GREEN BAY – B.J. Raji didn’t want to get too excited about it. Still, the praise sent his way from head coach Mike McCarthy meant a lot to Raji.
McCarthy described Raji’s performance Week 2 against Seattle as "his best game as a Packer." There’s been 87 games in Raji’s career, and McCarthy has been there for all of them.
It didn’t take long for those words from McCarthy to make their way to Raji.
"I’ve known (McCarthy) for seven years, and he’s not one to just say things like that," Raji said. "I took it as a badge of honor from that respect, because I respect what he says. But going forward, I have to continue that or those words don’t mean much."
It’s been a great start to the season for Raji. His statistics don’t necessarily jump off the page (they rarely do for NFL defensive linemen), but Raji is tied for the team lead with two tackles for loss. He also has six tackles and a shared sack.
Raji’s work is also being noticed by ProFootballFocus, as he’s the top-rated Packers defensive player through two games. ProFootballFocus hasn’t always been kind to Raji, either. They rated him as a minus-24.9 in 2013, a minus-2.3 in 2012 and a minus-28.0 in 2011. After 90 snaps this season, Raji is at plus-4.5.
"I’m a big believer in pushing forward," Raji said. "I’m not really one to look back. My knowledge has increased, so I think if I put the preparation in, hopefully my performance will increase. That’s my goal.
"The past was the past."
Last season, Raji didn’t even have a chance to step on the field in the regular season. He tore his right biceps during training camp and was placed on season-ending injured reserve.
That injury played a significant factor into Raji only receiving a one-year, $1.75 million contract with $500,000 guaranteed this past offseason.
Clay Matthews joined the Packers about one hour after Raji did. Raji was the No. 9 overall pick by Green Bay in 2009. Later in the first round, the Packers traded up to select Matthews at No. 26.
Matthews has seen the ups and downs from Raji, and in recent seasons there have been far more of the latter.
"It’s good to see on an individual level, obviously with him coming off a year being on IR and a year in which he, I think he’ll admit it – he didn’t perform to his expectations," Matthews said. "For him to come out there and start the season off strong and get back to where he was, especially at his natural position, I think it speaks volumes to what he is capable of.
"At the same time, on a defensive level, it just makes the job that much easier for guys on the second level. If once in a blue moon he doesn’t fit his gap, then I fit off him. For the most part, I know where he’s going to be playing, and we play fast. We have good continuity playing together."
Matthews added that Raji did "an outstanding job" in the Seahawks game.
"And that’s what we expect, especially now getting back to that nose position where he’s got great leverage and great lateral movement," Matthews said.
McCarthy didn’t just say kind words about Raji’s performance. He also gave the 330-pound nose tackle a game ball.
"It’s probably going to go in the collection with a lot of my other achievements," Raji said. "Things like that, you appreciate those 10-15 years down the road. You’re not at home, sitting there like, ‘Yeah!’ It’s one of those things that my family and my buddies appreciate right now more than I do. Later down the line, it will mean a lot more."
Green Bay is going to get Letroy Guion back from suspension after Week 3, and in certain circumstances, that could mean Raji having to split snaps in the middle of the defensive line. But with Raji making the most of his 90 snaps thus far, it’s difficult to imagine defensive coordinator Dom Capers changing too much.
"My mission is, if one guy is on you, you have to beat that man," Raji said. "You have to play both gaps. That’s what I tried to do. Sometimes I get two bodies on me, then it’s a little bit more difficult. Our belief is if we have one blocker on us, we should make a play."
Raji has been making all of those plays so far in 2015.
