Green Bay Packers cornerback Eric Stokes said going to UW-Madison helped him understand why a 2022 foot injury was responsible for the recurring hamstring injuries that ruined his 2023 season.
To combat this, Stokes said he is doing calf and hamstring strengthening exercises to protect his lower body from injury in 2024. The result? A fully vigorous offseason and the potential for even more speed this season.
“I feel like I’m faster than I was before,” Stokes said Wednesday. “I feel great. I had a great offseason… this is the best I’ve felt since I went undrafted.”
Stokes, a first-round draft pick in 2021, suffered a earnest foot injury in November 2022 and missed the rest of the season. He required surgery and wore walking boots for many months. After the trip to Madison, Stokes learned that a lack of strength in the supporting areas of the leg – specifically the calf and hamstring – directly contributed to numerous lower body injuries in 2023.
“My foot wasn’t as strong as it should have been, so it put pressure on my hamstring and calf,” Stokes said. “We trained difficult… we attacked my legs. Day by day. Now I’m back and I feel even better.”
Stokes suffered multiple hamstring injuries and only played in three games in 2023. Currently, he does strength training tailored to specific muscles to reduce pressure on his foot.
Healthy and gaining confidence after two seasons of adversity, Stokes is having fun and is brimming with personality again.
“I haven’t had this much fun since my rookie year,” Stokes said.
Coach Matt LaFleur can see it on the field during his offseason training program.
“I think he’s as good as I’ve ever seen him. Both mentally and on the field,” LaFleur said. “He looks completely healthy. It does a great job of challenging our audience. He’s always on a roll and I think you can see his personality coming back… he’s had a chance to really develop his body and he looks in great shape. Art says the same thing.”
Here’s more from Stokes below:
