Packers make the desperate move they needed to add another veteran to the offensive line
Green Bay signed guard Laken Tomlinson off the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad to their active 53-man roster.
The Green Bay Packers made a necessary move along the offensive line, signing veteran guard Laken Tomlinson off the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad. The signing, reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo, addresses a position of massive need for Green Bay after the offensive line struggled through the first three weeks of the regular season.
Tomlinson isn’t a transformative addition, but the Packers are adding a veteran with extensive experience at a position that has been a glaring weakness. The guard spot has been a problem for Green Bay, with rookie Jager Burton, Donovan Jennings, and Jacob Monk all allowing significant pressure on quarterback Jordan Love. Burton alone allowed 10 pressures against the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday, and the interior protection has been unreliable across the board.
A well-traveled veteran who knows the system
Tomlinson was a first-round pick in 2015 by the Detroit Lions and has played for the Lions, San Francisco 49ers, New York Jets, Seattle Seahawks, Houston Texans, and spent the past two years on the practice squads of the Baltimore Ravens and Cowboys. He earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2021, and while he hasn’t been at that level in recent seasons, he remains a viable offensive lineman.
His last full-time starting season came in 2024 with Seattle, when he played 1,094 offensive snaps and allowed 38 pressures. Last year with the Texans, he played 284 snaps and allowed 11 pressures. The vast majority of his career has been spent at left guard, where he has logged 10,467 snaps compared to just 65 at right guard.
The critical detail here is that Tomlinson knows the system. He played under Kyle Shanahan with the 49ers and also played for Mike LaFleur, Matt’s brother, with the New York Jets. That familiarity with the Shanahan offensive scheme and its terminology means he could contribute right away for Green Bay.
Immediate roster implications
At 34 years old, Tomlinson isn’t a long-term solution. But the Packers badly needed a veteran guard who could step in and provide competent play as soon as possible. Tomlinson was signed directly to the active roster, making him part of the 53-man roster immediately.
The expectation is that the Packers will place Zach Bako-Bewele on the injured reserve to open the roster spot for Tomlinson. Last week, Green Bay also signed veteran Cordell Volson, who is currently on the practice squad.
