Early on this season, the Green Bay Packers had a serious problem in the trenches. The coaching staff entered the year trusting an offensive line built largely from homegrown talent, foolishly believing its in-house options were ready for the responsibilities that come with blocking in the NFL. Through the first three weeks, Green Bay’s starters consistently misidentified blocking assignments, which left Jordan Love under constant duress and exposed the flaws in the organization’s preseason evaluations.
Two Defensive Line Targets After Key Injuries
Packers GM Brian Gutekunst responded by bringing in three veterans, with Laken Tomlinson starting three consecutive games from Weeks 4-6 (the Packers won all of those games) and Kevin Zeitler serving as a player-coach in practice. Mekhi Becton also provides insurance on the practice squad in case of any more injuries. However, just as Green Bay has begun to stabilize one side of the trenches, injuries have created a new crisis on the defensive front.
A season-ending torn Achilles for Javon Hargrave alongside injuries to Warren Brinson and Jonathan Ford have left the Packers dangerously thin along the interior defensive line. With just four healthy players available at the position, Green Bay may have to lean on rookies Chris McClellan and Anthony Campbell to keep its defense afloat. That creates a significant problem for a defense built around a base 3-4 scheme, but it could be solved by trading for or acquiring a critical veteran player.
A Scheme Under Pressure
The three-man front is the foundation of Jonathan Gannon’s defense. Its job is to control the line of scrimmage, absorb double teams, and keep linebackers free to attack ball carriers. Javon Hargrave provided the strength to overwhelm offensive linemen and disrupt running lanes, but his absence leaves a significant void. With Warren Brinson and Jonathan Ford also on injured reserve, rookies Chris McClellan and Anthony Campbell could be thrust into demanding roles over the next four games.
Rookie defensive linemen must learn to recognize blocking schemes, maintain gap discipline, and hold their ground against experienced NFL offensive lines. If McClellan and Campbell cannot hold up when starters Karl Brooks and Devonte Wyatt need a breather, opposing offenses could exploit open running lanes and limit Green Bay’s linebackers’ ability to make plays. The timing could hardly be worse, with the Packers set to face Jahmyr Gibbs, one of the NFL’s most dangerous running backs, on the road in Week 7.
Gannon understands how personnel can shape a defense’s effectiveness. His Philadelphia Eagles defense improved from 10th in total defense in 2021 to second in 2022, when the team recorded a franchise-record 70 sacks and reached the Super Bowl. Several factors contributed to that turnaround, but it demonstrated the importance of having the personnel to execute his scheme.
The first-year Packers defensive coordinator faces a far more difficult timeline in Green Bay than he did in Philadelphia. Without an offseason to address the weaknesses, Gannon must find solutions midseason while opposing offenses prepare to test his defense’s depleted interior. The return of Micah Parsons will undoubtedly bolster the pass rush, but the All-Pro edge rusher cannot solve the Packers’ problems at nose tackle.
Defensive tackle Jordon Riley, who was injured late last season, could provide relief, but he may be another two weeks away from returning. Brinson and Ford are also expected to remain sidelined until at least Week 11. Recent addition Mazi Smith and practice squad defensive tackle David Blay Jr. offer extra depth, but the Packers may need a more reliable solution to survive a brutal stretch of games that include two divisional opponents.
Two Targets to Fix the Trenches
With Green Bay dangerously thin along the interior defensive line, veteran free agent Larry Ogunjobi could offer an affordable short-term solution. The 32-year-old stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 305 pounds, with 134 career games and 27.5 sacks across nine NFL seasons.
However, Ogunjobi’s recent production raises concerns. After serving a six-game suspension in 2025 for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy, he recorded 19 tackles and four tackles for loss without a sack in ten games with Buffalo. He most recently tried out for the San Francisco 49ers in September but remains unsigned. His availability could make him an inexpensive midseason addition, but Green Bay would need to determine whether he can still hold his ground against double teams.
Veteran defensive tackle DaQuan Jones presents a more imposing, established option. At 6-foot-4 and 320 pounds, the 34-year-old has the size and proven experience to occupy blockers and keep linebackers clean in a 3-4 scheme.
Jones has played just 85 defensive snaps through six games with the New England Patriots, potentially opening the door for a larger role elsewhere. However, he remains under contract with the Patriots, which means Green Bay would need to negotiate a trade or wait for his release. Two years older than Ogunjobi, Jones carries his own age-related concerns, but his physical profile and established presence as a leader on the interior make him an intriguing target if the Packers can acquire him at a reasonable cost.
The Last Word
Green Bay fixed its offensive line by bringing in veterans, but the defensive front could now expose another roster-building failure. Obviously, injuries are unavoidable. However, the Packers’ run defense ranks 29th in the NFL with nine rushing touchdowns allowed, while its 44 rushing first downs surrendered are tied for fifth-most in the league.
Relying on four defensive tackles to survive a grueling NFL schedule only makes matters worse. The return of Micah Parsons will be great for the pass rush, but it will not fix the lack of size and depth inside. Whether through an affordable signing like Larry Ogunjobi or a trade for DaQuan Jones, the Packers must find reinforcements before opposing offenses exploit the weakness further. Green Bay already waited too long to address their offensive line. The team cannot afford to make the same mistake twice.
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Main Photo: [Mark J. Rebilas] – Reuters Connect