Q&A with Innis Gaines

After suffering season-ending ACL injuries at TCU in 2018 and 2019, Innis Gaines went undrafted and unsigned in 2020. Because of the injury, his only NFL opportunity was a late-season tryout with the Packers, who signed him to a futures deal after the 2020 season.

After spending the 2021 season on the practice squad, Gaines might have made the roster this year if not for a hamstring injury that led to his release with an injury settlement.

The Packers signed him to the practice squad on Oct. 18 and promoted him to the 53-man roster on Nov. 29.

Q: What was that moment like when you got the call that you were being promoted?

A: It was a long time coming. I saw the Lambeau number calling me and I was like, ‘Yep, it feels like it’s about that time.’ I felt like I had a good game, felt like I’ve been doing hard work on the practice team, giving my best effort. Had two good training camps — had unfortunate injuries at the end of them. So, I felt like it was about time.

Q: You were a safety in 2021 and spent a lot of this summer in the slot. Did you feel good about your chances until the injury?

A: Yeah, I felt really good in training camp. I was doing good on special teams and getting a lot of good reps in the slot and at safety to show my versatility. So, I felt good about my chances until I had an unfortunate injury that set me back.

Q: Who was the first person you told?

A: The first person I told was my girlfriend. I called her instantly and let her know the good news.

Q: Thinking back to our Zoom call with you last year, your story is pretty incredible. What has this journey been like?

A: DoorDash …

Q: Exactly. You delivered food for DoorDash while rehabbing the knee and now you’re on an NFL roster. That’s a heck of a story.

A: Man, it’s crazy. I tell the story to people and they don’t believe it. It’s hard for me to believe sometimes, knowing the ACL tears back-to-back in college, had to sit out a year, didn’t get a workout until almost the end of the year with the Packers.

That turned out to be the best workout of my life. Saved my career. It’s been a hard journey. I had to keep persevering through the lows and highs to prove that I really belonged here.

Q: What did you do after the Packers released you in August?

A: I rehabbed here at Bellin. The Packers helped me rehab here with the doctors here. I stayed and watched some Packers football until it was time for me to get my call back. Week seven was the time period of my injury settlement. They said they’d take me back if I was still available and they kept their word.

Q: So, never a doubt that you’d be back?

A: Oh, yeah. For sure. I felt like I left a good mark in training camp to where they had high hopes for me. I felt like this was my best bet. If any team wanted me, the Packers were my best bet.

Q: Have you ever ordered from DoorDash?

A: Plenty of times. I leave great tips now for the times I didn’t get any tips.

Q: So, what’s a good tip for rookies like me?

A: They give you a set marker, like a $3 tip automatically. I usually raise it two or three bucks. Whatever they tell you to do, I raise it a couple more bucks because I know how hard they work. Whatever it says, I do a little more. I don’t do $20 every time; I’m not rich yet.

Q: While you’ve been playing only on special teams, coach Matt LaFleur mentioned your potential on defense. What does that mean to you?

A: I’m glad he said that about me. I worked my ass off to prove that I can play defense, too. It’s hard being an undrafted guy. You’ve got to earn the trust of everybody. I proved to myself over the past year-and-a-half that I can play slot, I can play safety.

I have a high football IQ. I can see the whole field. That helps to show the coaches that I can do everything. So, that makes me feel wonderful.

Q: When I asked him, I called you Innis. He looked at me like I had a third eye.

A: Nobody calls me Innis.

Q: Where did ‘Thump’ come from?

A: It originated my junior year of high school. My mentor/coach, Patrick Fischer, he gave me that name. He said, ‘You need something that’s going to catch on with the media, catch on to people, because it’s time to get offers.’ It originated with Thump-Thump but it shaved down to Thump as guys started saying it more and more.

Q: It suits you.

A: Oh, definitely. Obviously, on-the-field actions gave me that name. A lot of hard hitting.

AT A GLANCE

Number: 38

Age: 24

Season: First

Position: Safety

College: TCU