Packers: Oren Burks injury could Prompt a late roster addition

With Oren Burks sidelined with a shoulder injury, the Green Bay Packers should consider making a late addition to their linebacker unit.

When Packers linebacker Jake Ryan saw his season come to an end due to a torn ACL early in training camp, rookie Oren Burks was immediately thrust into the starting lineup.

That in and of itself is a big ask of a talented – yet unproven – player.

Add to that a shoulder injury that according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “popped out” on Burks during Friday’s pregame warmups in Oakland, and you can see where the team would have a high level of concern regarding its inside linebacker depth.

Even if Burks’ shoulder injury ends up being relatively minor, if it truly was dislocated then it could easily flare up on him as the season progresses. Look no further than Packers second-year CB Kevin King, who had shoulder issues in his rookie season that he tried to play through before ultimately being placed on injured reserve.

Starting as a rookie is a tough task. Starting as a rookie with a lingering injury is even worse.

Should Burks miss any extended amount of time the Packers would currently have undrafted backups Ahmad Thomas and Greer Martini listed on their depth chart as possible replacements. The Packers could also turn to one of their safeties, such as Kentrell Brice or Josh Jones, or move OLB Clay Matthews back into the inside as suggested by Lombardi Ave’s Freddie Boston.

If the Packers moved Matthews inside maybe they’d be more apt to make a trade for Raiders OLB Khalil Mack, since moving Matthews would also create depth concerns on the outside.

Or the Packers could turn to the free agency market to add some insurance. Former 49ers LB NaVorro Bowman remains a free agent and would bring a dramatic amount of experience that the current group of inside linebackers is desperately lacking, and free agent S Eric Reid could also handle playing the ILB spot in Mike Pettine’s versatile defense as well.

The Packers could also wait for teams to trim their roster to the 53-man limit and scavenge through the pile to see if there is a player they value.

Regardless if the Packers use any of these aforementioned methods, it seems clear that the team needs to take some sort of action, no matter the severity of Oren Burks’ shoulder injury.