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Packers safety named NFLPA Community MVP for Week 3

The Most Important Packers: No. 28 — Javon Bullard

The buzz of clippers blended with teenage laughter in the rec room of a Green Bay community center. On folding chairs, local barbers carefully shaped fresh cuts; across the room, the foosball table and mini–throwing games were always packed. At the heart of that warmth stood Javon Bullard, the Green Bay Packers safety who had just been named the NFLPA’s Community MVP for Week 3 after his foundation hosted a season-kickoff night for 90 teenagers experiencing homelessness in the area.

Bullard arrived early, checked each hot-food station, straightened a crooked “free haircuts” sign, then made the rounds shaking hands. “A clean haircut and a good dinner might seem small to us,” he said in brief remarks, “but they’re a starting point for these kids to enter the school year with confidence.” The program had three clear parts: a hearty dinner, an interactive game zone that brought people together, and a free-haircut corner staffed by volunteer barbers. Each teen headed home with a set of school supplies, a voucher for essentials, and—most important—a sense of dignity.

What set the night apart was the atmosphere of respect: everyone was called by name, chose their haircut, and was invited into games rather than lining up for handouts. The coordination team quietly noted special needs to continue support after the event—mentorship appointments, leads on small scholarships, introductions to career-shadowing. “We want them to leave not just with a goodie bag, but with a plan for next week,” a foundation representative said.

The NFLPA’s weekly Community MVP nod highlights initiatives with tangible, immediate impact. In Week 3, Bullard’s project stood out for a simple yet durable formula: meeting immediate needs (hot meals, personal care) while opening a longer path (mentorship connections, soft-skills training, internship opportunities). Local small businesses and barbershops signed on as ongoing partners, turning a one-night event into a long-term support network.

As the evening wound down, Bullard stood by the exit, tapping fists with each teen and reminding them about next month’s mentorship session. It wasn’t a goodbye; it was a promise to return. The Week 3 Community MVP honor, then, reaches beyond the stadium lights: it reveals a safety in everyday life—a person willing to stand between hardship and hope so young dreams have a little more time to grow in Green Bay’s green and gold.

Raiders Reunite with a Former Starter to Fortify the Offensive Line
Las Vegas, NV   The Las Vegas Raiders have brought back a familiar face in a move that screams both urgency and savvy: versatile offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor is returning to the Silver & Black on a one-year deal (terms not disclosed), reuniting with the franchise where he logged some of the best football of his career and immediately fortifying a position group that has been stretched thin. Eluemunor, 31, started for the Raiders from 2021–2023, showing rare position flexibility across right tackle and guard while anchoring pass protection against premier edge rushers. His technique, anchor, and ability to handle long-arm power made him a steadying force during multiple playoff pushes. After departing Vegas, Eluemunor spent time elsewhere refining his craft, but a confluence of roster needs and scheme familiarity has set the stage for a timely homecoming. For the Raiders—fighting to keep pace in a rugged AFC—this is about stability and fit. Injuries and week-to-week availability on the right side of the line have forced constant shuffling; protection packages have leaned heavily on chips and condensed splits to survive obvious passing downs. Eluemunor’s return allows the staff to plug him at RT or slide him inside at RG, restoring balance to protections and widening the run-game menu (duo, inside zone, and the toss/ pin-pull that Vegas fans love when the edge is sealed). “Jermaine knows who we are and how we want to play,” a team source said. “He brings ballast. Assignment sound, physical, and smart—he raises the floor for the entire unit.” Beyond the X’s and O’s, there’s an unmistakable emotional charge to this reunion. Eluemunor was a locker-room favorite in his previous stint—professional, detail-driven, and accountable. The belief internally is that his presence stabilizes communication on the right side (IDs, slides, and pass-off rules vs. games and simulated pressures), which in turn unlocks more vertical concepts and keeps the quarterback cleaner late in games. On social media, Raider Nation lit up the timeline with a simple refrain: “Welcome back, Jem.” Many fans called the deal the exact kind of “rival-poach, ready-to-play” move a contender makes in October: low friction, high impact, zero learning curve. What it means on the field (immediately): Pass pro: Fewer emergency chips, more five-out releases—OC can re-open deeper intermediate shots without living in max-protect. Run game: Better edge control on toss/duo; more confidence running to the right on money downs. Depth & versatility: One injury doesn’t force a cascade of position changes; Eluemunor can cover two spots with starting-level competency. The timetable? Swift. Because Eluemunor already speaks the language—terminology, splits, cadence rules—he could suit up as early as this weekend if the medicals/check-ins continue to trend positive. The message is clear: the Raiders aren’t waiting around for the line to gel—they’re engineering it. If Jermaine Eluemunor plays to his Raider résumé, this reunion could be the precise mid-season jolt that steadies the offense and keeps the Silver & Black firmly in the postseason race. Raider Nation, the question writes itself: Plug-and-play stopgap—or the catalyst that reclaims the right side