Special teams is finally a priority for the Green Bay Packers after hiring Rich Bisaccia as coordinator last season. We saw Bisaccia remake the special teams’ culture, and its roster with his philosophy. The early returns were promising, turning the Packers from one of the worst special teams units to a decent one.
One of Bisaccia’s changes involved bringing in more dedicated special teams veterans. Traditionally, Green Bay relied on fringe roster players to play those snaps. If those players can play a role on offense or defense, that’s a bonus. But the team is no longer afraid to roster players whose primary role is on teams.
As the team sets its initial 53-man roster, that philosophy is good news for Eric Wilson. The veteran linebacker has emerged as one of the team’s most reliable special teams contributors and also shows some juice on defense. That experience should give the veteran an edge at making the initial roster and continuing to be one of Bisaccia’s guys.
Wilson is another testament to just how good Green Bay’s pro scouting team is. After being signed from the New Orleans Saints’ practice squad in early October last season, Wilson became a robust addition to Bisaccia’s emerging group. In his 13 games with the Packers, Wilson led the team in special teams tackles, with 13. He had 17 total tackles between teams and defense and had one sack.
Wilson re-signed with the Packers on a one-year deal this March, showing once again Bisaccia’s roster influence.
Through training camp and preseason, Wilson kept up his role as a dominant special teamer and gifted tackler. Wilson’s seven starting preseason snaps were the second-most on the team, one snap fewer than special teams stars Patrick Taylor and Dallin Leavitt. Wilson led the Packers in special teams snaps against the Seattle Seahawks, with 17.
Good tackling and the Packers haven’t always gone hand-in-hand, especially on special teams, and that’s where Wilson shines. In the preseason finale against Seattle, Wilson had a brutal tackle against kick returner Malik Flowers. He was also PFF’s fourth-highest-graded Packers defender thanks to a stellar tackle and a stop against the run; he was the team’s top run defender. With run defense having been an issue of sorts the past few seasons (I’m underselling how bad it’s been), keeping a reliable run-stopper in the mix is extra gravy.
The Packers have a surprisingly good amount of talent at inside linebacker. With De’Vondre Campbell and Quay Walker as the starters and Isaiah McDuffie as a solid third, Green Bay’s top three is set. While they could keep five on the initial roster, it seems unlikely. Although the Packers have held Campbell out of practice and the preseason due to a hamstring injury, it seems more cautionary than anything else. However, we’ll find out for sure when Week 1 gets closer. The team kept four ILBs on its initial roster last season. Wilson has done more than enough to earn that fourth spot.
Tariq Carpenter, a 2022 seventh-round pick, is Wilson’s biggest competition. Carpenter was drafted with special teams in mind. After entering the league as a linebacker/safety hybrid, Carpenter made the full switch to pure ILB this off-season.
While the Packers love their draft picks and Carpenter has played a big role on special teams as a rookie, Wilson should get the edge thanks to his abilities as a defender. Wilson brings a bigger impact on defense and saw more playing time during preseason. Carpenter saw just four starting teams snaps this preseason, and his role began to diminish as the exhibition games went on.
A year on the practice squad would allow Carpenter to continue learning how to play pure linebacker, and the team could elevate him as needed on a weekly basis.
Our own Wendell Ferreira suggested the Packers could instead release Wilson and re-sign the veteran after the first roster cuts thanks to veterans not being subjected to waivers, which is an equally likely move. But I think Carpenter would clear waivers and make the practice squad. Wilson just brings more upside to the position right now.
The Packers lost Tyler Davis for the season. Davis was one of Bisaccia’s core players, and his absence leaves a big hole on teams. That should make Wilson’s abilities more in-demand, further adding to his edge to make the roster.
We’ll know more later this week, but Wilson’s performance against Seattle should make him a lock for the 53-man roster. The Packers are going through a youth movement, but this is one situation where the veteran should get the edge. Wilson brings too much to the role while providing depth on the defense for Green Bay to release him.
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