Packers roster move hints at the first step in a long process to replace Micah Parsons
Green Bay activated edge defender Brenton Cox Jr. from the injured reserve.
The Green Bay Packers need as much edge help as possible after losing Micah Parsons for the season with an ACL injury. On Friday, the team gave the first step in that direction, activating Brenton Cox Jr. from injured reserve, an obvious indication that he will play against the Chicago Bears on Saturday night.
Brenton Cox can be a useful part of the rotation
While Cox can’t replicate Parsons’ production, he is a valuable piece to give the Packers more edge depth behind Rashan Gary, Lukas Van Ness, and Kingsley Enagbare — possibly, ahead of rookie Barryn Sorrell.
Last year, Cox generated 17 pressures in only 97 pass-rush snaps, comfortably the most efficient pass rusher on the team.
Moreover, Cox is physically more similar to Parsons than the rest of the group. While the Packers tend to prefer heavier defensive ends (270 pounds at least) with the ability to implode the pocket or set the edge, both Parsons and Cox are 250-pound players.
Brenton Cox suffered a serious groin injury against the Detroit Lions back in Week 1 and missed 13 games as a consequence.
The Packers opened his 21-day practice window back on Dec. 1, and he was able to practice at full capacity throughout this week. With Parsons’ injury, there was also an obvious need to add pieces to that room, so Cox was activated to the 53-man roster.
An undrafted player in 2023, Brenton Cox is on the final season of his three-year undrafted rookie contract and will be slated to become a restricted free agent next offseason.
Roster moves
The Packers did not even announce the activation of running back MarShawn Lloyd earlier this week, and now he’s back on the injured reserve. It was basically a procedural move to keep the door open for a potential return in the playoffs. Micah Parsons had already been placed on injured reserve.
Because it’s a Saturday night game, the Packers can still make more roster moves on Saturday — elevations and promotions from the practice squad to the 53-man roster, for example. Injuries will be a big part of that, as the Packers listed 10 players as questionable for the Bears game.
Now, of those 10, rookie Collin Oliver has already been ruled out and will stay on the physically unable to perform list, and Cox should play. The other eight are running backs Josh Jacobs (knee) and Chris Brooks (chest), edge defender Kingsley Enagbare (illness), tackles Zach Tom (back/knee) and Darian Kinnard (neck), wide receivers Christian Watson (chest/shoulder) and Dontayvion Wicks (ankle), plus safety Evan Williams (knee).
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