Packers’ Special Teams Take a Hit: Injuries to Anderson and Ballentine Raise Concerns Ahead of Season

Packers’ Special Teams Take a Hit in Preseason Loss to Jets

In the grand scheme of preseason football, most storylines fade away once the regular season kicks in. Coaches rotate rosters, stars barely see the field, and fans are left sifting through a mix of cautious optimism and forgettable stat sheets. But one thing that does matter—something that can genuinely impact the season ahead—is when key players get hurt. Unfortunately for the Green Bay Packers, that’s exactly the concern coming out of Saturday night’s 21-16 preseason loss to the New York Jets.

This wasn’t just about starters; it hit the heart of the Packers’ special teams unit. And if there’s one person who might be more stressed than head coach Matt LaFleur right now, it’s special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia. He may have just lost two core contributors in one night.

Two Core Special Teamers Go Down

The night took an ugly turn when safety Zayne Anderson went down with a knee injury in the first half. He got hurt while making a tackle—a routine play that turned into something far more worrisome when he didn’t get back on the field for the rest of the game.

Then came the second blow. Cornerback Corey Ballentine absorbed a massive hit in the second half while attempting a tackle. By the fourth quarter, he was heading off the field, and early signs suggested it could be a head injury.

Neither situation is the kind of “next man up” scenario a team wants to test in August.

Anderson: The Protector of the Punt Game

Anderson’s importance goes way beyond just filling a depth spot. He logged the second-most special teams snaps (257) for the Packers last season—second only to a handful of true ironmen in the kicking game. If you looked at a Packers special teams snap chart, his fingerprints would be everywhere.

• Punt coverage? He’s there.

• Punt block? Yup.

• Kickoff coverage? Absolutely.

• Kickoff return? He’s lined up and ready.

Perhaps most importantly, Anderson has served as the personal protector for the punter—a role that doesn’t always grab headlines but is absolutely essential to preventing blocked kicks and giving punters the breathing room they need. Losing that kind of stability isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s a potential hazard.

Ballentine: The Veteran Glue Guy

Ballentine’s role is slightly different but no less crucial. He played 195 special teams snaps last season under Bisaccia and has surpassed 100 snaps in each of his last three seasons in Green Bay. The guy’s practically a walking Swiss Army knife for the coverage units.

This offseason, he returned to the Packers after a brief stint with the Indianapolis Colts, who released him earlier this month. In last year’s campaign, he was a core member of:

• Kickoff coverage units

• Punt return squads

• Kickoff return teams

His versatility is exactly why he’s valuable. You don’t just replace a player like that with a single roster move—it usually takes multiple guys to cover the ground he does.

Defensive Roles Were in Play Too

These injuries sting even more when you realize both Anderson and Ballentine weren’t limited to special teams work. They were also very much in the mix for defensive snaps.

• Anderson, with Xavier McKinney sidelined due to a calf injury, stepped into the starting safety role alongside Evan Williams in Saturday night’s nickel defense.

• Ballentine was in the running for the No. 4 or No. 5 cornerback spot—roles that require both experience and the ability to contribute on special teams.

In short, these weren’t just fringe players fighting for a last-minute roster spot—they were guys who could’ve been on the field in key situations this season.

LaFleur’s Limited Update

When head coach Matt LaFleur addressed the media after the game, he confirmed Anderson’s knee injury but didn’t share much more. As for Ballentine, no official diagnosis came right away, but all signs point toward a possible head injury, which automatically brings concussion protocols into the picture.

With preseason injuries, teams often keep details close to the vest until they have full evaluations. Still, the immediate concern is obvious—if either player is out long term, it’s a huge hit to both special teams and defensive depth.

Why Special Teams Depth Matters More Than You Think

Special teams might not have the flashy highlight reels of a 70-yard touchdown pass or a one-handed end-zone grab, but they can—and often do—decide games. Field position battles, blocked punts, kick return coverage—it’s the kind of hidden yardage that doesn’t always make SportsCenter, but it’s the difference between winning and losing in the NFL.

That’s why Bisaccia’s unit has been such a focal point for the Packers in recent years. Ever since the disaster that was their 2021 playoff exit (yes, that blocked punt game), Green Bay has poured more attention and resources into shoring up their kicking game. Losing experienced players this late in the offseason means the team has to scramble to find replacements, either internally or from late cuts around the league.

The Ripple Effect on the Roster

Here’s where things get complicated:

1. Replacing Anderson’s protector role isn’t as simple as grabbing the next safety on the depth chart. That position requires awareness, blocking ability, and instant communication with the punter.

2. Filling Ballentine’s coverage and return team spots could mean overworking other players, which risks injuries elsewhere.

3. Defensive rotations get thrown off if Anderson or Ballentine can’t go in Week 1, forcing rookies or untested backups into bigger roles sooner than planned.

These kinds of injuries force general managers and coaches to make tough decisions, sometimes cutting promising offensive or defensive players just to keep special teams afloat.

The Clock is Ticking

The Packers don’t have much time to figure this out. Preseason is short, and while the final score against the Jets doesn’t mean much, the health report coming out of the game could have lasting implications. Every day Anderson and Ballentine are sidelined is a day where someone else is learning those special teams assignments—and in the NFL, even one missed block or blown coverage lane can be costly.

Bottom Line

Green Bay’s loss to the Jets may not show up in the standings, but it could echo into September if these injuries linger. Anderson and Ballentine are the kind of guys who make a special teams unit hum—rarely in the spotlight, but vital to success. Losing one would hurt. Losing both could be a real problem.

For now, all the Packers can do is wait on the medical reports, adjust their practice reps, and hope that Saturday night was more of a scare than a setback. But one thing’s for sure—Rich Bisaccia’s job just got a lot tougher.

Quick Takeaways:

• Zayne Anderson: Knee injury; second-most special teams snaps in 2023; key punt protector.

• Corey Ballentine: Possible head injury; versatile coverage/return unit contributor.

• Both were active in defensive rotations.

• Losing them could impact both special teams stability and defensive depth