Packers sign former 1st round linebacker

The Green Bay Packers announced Tuesday that they are releasing practice squad linebacker Chris Russell, who originally signed with the Packers as an undrafted free agent in mid-August, to clear a spot on the roster for former first-round linebacker Jamin Davis. Davis, the 19th overall pick in the 2021 draft, turned a breakthrough redshirt junior season at Kentucky – his first season as a starter – into a rising draft prospect with the help of his 4.47-second 40-yard dash time and 42-inch vertical -Jump titles.

In four seasons with the Washington Commanders, Davis played in 50 games, made 36 starts and recorded 2,244 total defensive snaps. Technically, Davis played the defensive end position for the Commanders under new head coach Dan Quinn when the team looked to utilize his raw athleticism there in 2024. Other than that, he played an off-ball linebacker role for most of his career in Washington. Given the Packers' lack of depth at the linebacker position, it's safe to assume he'll work as an off-ball linebacker in Green Bay.

Currently, the Packers only have four healthy off-ball linebackers on their 53-man roster: Eric Wilson, Isaiah McDuffie, rookie Edgerrin Cooper and rookie Ty'Ron Hopper. Hopper has yet to play a single defensive snap for Green Bay in a regular season game. Quay Walker will be reinstated into the linebacker rotation as he goes through the concussion protocol, as he was sidelined with a head injury two weeks ago and was also inactive in the last game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Russell was the team's only practice linebacker outside of the thin linebacker room on the 53-man roster. Unless the plan is to make Davis an off-ball linebacker, linebacker will be the only offensive or defensive position not on the Packers' 17-man practice squad. For this reason, it is very likely that Green Bay is considering Davis as a linebacker, beyond simply announcing him as such in their press release on Tuesday.

Davis was released from Washington's 53-man roster just a week ago, so he hasn't been on the market long. Before going on injured reserve in 2023, he had started 28 games for the Commanders during the 2022 and 2023 seasons. The injury that ended Davis' 2023 season was a shoulder injury. Davis has had some trouble off the field in his young career, as the avid NASCAR fan was charged and found guilty twice for reckless driving.