Packers accumulating veteran players, as well as wins
The reigning NFC North champions are the only team in the division with a winning record. And the Green Bay Packers are adding depth.
This past Tuesday, the Houston Texans said goodbye to another longtime member of the team.
“It was just a mutual thing,” said veteran defender Whitney Mercilus (via Brooks Kubena of Texas Sports Nation). “We just parted ways. I’m just looking forward to what’s next.”
Say hello to the Green Bay Packers.
Via Aaron Wilson of Sports Talk 790, the 26th overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft is joining Matt LaFleur’s team. And courtesy of Spotrac, he inked a one-year, $1.075 million deal to sign with the NFC North leaders.
Packers accumulating veteran players, as well as wins
It’s been a rough year to date for the team’s linebacking corps. Pass-rushing standout Za’Darius Smith had back surgery earlier this month (via NFL.com’s Jelani Scott) and is out indefinitely. And Preston Smith, who has never missed a game in his eight-year career with Washington and Green Bay, missed practice Wednesday and Thursday with an oblique injury.
Mercilus joins former Cowboys standout Jaylon Smith as recent additions to the Packers’ roster. The former was a steady performer for the Texans for nine-plus seasons. He totaled 51.0 sacks, 13 forced fumbles, two interceptions, and nine fumble recoveries with Houston. In six games this season, he totaled 12 tackles and three sacks. But he made only two starts for Lovie Smith’s unit.
Meanwhile, Matt LaFleur’s club adds another reinforcement to Joe Barry’s improving group. Entering Week 7, only four teams in the NFL were allowing fewer total yards per game than Green Bay.
The team could still be better against the run – allowing 108.5 yards per game on the ground. But Kenny Clark leads the way with three of the team’s 14 sacks. And the Packers have nine takeaways in six games, this after forcing only 18 turnovers in 16 regular-season outings in 2020.
This franchise does not usually invest a lot during the traditional free-agent period. But there are bargains to be had during the season. And both Smith and Mercilus may wind up playing big roles for a Super Bowl contender that sees quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the offense playing well during the club’s current five-game winning streak.