Expect Packers to make a series of moves at edge rusher & other positions

Things have gone from bad to worse for the Green Bay Packers. In addition to being 3-6 and their playoff hopes essentially gone, they’ve also lost Rashan Gary for the season with a torn ACL.

Without question, there is no replacing Rashan Gary, who had recorded 38 pressures and six sacks this season, not to mention being one of the leaders on this Green Bay defense.

His absence will have a negative trickle-down effect to the rest of the defense. While the Packers often rush five defenders under Joe Barry, they rarely blitz, which means the pass rushers have to win their one-on-one matchups if they are going to get to the quarterback. A lack of pressure, of course, means more time in coverage for the secondary.

In addition to receiver, the edge rusher position was perhaps the biggest question mark on this Packers roster in terms of depth. Outside of Gary and Preston Smith, there were a lot of unknowns and inexperience.

Kingsley Enagbare will join Smith as one of the starters, and he has been making more noise as of late. After not posting a single pressure in the first five games, Enagbare has recorded six, including two sacks over the last four games, according to PFF ($$).

The only other edge rusher on the roster once Gary is moved to IR is Jonathan Garvin, who has continued to underwhelm. Garvin was even a healthy scratch against Washington and Buffalo.

With only three edge rushers available, moves will have to be made as the Packers will need a minimum of four active on game day. As always, I wouldn’t expect any significant addition; instead, the most likely option is they add La’Darius Hamilton from the practice squad to the 53-man roster, that is unless Tipa Galeai is available sooner than later as he is currently on IR.

Either Hamilton or Galeai will become an immediate member of the edge rusher rotation. Hamilton played 14 snaps in Week 7 against Washington, totaling no pressures on six pass rush attempts. Galeai, meanwhile, has no defensive snaps this season but was a core special teams player.

If Hamilton is the addition to the 53-man, the Packers will have to add another edge rusher to the practice squad since they won’t have any there if this move were to become official. To throw a name out there, Kobe Jones was just released by the Packers this past week after spending all summer and the first eight games of the season with the team.

Along with these upcoming moves at edge rusher, Romeo Doubs, who is expected to miss four to six weeks, could be placed on IR as well. However, with five healthy receivers on the roster, and Randall Cobb returning soon, Green Bay may opt not to add anyone in his place—although if they do, the most likely option is Juwann Winfree, who would have to be signed to the roster as he is out of game day elevations.

We do not know the severity yet of Eric Stokes’ injury, but all signs point to him missing significant time. If that is the case, a move will have to be made at cornerback since Rasul Douglas, Keisean Nixon, and Jaire Alexander are the only healthy options right now, with Shemar Jean-Charles having missed the last two games. On the practice squad at cornerback is Corey Ballentine and Kiondre Thomas.