Green Bay -- The Packers made a series of moves Tuesday to strengthen their linebacker and special teams positions.
Obviously, the loss of Nick Barnett and Brady Poppinga has left them vulnerable at the position and they had been getting along with untested Maurice Simpkins and Robert Francois.
On Tuesday, they claimed outside linebaker Diyarl Briggs from the Denver Broncos. Briggs, 6-2 1/2 and 248 pounds, has played in six regular-season games over his career. He'll be used as a pass rusher, but don't expect him to contribute a lot other than on special teams.
In addition, the Packers signed inside linebacker Erik Wilhelm off the street. The former San Diego Charger and San Francisco 49er has been on the street since Sept. 9, when the 49ers cut him. Wilhelm was signed from a group of players who had tryouts Tuesday. In addition to Wilhelm, end Nick Reed and linebacker Erik Walden performed in front of team scouts.
To make room for the newcomers, the Packers released Simpkins, who was promoted from the pracitce squad Oct. 7 and had been active for two games, playing only on special teams, and also placed Poppinga (knee surgery) and defensive end Mike Neal (rotator cuff) on injured reserve.
Wilhelm, who is 6-4, 247 pounds, is a run-stuffer who essentially replaces Simpkins and will be a backup to Desmond Bishop and A.J. Hawk. He has played in 82 games, including 22 starts, all but one of which were with the San Diego Chargers.
In eight seasons, Wilhelm has 258 tackles, two sacks, six interceptions and 13 pass breakups. He played in six playoff games with San Diego, including two as a starter. He has a long history of playing on special teams, posting 12 tackles in 2009 and 15 in 2006 and 2007.
Briggs, an undrafted free agent out of Bowling Green, was cut last summer and put on San Francisco's practice squad right away. He was promoted to the 53-man roster on Oct. 28 and in four games had four special teams tackles.
He was cut by the 49ers on Sept. 21 of this year and claimed by Denver the next day. He played one game with the 49ers and one with the Broncos and was cut Monday after playing in the 59-14 loss to the Oakland Raiders before being claimed by the Packers.
The Packers have one spot open on the 53-man roster. Presumably, it will be filled by either cornerback Al Harris or safety Atari Bigby this week when one or both are taken off the physically unable to perform list. If both are activated, another player would have to be cut.
via JS
