Former Green Bay Packers cornerback Kevin King wasted no time in making a splash for his modern team. In his preseason debut with the Atlanta Falcons, King — a second-round pick by the Packers in 2017 — intercepted Miami Dolphins quarterback Skylar Thompson with just over five minutes remaining in the first quarter.
King ran 29 yards to set up a touchdown for the Falcons.
The Packers did not re-sign King after the 2021 season. Due to his decision to sit out the 2022 season and then a season-ending injury in 2023, Friday’s preseason game against the Falcons was King’s first NFL appearance since playing eight defensive snaps in the Packers’ 13-10 playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Jan. 22, 2022.
Here are King’s choices in his triumphant return:
Kevin King with theft @AtlantaFalcons!
📱: Stream #ATLvsMIA ON #NFLPlus photo:twitter.com/M2dlQbz8Mu
— NFL (@NFL) August 9, 2024
King had the only interception of the game as the Dolphins rallied from a 10-3 deficit to beat the Falcons 20-17.
The Falcons have listed King as the top backup cornerback behind starter AJ Terrell on their unofficial depth chart, suggesting he has a good chance of making the 53-man roster for the AFC South contenders.
King, now 29, intercepted seven passes in 51 games for the Packers from 2017-2021. He was selected 33rd overall in the 2017 draft.
After injuries ravaged his first five NFL seasons with the Packers, King decided to take a year off football to recover physically. He had hoped to return in 2023, but suffered a torn Achilles tendon in May during practice. The Falcons signed King on April 8, 2024.
The Packers are not scheduled to play the Falcons in the 2024 regular season.