Packers’ Undrafted Streak Reaches 19 Years

“Our philosophy is that I don’t really care what’s happened in the past. You come here, you have a clean slate, and you can write your own story. Those guys have embraced that and they’ve done a really nice job for us, and that’s the expectation moving forward.”

Whether it was catching the football or blocking, Heath was superb throughout training camp. With Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks out with hamstring injuries, he started ahead of a pair of seventh-round picks, Samori Toure and Grant DuBose, against Seattle.

“I think I put some great film out there, blocking, pass-catching, tough catches,” Heath said after the game. “I think I did good. I think I did my job. I’m just waiting.”

Heath and Cox are on minimum-salary contracts of $750,000. A practice squad player gets $12,000 per week, for an 18-week total of $216,000.

“It’s the 53. It’s different from being on p-squad. The check’s different. You’re trying to get money,” Heath said.

Cox was a five-star recruit coming out of high school. He was dismissed from Georgia following his freshman year and dismissed from Florida last season.

“I’ve grown, I’ve matured a lot,” Cox said of his message to teams before the draft. “If you want to take a chance on me, I understand; if you don’t, I understand, as well. Just give me a shot, give me a way to put my foot back in the door.”

Cox got his foot in the door, then continued to push his way through. He put an exclamation mark on a strong preseason against Seattle by delivering quality snaps against the run and as a pass rusher. His physical style suits Green Bay’s preference.

Even before Saturday’s game, Cox admitted to being nervous about what was ahead. Having squandered opportunities in college, he didn’t want to let this one slip through his fingers.

“It would mean everything,” he said. “Definitely make my mom, my dad, everybody proud of me, especially myself. I just appreciate the coaches that have faith in me to get here.”