Just a few short hours after news broke that the Green Bay Packers will be losing one key special teams player in free agency, another has signed elsewhere. Hot on the heels of the news of linebacker Eric Wilson signing with the Minnesota Vikings, cornerback Corey Ballentine is reportedly agreeing to a deal to join the Indianapolis Colts.
The Colts formally announced Ballentine’s signing.
After being a sixth-round draft pick by the New York Giants in 2019 and bouncing around to four different teams during the 2021 and early 2022 seasons, Ballentine signed to the Packers’ practice squad midway through 2022 and has been a member of the roster ever since. He quickly earned a promotion to the active roster and played in 8 games that season, playing significant special teams snaps but only getting a few defensive reps during that campaign.
However, Ballentine played a key depth role in the cornerback group the next two seasons, particularly in 2023. That year saw him start six games and play nearly 500 defensive snaps as the Packers dealt with injuries to both starting outside cornerbacks, Jaire Alexander and Eric Stokes. He recorded one interception and seven pass breakups while starting crucial games in the teams’ midseason resurgence, including in wins over the Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs.
However, Ballentine played sparingly again in 2024, despite Alexander’s ongoing injury issues. He only tallied 76 defensive snaps, exceeding five snaps in just two games — one batch coming in a spot start early in the year against the Minnesota Vikings and the other in the second half of a blowout win over the New Orleans Saints. A slightly-built corner, it appeared that he was not a great fit for Jeff Hafley’s defense and although he continued to contribute heavily on special teams (playing more than 50% of snaps), the Packers seemingly made little effort to re-sign him.
Ballentine will turn 29 next month and should have a chance to resume his depth and special teams role in Indianapolis.
