Packers are impressed with new offensive weapon they've just added, and there's good reason for it
The Green Bay Packers were monitoring the running back situation in Miami. And that's because they had a specific target in mind: Chris Brooks Jr., a former undrafted player who had an efficient, yet limited rookie season with the Dolphins in 2023. The Dolphins have a crowded running back room. Roster locks among pieces kept […]
The Green Bay Packers were monitoring the running back situation in Miami. And that's because they had a specific target in mind: Chris Brooks Jr., a former undrafted player who had an efficient, yet limited rookie season with the Dolphins in 2023.
The Dolphins have a crowded running back room. Roster locks among pieces kept from last year were Raheem Mostert and De'Von Achane. They had drafted Jaylen Wright in the fourth round. So the last 53-man roster spot came down to Brooks or veteran Jeff Wilson. General manager Chris Grier and head coach Mike McDaniel went through the veteran route, cutting Brooks, and he went unclaimed on waivers.
That went exactly how the Packers wanted. So one day after being waived by the Dolphins, Chris Brooks signed with Green Bay's practice squad. Two weeks later, he's already a member of the active roster. And the coaching staff thinks he can immediately impact the offense.
"I've been super impressed with him," Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said on Wednesday. "Just looking back at his tape from a year ago. There's a lot of carryover, just with some of the terminology that he learned in Miami with Mike McDaniel and what we do here. So there's some similarities. I think it helped him pick it up a little bit faster as well."
The Packers have handled some injuries at running back, and an ankle issue for rookie MarShawn Lloyd prompted a bigger opportunity for Brooks.
How he plays
Chris Brooks is viewed as a one-cut runner, a perfect fit for the style of offense Mike McDaniel and Matt LaFleur run. When he runs, he shows power and an ability to create yards over what the offensive line gives him.
"Powerful running with surprising speed," explained Craig Smith, who covers the Miami Dolphins for A to Z Sports. "Go check out the run he had in preseason against Washington, for 59 yards. I really thought he had a good chance to get the running back four spot over Jeff Wilson Jr."
This is the run Craig talked about. It's a similar run concept to what the Packers usually uses with LaFleur, and Brooks utilizes his speed to take advantage of the hole.
Last season, the Dolphins already had Mostert, Achane, and Wilson, so it was hard for an undrafted rookie to carve an offensive role. He ended up with only 15 attempts throughout the season, but was effective. Brooks finished the year with 94 rushing yards, an impressive average of 6.3 yards per carry.
For the Packers, there are only two running backs ahead of him now, Josh Jacobs and Emanuel Wilson, since Brooks has already surpassed Ellis Merriweather. LaFleur believes his style of play and his contributions to special teams can help him — and the team — right away.
"He's a very serious guy about the ball, and I love his running style," LaFleur added. "He's got great body control, he can stick his foot on the ground, one of those one-cut runners. He's really intelligent, he's picked up our protections, no problem. I'm excited about him. And he brings value in the third phase of the ball, on we-fense."
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