Packers suddenly face uncomfortable reality at position they thought was a strength, and the solutions are far from simple
With Javon Hargrave lost for the season and Warren Brinson on injured reserve, Green Bay’s defensive tackle room is thin heading into Sunday night against Dallas.
The Green Bay Packers entered the season believing defensive tackle would be one of the deepest spots on the roster. Instead, injuries have decimated that group early in the year, and the front office may have to address it this week ahead of Sunday night’s game against the Dallas Cowboys.
Warren Brinson is on injured reserve with a groin injury, and Javon Hargrave is out for the season with a ruptured Achilles. Hargrave was still listed on the injury report as a non-participant on Wednesday because he remains on the 53-man roster, but he’ll soon be placed on injured reserve. The bigger problem is what comes after those two losses: several other defensive tackles are on the injury report as well.
Injury report paints a thin picture
Jonathan Ford did not participate in practice on Wednesday because of a calf injury. Anthony Campbell (ankle) and Devonte Wyatt (ankle) were limited. Of the six defensive tackles on the 53-man roster, the only full participants were Karl Brooks and third-round rookie Chris McClellan.
The good news is that Jordon Riley was also limited, and that’s because he’s returning from the physically unable to perform list after suffering a ruptured Achilles late last year. The opened practice window doesn’t mean he’ll be ready to face the Cowboys, though. Still, he should be back on the field relatively soon.
Wyatt was also limited last week and ended up playing, which means he has a good shot at being available against Dallas. Campbell has missed the past few games with his ankle injury, but there’s also a chance he could return relatively soon as he was listed as questionable to face the Chicago Bears last weekend.
If the Packers have Wyatt, Brooks, McClellan, and potentially Campbell, that four-man rotation would be thin. For one game, nonetheless, it’s probably enough.
Green Bay also has an internal emergency option. David Blay Jr., an undrafted rookie, signed to the practice squad on Sept. 30. He had already spent time with the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles before landing in Green Bay. If necessary, the Packers could elevate him for gameday.
Few outside answers available
Adding external pieces is complicated too at this point. There aren’t many options who could contribute right away.
The two defensive tackles the Packers moved on from after training camp are already with new teams. The Tennessee Titans claimed Nazir Stackhouse off waivers. Jaden Crumedy returned to Green Bay’s practice squad but ended up signing with the Houston Texans’ active roster.
Green Bay recently hosted Isaiah Iton for a visit. Iton is an undrafted defensive tackle who spent time with the Titans and played for the Patriots last season, so he’s a potential option.
Earlier this year, the Packers also tried out defensive tackle Zxavian Harris. The rookie attempted to return to college, and the NFL initially ruled him ineligible to play this season because of that. After he reestablished his situation, he’s now available to sign. The undrafted defender spent training camp and the preseason with the New Orleans Saints.
Familiarity with Gannon’s system
Green Bay could also find some options on other teams’ practice squads. Players with a connection to the current coaching staff would make sense, since they already know the terminology of defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon’s scheme.
One of them is Cam Horsley, a Boston College product who went undrafted last year and spent time with the Titans before joining the Arizona Cardinals. Horsley never worked for Gannon, but he’s playing under Cardinals defensive coordinator Nick Rallis, who ran the defense when Gannon was Arizona’s head coach over the past three years. That shared terminology could give Horsley a quicker ramp-up period.
The other is PJ Mustipher, who is on the New York Giants’ practice squad after spending two seasons under Gannon in Arizona. He knows the basics of the system too.
There’s a catch, though. Signing either player away from another practice squad requires putting him on the active 53-man roster and keeping him there for at least three weeks. That creates a roster challenge Green Bay may not want to take on right now.
In free agency, the most realistic option with relevant experience in the system is Bilal Nichols. The 30-year-old spent the past two seasons with the Cardinals under Gannon after previous stops with the Chicago Bears and Las Vegas Raiders. His role was limited, though. Last year, he played only 60 defensive snaps, generated no pressure, and recorded just one stop. Realistically, he’d be a practice squad signing and an emergency elevation candidate.
For the most part, the Packers will probably stick with the players they have and see who is ready on Sunday. The ideal scenario is that at least one of Campbell or Ford can play, giving Green Bay four healthy defensive tackles against the Cowboys. Anything less would leave a position once considered a strength stretched dangerously thin.
