Rashan Gary Questionable; Packers edge rusher depth potentially tested
By Paul Bretl
After being a full participant during Wednesday’s practice, Rashan Gary popped up on the Green Bay Packers injury report on Thursday with a toe injury. He ended up being a limited participant that day, as well as on Friday and is now listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the New York Jets.
As expected, Gary has been one of the most productive edge rushers in football this season, ranking 12th in total pressures and eighth in PFF’s pass rush productivity metric.
It goes without saying, but if the Packers are without Gary on Sunday, it is a massive loss for a defense that has battled inconsistency. However, his absence would be magnified by Green Bay’s lack of depth at the position.
With edge rusher being a relatively heavily rotated position, Jonathan Garvin has been on the field for 18% of the defensive snaps this season and Kingsley Enagbare 23%, although between the two, they have just one pressure in 64 combined pass rush snaps and neither has held the edge well against the run. In terms of pass rush productivity, Garvin ranks 147th, and Enagbare is tied for 151st.
Not only are the Packers short on productivity at edge rusher behind Gary and Preston Smith, but they’re short on players as well, with Tipa Galeai listed as out for Sunday’s game. Galeai doesn’t have any defensive snaps this season and has been a core special teams player, but could have been leaned on if Gary is unable to play.
Regardless of whether Gary plays or not, I would expect the Packers to elevate either La’Darius Hamilton or Kobe Jones from the practice squad for Sunday’s game, given that they will be without Galeai. And if we see both players elevated on Saturday, that likely isn’t a good sign for Gary’s status.
This week the Packers’ defense will be up against the explosive Breece Hall at running back and facing Zach Wilson at quarterback, who has struggled mightily when under pressure this season. On 20 pass attempts, Wilson has completed just 18% of those passes at 2.9 yards per attempt with a pair of interceptions.
Going up against an offensive line that has struggled in pass protection, getting after Wilson will be key for the Green Bay pass rush as they try to provide the secondary with some additional help.
Hopefully, Rashan Gary will be able to play on Sunday, but if not, one of the biggest question marks on this Packers team — the edge rusher depth — is going to be put to the test.