Report: Packers edge rusher suffers potentially serious injury at practice

Packers linebacker Chauncey Rivers suffered a non-contact knee injury yesterday in practice and is expected to miss time. The injury is currently being evaluated and is potentially serious, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

He will be moved to injured reserve today to make room on the roster for incoming former Cowboys linebacker Jaylon Smith, whom Dallas released after failing to secure a trade for the Pro Bowl defenseman.

Rivers has seen action in all four games this season and has recorded two tackles, one against San Francisco and one against Pittsburgh.

The 6-foot-2, 259 pound linebacker was an undrafted free agent in 2020 who spent his freshman year at Georgia before transferring to Mississippi State. He signed with the Baltimore Ravens initially but was waived during 53-man roster cuts and signed to the practice squad the following day. He then signed a reserve contract in January of this year and was ultimately waived in August before coming to Green Bay.

Packers already playing a carousel of linebackers

Green Bay has already been impacted by injuries this season in their linebacker room, and the latest news will cause additional changes. Smith could work his way into the starting lineup, or he could be a valuable reserve player for Matt LaFleur’s back pocket. LaFleur is very familiar with Smith from college, as he was the quarterbacks coach at Notre Dame in 2014 while Smith was a linebacker for the Fighting Irish.

With Rivers out, Preston Smith will likely see his playing time increase. Smith has nine tackles on the year.

Inside linebacker De’Vondre Campbell is Green Bay’s leading tackler this season, totaling 40 tackles with an additional two pass breakups and an interception.

Krys Barnes started the season at inside linebacker, but he missed last week’s game with a concussion. Ty Summers and Oren Burks stepped in for Barnes against Pittsburgh. Rashan Gary rounds out the top linebackers right now for the Packers. Gary leads the team in sacks with 1.5.

Prior to Carolina swooping in yesterday, the Packers were reportedly looking at Patriots corner Stephon Gilmore as well to augment their defense. They did get some corner help with the addition of Rasul Douglas on Wednesday, a veteran off of the Cardinals practice squad.