Which former Packers are playing in the XFL in 2023?

Arlington Roughnecks

Similar to the DC Defenders, the Arlington Roughnecks have several players on their roster that played for the Packers at one point in their careers.

While most of these players were on the practice squad and received little to no playing time, devoted Packers fans might recognize CB Josh Hawkins, who played with the team from 2016 to 2017.

Although Hawkins went undrafted out of East Carolina in the 2016 NFL Draft, he impressed enough to make the initial 53-man roster. After playing in 11 games his rookie season, he played in 15 the following season, starting in three of them. In 2017, Hawkins had six passes defensed, one forced fumble, and 38 total tackles. Hawkins was released from the team in September 2018.

Furthermore, the Roughnecks’ co-defensive coordinator Tim Lewis played the entirety of his NFL career with the Packers from 1983 to 1986. Lewis, a standout cornerback from the University of Pittsburgh, was selected by the Packers 11th overall in 1983.

Lewis was an excellent player in his brief NFL career, which was cut short by a severe neck injury he sustained against the Bears in Week 3 of the 1986 season. In a little over three seasons, Lewis recorded 16 interceptions, including a 99-yard interception return touchdown against the Rams in 1984, which remains a Packers team record to this date.

On the offensive side of the ball, Roughnecks tight ends Sal Cannella, Shaun Beyer, and Nate Becker, in addition to OL George Moore, all had short stints with the Packers in 2022. Running back Keith Ford also spent time with the Packers in training camp in 2019.

Meanwhile, OLB Aaron Adeoye had two short stints with the Packers practice squad in 2021.