Looking back, Hyde is grateful for the grilling. Now in his fourth NFL season, the utility player of the Packers' secondary views that first season as a necessary trial by fire in his development.

As more was expected of him, Hyde began to draw more from those early experiences, particularly when he began learning the safety position from Darren Perry in 2014.

Over the years, Hyde's versatility has allowed the Packers to deploy him everywhere on defense, embodying the flexibility Green Bay wants from all its defensive backs.

"He's rare. He's very smart," Whitt said. "With his knowledge of the defense and the skill set to go along with that, that makes him a hybrid-type player who really helps the defense, and a guy who as much as possible we have to have on the field because in my opinion, he's one of our 11 best players. He needs to be out there because when he's out there he's a contributing factor."

Head Coach Mike McCarthy acknowledges that Hyde's broad job description occasionally has worked against him since he hasn't been able to focus on one set position.



That's why Hyde's taken a majority of his reps on the back end this year rather than taking snaps in the slot of the nickel and dime defense like in previous years.

Safety has allowed Hyde to gain a greater perspective of the entire defense. Whereas cornerbacks are typically locked into one side of the field, safeties need to understand every defender's assignment at any given time.

The strides he's made at the position were evident in Friday night's preseason opener against Cleveland when he made an unexpected spot start in place of an injured Morgan Burnett.

Despite the short notice, Hyde made the defensive play of the game to end the Browns' first offensive series, intercepting a pass intended for tight end Gary Barnidge in the end zone.