The Green Bay Packers’ decision to work out two punters this week turned a normally quiet spot on the roster into an immediate talking point.
Jack Stonehouse and James Rendell both got tryouts, a move that naturally sparked questions about Daniel Whelan. The first guess for plenty of fans was simple: maybe Whelan was dealing with something behind the scenes. But his name did not appear on the Week 7 injury report, which undercut that theory pretty quickly.
That leaves the bigger question hanging in the air. If Whelan is healthy and entrenched as the starter, why bring in punter competition at all?
Workouts happen all the time across the league, but this one stood out because it involved two punters. That alone made the move unusual for Green Bay, especially with Whelan sitting in a strong position.
The Packers’ special teams have had their issues over time, but punting has not been one of them. Whelan has been one of the league’s best at the job, tied for the NFL lead with 14 punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line and one of only five players to hit a 70-plus-yard punt this season.
Stonehouse and Rendell both come with notable backgrounds. Rendell is an international player from Australia and the son of Australian Football League player Matt Rendell. He played at Notre Dame from 2024 through 2025 before going undrafted, and last season he averaged 44.6 yards per punt with four punts of more than 50 yards.
Stonehouse also has football bloodlines. His father, John Stonehouse, was an NFL punter.
At Syracuse, Jack earned two All-ACC selections, averaged 45.9 yards per punt, and had 58 punts of 50-plus yards. He finished his college career as Syracuse’s record-holder for net punting average.
After going undrafted this offseason, Stonehouse signed with the Houston Texans before being released in August, just before the season began.
For now, the Packers have not signed either punter. That makes sense if Whelan is as secure as he appears, and it also suggests Green Bay was simply doing its homework in case circumstances change. Like most teams, the Packers do not carry a backup punter on the active roster or practice squad, and they probably won’t add one unless injury forces their hand.
In Other News...
Packers Add Receiver As Injuries Force Another Week 7 Shuffle
Injuries are forcing another roster tweak for Green Bay as the Packers head into Week 7, with linebacker Zaire Franklin set to miss the game because of a shin injury. The team does not expect Franklin to be out long, and there is no indication he will land on injured reserve, but the short-term absence adds another wrinkle to a defense already managing its share of moving parts.
The bigger hit comes at receiver, where Skyy Moore has been placed on injured reserve after suffering an ankle sprain, sidelining him for several weeks. To help fill the gap, Green Bay signed Coleman Owen from the Indianapolis Colts' practice squad to its 53-man roster, giving the Packers another body at a position where availability has become a weekly concern. [Read more 🡒]
Packers WR Duo Is Forcing A Bigger NFC North Debate
The early wideout conversation in the NFC North has shifted quickly, and the Packers have found themselves right in the middle of it. Matthew Golden and Christian Watson have emerged as the divisions most productive receiving pair so far this season, a notable turn for a Green Bay offense that has had to sort through changing roles and a wider mix of pass-catching options while the rest of the division has dealt with its own wrinkles.
In Minnesota, Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison still carry the name recognition that usually sets the standard in the division, while Chicago is trying to sort out the production curve for Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III and Detroit keeps leaning on Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams. Injuries and usage have colored all of those comparisons, and Green Bays own picture has been altered too, with Jayden Reed sidelined for the year after the neck injury he suffered in Week 2. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Jacobs Gives Packers Hope On One Brutal Offensive Problem
Josh Jacobs is expected to be back in the Packers lineup this weekend, which at minimum gives Green Bay a chance to steady one of the ugliest parts of its offense. The run game has been stuck at the bottom of the league, and the lack of production has put even more strain on a unit that has needed more balance than it has gotten.
What makes Jacobs important here is not just the volume he brings, but the likelihood that he can at least meet expectations based on his running style and track record. Even a return to ordinary efficiency would be a meaningful step for a ground attack that has offered little help so far, and the Packers will be hoping that his presence starts to change the way opponents have to defend them. [Read more 🡒]