Green Bay Packers: 4 potential replacements at Inside Linebacker
Green Bay Packers inside linebacker Oren Burks suffered a torn pectoral muscle in their first preseason game. Here are four potential replacements.
The Green Bay Packers‘ first major injury of the 2018 season was inside linebacker Jake Ryan who was lost for the season. The first major injury this year is inside linebacker Oren Burks. It’s unclear how much time Burks will miss, but the injury could easily be season-ending for the second-year player. If he’s set to miss significant time, the Packers could look to find his replacement in their starting base defense.
Green Bay is already incredibly thin at inside linebacker with Blake Martinez being the only established player. Burks, a third-round pick last year, was penciled in as the other starter, but that will be called into question now due to the injury. Here’s what the Packers depth chart at the position looks like without Burks:
- Blake Martinez
- Ty Summers
- James Crawford
- Curtis Bolton
Green Bay could choose to bring in someone externally given their recent opening on the roster following the release of wide receiver Jawill Davis. Their other option is to look for in internal replacement. Either way, here are four players who could potentially step in and fill Burk’s role on defense.
Josh Jones
Josh Jones has had a very up and down tenure with the Packers, and he missed the first preseason game due to an injury. It was unclear if he would even make the team, but this might help his chances.
It was originally thought that Jones could play inside linebacker and would thrive closer to the line of scrimmage. He’ll now be given even more opportunities to make that a reality, as the Packers are searching for their starting inside linebacker alongside Martinez. If Jones can get healthy and show he’s ready to play, this job could be all his.
Raven Greene
Raven Greene is another safety who the Packers could slide to inside linebacker. He’s a lesser-known name than Jones, but he’s been more consistent with his play. He also flashes the same type of athletic ability and could be the Packers’ internal option.
Josh Bynes
Josh Bynes is a veteran free agent option the Packers could sign to the roster. He’s spent eight years in the NFL including the last two with the Arizona Cardinals. In 2018, he recorded 75 total tackles, five for a loss and two sacks. Although those numbers don’t jump off the page, he could be a reliable replacement who understands his role and has Super Bowl-winning experience.
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Mason Foster
Mason Foster, who was selected in the third-round of the 2011 NFL Draft, is another outside option for the Packers. He was cut by Washington earlier in the season and is still on the market. He recorded 131 tackles last year and started all 16 games. He’s not a splash player, but he will do his job. That’s all the Packers need at this point and he should be a steady replacement option if Green Bay chooses to go this route.