The Green Bay Packers went out recently and signed Jaylon Smith to bolster their inside linebacker position and further send a message that they plan to make the necessary moves to win a Super Bowl this year. Add another move to the list.
Per Aaron Wilson, who covers the Houston Texans, the Packers are signing veteran linebacker Whitney Mercilus who was cut by the Texans.
Former Texans DE Whitney Mercilus expected to join the Green Bay Packers, per a league source
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) October 20, 2021
Green Bay has been decimated by injuries this year and they are thinning at edge rusher.
Za'Darius Smith might not be on the field again this season for the Packers and Preston Smith was injured last week against the Chicago Bears and his status moving forward is still unknown. That leaves Rashan Gary to carry a lot of the load on the edge. Now, Mercilus will join that group as well.
Mercilus had three sacks in six games for the Texans this year before being released. He has made the shift from linebacker out onto the edge and now the Packers will plug him in with the hope that he keeps producing like he did for Houston to start the year.
It's another move to help a defense that will try to keep things afloat until they start getting bodies back onto the field. Perhaps a move at cornerback could be next up for the Packers as Jaire Alexander remains on injured reserve and Kevin King is currently on the shelf too.
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