With the Green Bay Packers set to kick off their three-game postseason slate this Saturday against the New York Jets, the pressure is mounting for several players to solidify their spots on the depth chart, which, in some cases, means simply making the 53-man roster.
One such example is defensive lineman Colby Wooden, who was taken by the Packers in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft with the 116th overall pick but has proven to be a bit of a disappointment thus far.
While seemingly drafted due to his ability to play multiple positions, Wooden has been chiefly used at tackle, which surprised some initially, as his 275-pound frame is typically considered a little small for an interior defender, at least at the professional level. His 4.79 speed and overall athleticism help, but it hasn't been enough to get him consistent snaps over his first two seasons.
In 30 games between the 2023 and 2024 campaigns, just one of which was a start, the Auburn alum has recorded just 37 total tackles, three tackles for loss, four QB hits, and 0.5 sacks. He earned a 58.2 overall PFF grade as a rookie, ranking 105th among all defensive linemen, but moved in the wrong direction a season ago with a mark of 47.8, which ranked 159th.
Naturally, one has to wonder how long Packers head coach Matt LaFleur will continue to keep him around, and that answer seems to be becoming more and more clear as training camp progresses.
Packers DL Colby Wooden may soon find himself out of a job
The two starting tackle spots obviously belong to Kenny Clark and Devonte Wyatt, with Karl Brooks seemingly locked in as the first guy off the bench. But there's nothing set in stone beyond those three.
While Wooden may have come to camp as part of the second unit, that hasn't always been the case in practice over the first couple of weeks, as undrafted rookie Nazir Stackhouse has taken a lot of those reps alongside Brooks, with Brenton Cox and Kingsley Enagbare manning the ends.
The Packers have had at least one undrafted rookie make the 53-man roster every year for the last two decades, and it looks as if Stackhouse will keep that streak alive.
And if we're being honest, if the 53-man roster were being finalized today, Wooden may not even beat out sixth-round rookie Warren Brinson. As such, seeing as how Green Bay isn't likely to keep six interior defensive linemen come final cutdown day on August 26, the 24-year-old may very well find himself relegated to the practice squad or simply gone altogether.
The Packers have three preseason matchups between now and then, and Wooden may need strong performances in every single one of them just to keep his job.