Packers show their true intentions to survive while a key piece remains sidelined with injury
Devonte Wyatt is week-to-week.
The Green Bay Packers spent a lot of draft capital to acquire edge defender Micah Parsons and offensive lineman Darian Kinnard, so it’s reasonable to think that general manager Brian Gutekunst won’t go out there making big in-season moves.
Yes, the loss of Devonte Wyatt for some unspecified time — head coach Matt LaFleur said he’s week-to-week with a knee injury — is a big blow to the defensive front, but it’s hard to imagine the Packers making a big trade or an expensive free agent signing at this point.
Therefore, Green Bay just wants to study some depth options and move on with what it already has on the roster.
Pro scout’s due diligence
On Monday, the Packers tried out five interior defensive linemen. All of them are lower-level prospects, including two veterans and three rookies.
DT Tommy Akingbesote
Seventh-round pick by the Dallas Cowboys this year, spent some time with the Carolina Panthers as well.
DT Anthony Campbell
Undrafted rookie out of Miami, signed with the Seattle Seahawks after the draft.
NT Keondre Coburn
A nose tackle, Coburn has more experience. A sixth-round pick in 2023, he’s played for the Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos, Tennessee Titans, and Las Vegas Raiders. He played college football at Texas.
DT Fabien Lovett
Lovett went undrafted last year and spent his rookie season on the Chiefs’ practice squad. This year, he was with the New England Patriots.
DT Omari Thomas
Thomas played college football at Tennessee. Undrafted, he played his rookie camp and preseason with the New Orleans Saints.
At least so far, the Packers haven’t signed any of them to the practice squad. Second-year defensive tackle James Ester, undrafted in 2024, is already there.
Without Devonte Wyatt, who did not practice on Monday, the Packers are expected to start Karl Brooks and Colby Wooden at defensive tackle versus the Cincinnati Bengals next Sunday. The depth options behind them are undrafted rookie Nazir Stackhouse, a run-stuffing nose tackle who struggled against the Dallas Cowboys, and sixth-rounder Warren Brinson, who was inactive for gameday through the first month of the season.
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