The Packers’ defensive front looks a lot different heading into camp, and that makeover has put Nazir Stackhouse in a tough spot.
Green Bay has turned over plenty along the line over the past couple of offseasons. Rashan Gary and Kenny Clark are gone, while Micah Parsons and Javon Hargrave are now part of the mix, among others. That kind of change can open doors for some players, but it can also squeeze out the ones who haven’t done enough to separate themselves.
Stackhouse is firmly in that second group. The former undrafted free agent out of Georgia hung around through his first offseason in Lambeau Field and even managed to appear in 13 games as a rookie, but his role never really expanded.
He logged just 159 snaps, and his work against the run didn’t inspire much confidence. The pass-rush production, or lack of it, didn’t help his case either.
Now the competition has gotten tougher. The Packers used a third-round pick on rookie Chris McCllelan, and Warren Brinson, another former Bulldog and college teammate of Stackhouse, is also in the picture at nose tackle.
McCllelan is described as less raw than the average rookie at the position, and Green Bay would be doing itself a disservice by not getting him on the field early and often. Even if that doesn’t happen right away, both McCllelan and Brinson look like more dependable run defenders than Stackhouse.
There’s at least a path for Stackhouse to stick around in some form. If Green Bay liked him enough to sign him last offseason, the team could still view him as a practice squad option and keep the door open for another shot. But with the Packers needing to be precise about every defensive roster spot and already having plenty of depth up front, Stackhouse doesn’t appear to bring enough unique value to force his way through camp.
In Other News...
Josh Jacobs Situation Is Becoming A Real Packers Camp Concern
Josh Jacobs return to Packers camp has put an uncomfortable off-field issue back in the middle of the football conversation. The veteran running back was arrested in Wisconsin in late May, and while the team has kept its public stance quiet, the situation has lingered long enough to become part of the backdrop as Green Bay tries to get through the early stages of camp with its roster intact and its focus on the field.
Matt LaFleur and the Packers have been careful not to rush into public judgments, and some teammates have acknowledged the matter without offering much detail. For a team that is trying to build momentum heading into the season, the uncertainty around Jacobs adds another layer of unease, especially with the legal process still unfolding and the organization waiting for more clarity before deciding what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Still Have One Obvious Move Left Before Camp
The Packers still have room to make a meaningful move before training camp, and the front office does not have to wait for the season to tell it where the roster needs help. Green Bay has enough salary cap flexibility to chase another veteran if it wants one, and the conversation around that possibility is being driven by a few familiar pressure points: depth, health and whether the current group is ready to hold up over a full season.
Tight end and edge rusher remain the clearest places to look, especially with Tucker Kraft working back from an ACL injury and Luke Musgrave still not someone the Packers can fully bank on. On the other side of the ball, Lukas Van Ness is another player Green Bay needs to stay healthy and take a noticeable step forward, which is why names like Jonnu Smith, Leonard Floyd, Joey Bosa and Nick Chubb keep surfacing as possible fits, even if some of those options come with obvious complications. [Read more 🡒]
Benjamin St-Juste May Decide How Far Packers Secondary Can Go
Benjamin St-Juste arrived in Green Bay on a two-year deal and quickly became one of the more interesting names in a cornerback room that has drawn plenty of attention for other reasons. Rookie Brandon Cisse may have generated the draft buzz, but St-Juste brings something the Packers can use right away: real starting experience and a track record that suggests he can help stabilize the depth chart.
The bigger question is whether he ends up doing more than that. St-Juste was graded as one of the better corners in the league last season by Pro Football Focus, and his ability to line up in coverage gives Green Bay another veteran option as it sorts through the competition behind its top corners. If he pushes his way into the mix for a starting role, the Packers secondary could look a lot different than the early offseason chatter suggested. [Read more 🡒]