The Green Bay Packers inflict their first defeat on the previously unbeaten Arizona Cardinals. In the process, former Cardinal Rasul Douglas stands out, becomes the match winner.

Munich/Glendale – The word “of all things” is often used in sports reporting and might have been used a lot last night.

In the Green Bay Packers’ 24-21 victory over the previously undefeated Arizona Cardinals, a relatively unknown Packers player became the match-winner. His name: Rasul Douglas.

The cornerback signed with the Wisconsin team only 22 days ago and secured the Packers’ victory with his interception against Kyler Murray in the closing seconds.

What makes this so special is that Douglas was still on the Cardinals’ practice squad at the beginning of the month. “He (Kyler Murray; editor’s note) threw at my player and I just made a play,” Douglas was reticent after his game-changing moment.

Aaron Rodgers has special words for Douglas

Cards coach Kliff Kingsbury attributed the interception to miscommunication between Murray and Green, but also credited Douglas with “a good play.”

The praise from Packers superstar Aaron Rodgers was much more effusive. “The kid who made the pick was with the Cardinals for four weeks. He was on the road, we brought him back and he’s starting for us. He’s a great guy,” Rodgers said in the post-game interview, adding, “To come up with a play like that with 15 seconds left is unbelievable.”

For the 26-year-old, who is playing his fifth year in the NFL, it was his first interception scored since 2018, when Douglas was still playing for the Philadelphia Eagles. He was released there before last season. He then landed with the Carolina Panthers before beginning a true odyssey.

Douglas has been on an odyssey

This past offseason, Douglas initially signed with the Las Vegas Raiders before being released in August. The cornerback then spent a week on the Houston Texans squad.

He finally signed with the Cardinals’ practice squad in September to be anywhere near the NFL. “You feel like you’re working for nothing,” he said after his big performance, describing his time on the Practice Squad.

But on October 7, things turned around for Douglas when he landed on the Packers’ practice squad. 22 days later, he experienced the temporary highlight of his NFL career so far. “It was probably the first time I won a game like that, so it was an unbelievable feeling,” he recounted after his magical moment.

Now, at the latest, it is impossible to imagine the NFL without the name Rasul Douglas.