With Devonte Wyatt ruled out for the rest of the season, the Green Bay Packers' defense is going to have to adapt.
Much like their receiver corps, younger players will be expected to step up in the wake of a veteran's injury. Rookies Nazir Stackhouse and Warren Brinson are next in line.
The Packers rank eighth in rush yards allowed, and the combination of Wyatt and Micah Parsons has been a major factor in Green Bay's elite defensive front. In fact, one of defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley's favorite moves has been placing Parsons behind Wyatt, forcing offensive linemen to guess which side pressure will come from. It's a pairing that will be missed, but there's promise behind Wyatt on the depth chart.
Packers must rely on two promising rookies to fill the void left by Devonte Wyatt
Green Bay's newest additions at defensive tackle might not have time to find the same level of chemistry with Parsons, but they'll be trusted to limit the Chicago Bears' running backs and pressure opposing quarterbacks during the final five weeks of the season.
Undrafted free agent Stackhouse has played in all 12 games, although his snap counts have been modest. In seven games this season, he's played 10 or fewer defensive plays. At 327 pounds, however, Stackhouse is a unit, one that the Packers can use in attempts to plug run lanes as they face teams like Chicago and Baltimore. The former Georgia Bulldog has continued to get small opportunities, but the next few weeks might be his chance to make a big statement.
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Next to Stackhouse on the depth chart is sixth-round pick Brinson. He didn't see the field until Week 5, but he's found a noticeable role since then. He recorded four total tackles against the Arizona Cardinals, shared his first NFL sack with Isaiah McDuffie during the Packers' victory over the Minnesota Vikings, and played a part in limiting Detroit's run game on Thanksgiving, playing the most snaps of his young career (38).
He's likely to see the field more than Stackhouse during Wyatt's absence, even if veteran Karl Brooks can step into a more consistent role.
Brinson and Stackhouse should get their fair share of opportunities as the Packers enter the final stretch of the season. Wyatt's injury is a rough blow for Green Bay, but fans shouldn't stress about the team relying on a pair of rookies. After all, they're joining a defensive line with Micah Parsons and Rashan Gary, which is one of the best situations young defensive players can hope to find themselves in.