Packers Elevating Outside Linebacker to Face 49ers

The Green Bay Packers are elevating undrafted rookie outside linebacker Keshawn Banks from the practice squad to the gameday roster for Saturday night’s NFC Divisional playoff game at the San Francisco 49ers.

The Packers have a void in the lineup following the season-ending knee injury sustained by Kingsley Enagbare during last week’s playoff victory at the Dallas Cowboys.

This will be the NFL debut for Banks, who was a four-time all-Mountain West selection at San Diego State. He started his final 47 games and ranks sixth in school history with 42 tackles for losses. In 2022, he had 3.5 sacks and 11.5 TFLs.

Banks had a strong training camp, though perhaps his most noteworthy moment was getting ejected from a joint practice against New England.

“I think I’ve just been able to show that I can play at this level,” Banks said during camp. “I’m a hard worker. I’m talented. I’m reliable. My effort is, I think, I think it’s close to none as far as anybody you could pull up on tape throughout the league, not just rookies.

“I think I’m able to make plays as well and be a factor on every level of the game, whether that be defense, special teams, I think I’m a jack of all trades who can play this game at this level and be useful to a team, whoever that may be, but obviously I want it to be here.”

The Packers will line up against the 49ers with their usual starting duo of Rashan Gary and Preston Smith. First-round pick Lukas Van Ness will be the top backup, with undrafted rookies Banks and Brenton Cox providing additional depth.

This will be Banks’ first time on the gameday roster. Cox spent the entire season on the 53-man roster but has played sparingly. He was inactive for 12 games during the regular season – more than any other player other than offensive tackle Caleb Jones (15).

Cox has played in only four games. His last game action was on Thanksgiving at Detroit, when he played four snaps on special teams. His last game action on defense was Week 6 at Denver, when he played three of his four snaps this season.

Mostly, the Packers will be counting on Van Ness to give Gary and Smith a breather. The first-round pick had four sacks during the regular season and added another against Dallas.

“This dude turned 21 years old at the beginning of the season,” defensive coordinator Joe Barry said. “He’s a puppy still. It’s exciting to see, obviously, what he’s done right now in the moment but it’s scary to think what he’s going to be in the next year, the year after, the year after. Just think what he’s going to be when he’s 25 years old. I’m happy and excited for him just because he’s worked his tail off, and I think he sees himself getting better.”

Van Ness had a sack in his NFL debut at Chicago in Week 1. After going without a sack for each of the next 10 games, Van Ness had one in four of his last seven games.

“I think it just shows what the rookie season is,” he said. “I feel like this business, a lot of people are quick to judge. [They] want instant results but, in a transition like I had coming from Iowa and playing interior D-line and a lot different technique, to come into Green Bay and change up my technique and learning a different defense, I had a lot of hurdles to get over.

“I felt like, especially the last month or two, I’ve been able to put together and play a lot more free. Go out there and just have fun, which at the end of the day, we’re playing a children’s game. That’s what the goal is. This is where the best football is needed. We require everyone to go out there, especially this time of year when we’re playing January football, when it’s meaningful, this is when you want to play your best.”