GREEN BAY, Wis. – Even under the best of circumstances, it would have been a challenge to replace defensive coordinator Joe Barry.

But these aren’t the best of circumstances. Not even close.

The Green Bay Packers, already dealing with the prolonged absences of All-Pro cornerback Jaire Alexander and Pro Bowl outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith, were struck with a triple-whammy. One, Barry tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday. Two, the Packers play on Thursday night at Arizona. Three, as coach Matt LaFleur noted, the Cardinals have “the best offense” in the NFL.

Fortunately for LaFleur, defensive backs coach/passing game coordinator Jerry Gray spent eight years as an NFL defensive coordinator – for the Buffalo Bills from 2001 through 2005 and the Tennessee Titans from 2011 through 2013. So, there will be a steady hand calling the plays.

“It helps a lot,” Gray said of that experience on Wednesday before the team hopped on a plane for Arizona. “I understand the situation of the game. I know how the situations go. I know what most teams are trying to do. And now it’s up to you to get the call to the guy who’s going to be making the call in the huddle. The biggest thing that we can do to help Dre (De’Vondre Campbell) out is to get the call in fast, so now those guys can turn around and see what’s happening and then make the necessary checks to where they can actually go play fast. The worst thing we could do is get the call in late so then, all of a sudden, you see panic, and then it hurts the rest of the defense.”

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