When the Vikings spent a seventh-round pick on Jayron Kearse — a 6-4 safety not known for his quickness — back in 2016, it's unlikely they envisioned him playing the role he could occupy Sunday: Lining up in the slot at Lambeau Field, trying to match wits with the future Hall of Fame quarterback across from him.
As fate would have it, though, that's precisely what could be next in Kearse's metamorphosis.
He has gone from a raw defensive back to a key contributor who earned a special teams captain role for the 2019 season and has carved out a spot in the Vikings' big nickel package, where Kearse's size functions as an effective countermeasure for teams who might try to run out of three-receiver sets.