Green Bay Packers: De'Vondre Campbell making major impact on defense

The Green Bay Packers may have found a hidden gem in linebacker De’Vondre Campbell.

As Pro Football Talk notes, the Packers signed the linebacker to a one-year, $2 million contract in June and it appeared to be a relatively minor move for a player who would have to compete just to make the 53-man roster. Instead, Campbell has become one of the Packers’ most impactful players.

With injuries and other factors in play, Campbell has morphed into an every-down linebacker who has played 97 percent of the Green Bay Packers defensive snaps this season, and he’s making a huge difference on a defense that was shaky at the start of the season but has improved significantly.

Last week vs. Washington, Campbell had 10 solo tackles and two forced-fumbles.

Green Bay Packers lose key players to sudden COVID wave

The Green Bay Packers appear to have a major developing problem.

Just 24 hours after announcing they would be without their best wide receiver vs. the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday night, NFL Insider Ian Rappaport reported the Packers will now be without Allen Lazard, who was expected to play a bigger role in the game plan.

The #Packers placed WR Allen Lazard on reserve/COVID-19 list. Suddenly a short-handed position.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 26, 2021

Lazard is coming off his best game of the season after hauling in five catches for 60 yards and a touchdown vs. Washington on Sunday.

The Green Bay Packers are now beyond thin at the wide receiver position. On Monday, Packers wide reciever Davante Adams was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list, as announced by general manager Brian Gutekunst.

The Packers also lost defensive coordinator Joe Barry after he tested positive with COVID-19. Barry and Adams will definitely miss the Packers’ Thursday Night Football game against Arizona.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that given the short week, the Green Bay Packers have entered enhanced mitigation COVID protocols.

“With a short work week and a game Thursday night vs. unbeaten Arizona, the Packers now have entered enhanced mitigation COVID protocols that call for daily testing and masks to be worn at the facility,” Schefter tweeted.

The Packers are coming off a 24-10 win over the Washington Football Team on Sunday. In the win, Adams recorded six receptions for 76 yards and one touchdown. On the season, Davante Adams has 52 receptions for 744 yards and three touchdowns. Adams is third in the league in total receiving yards trailing Rams’ wide reciever Cooper Kupp and Bengals rookie Ja’Marr Chase.

The loss of Lazard, Adams and Barry for at least Thursday’s game over the Cardinals is the latest in the series of curveballs thrown at the Green Bay Packers. They now have four starters placed on injured reserve in center Josh Myers, cornerback Jaire Alexander, outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith, and wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Myers was placed on injured reserve on Saturday after suffering a knee injury on the fourth offensive snap of the team’s week six win over the Bears.