As the Green Bay Packers push deeper into the playoff hunt, their defense just took a major hit - and it’s the kind that could shift the trajectory of their season. With Devonte Wyatt now out for the year following an injury against Detroit, the Packers are staring down a critical gap on the defensive line.
Wyatt wasn’t just holding down his spot - he was emerging as one of the team’s most disruptive forces, notching four sacks and 27 tackles across 10 games. That kind of production doesn’t grow on trees.
The front office has already made a move, signing Jordon Riley off the Giants’ practice squad. It’s a start, but let’s be honest - plugging in a developmental player this late in the season is more about depth than replacing impact.
What Green Bay really needs is someone who can step in and make a difference right away. And that’s where things get interesting.
Enter Christian Wilkins.
Yes, that Christian Wilkins - the former first-round pick who made his name in Miami by dominating the interior, blowing up run plays, and collapsing pockets with the kind of consistency that makes offensive coordinators lose sleep. His 2023 season was a career-best: 65 tackles and nine sacks over 17 games. That’s elite-level production for a defensive tackle, and exactly the kind of presence the Packers are now missing.
So why is a player like Wilkins still unsigned?
It’s a fair question. The short answer: availability and baggage.
Wilkins hasn’t played since October 2024 after suffering a season-ending foot injury while with the Raiders. That was followed by an offseason filled with tension - a drawn-out dispute with team doctors over his recovery timeline and, eventually, his release in July.
Reports later surfaced that a locker room incident with a teammate also played a role in his exit.
That makes Wilkins a complicated case. He’s a risk, no doubt. But he’s also a potential difference-maker, and the kind of high-upside swing that could pay off in a big way for a team in Green Bay’s position.
Traditionally, the Packers have leaned conservative when it comes to midseason personnel moves, preferring to develop from within or take low-risk fliers. But with Ed Policy stepping in as team president, there’s a growing sense that this version of the Packers might be more aggressive when the moment calls for it. The addition of Micah Parsons before the season signaled that shift - a bold move that’s already paid dividends.
Now, with Wyatt sidelined and the playoff picture tightening, the Packers are at another crossroads. Do they stay the course with internal options and under-the-radar signings, or do they roll the dice on a player like Wilkins - someone who, if healthy and locked in, could instantly elevate their front seven?
It’s a tough call. But in a league where postseason runs often hinge on depth and disruption in the trenches, Wilkins might just be the kind of gamble worth taking.