Next Man Up: Can Warren Brinson Step Into Devonte Wyatt’s Role on the Packers’ Defensive Line?
The Green Bay Packers just took a significant hit to their defensive front - Devonte Wyatt’s season is over after suffering a brutal ankle injury. And while the timing couldn’t be worse for a team with postseason ambitions, the bigger issue is what comes next.
The Packers were already thin on the defensive line. Now, without Wyatt, they’re staring down a depth chart that’s long on potential but short on proven production.
Let’s break down what the Packers are working with - and where Warren Brinson fits into the equation.
The Candidates: Familiar Faces and New Names
Green Bay has five players in the mix to help fill the void left by Wyatt. The most familiar options are Karl Brooks and Colby Wooden, both from the 2023 draft class.
Brooks has flashed in spurts this season and was carving out a rotational role before an ankle injury sidelined him for most of the last two weeks. Wooden has seen limited action, but the staff knows what they’re getting with him - steady, if unspectacular, play.
On the other end of the spectrum is Jordon Riley, a recent acquisition from the New York Giants. Riley is a big body - and that’s putting it lightly - but he’s more of a traditional nose tackle.
Think of him as a backup to T.J. Slaton rather than a direct replacement for Wyatt.
He may help clog the middle, but he’s not bringing the same kind of versatility or pass-rush juice that Wyatt offered.
Then there’s Nazir Stackhouse, a 2025 draft pick. Like Riley, Stackhouse is a space-eater - useful against the run, but not the kind of interior disruptor the Packers need in Wyatt’s absence.
Which brings us to Warren Brinson.
Brinson’s Role So Far: Limited Snaps, Glimpses of Upside
Brinson hasn’t had a consistent role this season, but that’s largely been tied to Wyatt’s availability. When Wyatt has been on the field, Brinson’s snaps have been minimal.
When Wyatt’s been out, Brinson has seen more action. That pattern has held true, especially in recent weeks when Brooks was also nursing an injury.
At 315 pounds, Brinson doesn’t have the prototypical nose tackle build, but that’s not necessarily a problem. Kenny Clark made a career playing nose at a similar weight.
More importantly, Brinson brings athleticism to the table. His NFL Combine numbers - particularly in the vertical and broad jump - showed off his explosiveness.
That’s exactly what teams look for in a 3-technique defensive tackle: someone who can shoot gaps and create disruption in the backfield.
And that’s where Brinson has lined up most of the time this year - as a 3-tech. According to Pro Football Focus, over 71% of his snaps have come from that alignment. It’s the role Wyatt played regularly, and it’s the spot Brinson is now being asked to hold down.
Strengths, Weaknesses, and the Opportunity Ahead
So how has Brinson performed when he’s gotten on the field? It’s been a bit of a mixed bag.
Coming out of college, Brinson was billed as a run-stopping specialist with some upside as a pass rusher. Ironically, the early returns in the NFL have flipped that script.
Through 122 total snaps this season, Brinson has graded out - again, per PFF - as the 126th-best run defender among 150 interior linemen with at least 100 snaps. Not great.
But as a pass rusher? He’s ranked 36th in the same group.
That’s a surprising - and encouraging - sign for a young player still finding his footing.
It’s worth noting that the sample size is small. We’re not talking about a full season’s worth of data here.
But in the limited reps he’s had, Brinson has shown some burst and an ability to get into the backfield. That’s not nothing, especially for a team that just lost one of its most disruptive interior defenders.
What Comes Next
The Packers don’t need Brinson to be Devonte Wyatt overnight. But they do need someone - or some combination of players - to step up and stabilize the defensive front.
Brinson has the athletic profile and positional fit to be that guy. Whether he can hold up against the run and handle a starter’s workload remains to be seen.
But here’s the thing: opportunity matters. Brinson is going to get his shot.
With Wyatt out and Brooks still working back from injury, the door is wide open. If Brinson can flash some of the same pass-rushing ability he’s shown in limited action - and shore up his play against the run - he could carve out a real role down the stretch.
The Packers’ defensive line is in flux, no doubt. But in Warren Brinson, they might just have a piece worth developing - and a player ready for his moment.