a guy that went undrafted out of Catawba College in 2013.
So first things first. Where the fuck is Catawba?
Well, it’s a Division II school in Salisbury, North Carolina. Not exactly a football power, but Rolle was dominant in 2012 with 56 tackles, six interceptions, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. That earned him Division II first-team All America honors.
Rolle was signed as an undrafted free agent prior to the 2013 season by the Bills, who cut him in late August. He was claimed by the Saints on waivers and then cut shortly after that and signed to their practice squad.
Rolle was waived by the Saints again in early October. Shortly thereafter, Big Ted swooped in and signed Rolle to the Packers practice squad. He remained there until getting the call to the varsity squad in late December.
And now?
Well, if Rolle keeps playing like he did on Saturday night, the Packers are going to have to find a spot on the roster for him. Of course, that’s a lot easier said than done because of the logjam at cornerback.
Micah Hyde’s move to safety potentially frees up a roster spot for another cornerback, but that also means the Packers would have to cut Goodson, a guy they just drafted, or Jarrett Bush, a proven veteran.
If No. 20 keeps making plays, he’s going to make a tough decision even harder.