With Campbell Injured, Packers Working Out Two Linebackers

The Green Bay Packers are bringing in a couple free-agent linebackers for a workout ahead of the final week of the preseason

Author:
Jacob Westendorf
Updated:
Aug 20, 2023 9:22 PM EDT
Original:
Aug 20, 2023

GREEN BAY, Wis. – NFL general managers are always mining for gold. In a business where there are no off days, the Green Bay Packers are bringing in free agent linebackers Marvin Pierre and Ian Swenson for workouts.

The news was first reported by NFL insider Aaron Wilson. A source in confirming those workouts said they would take place on Monday.

Pierre is an undrafted rookie from Kent State. He was with the Arizona Cardinals earlier this offseason but was released on June 8 after the team was awarded a waiver claim for cornerback Kyler McMichael.

Pierre was selected by the Houston Roughnecks in the XFL Draft in June to play for former Dallas Cowboys coach Wade Phillips.

At Kent State’s pro day, he measured 6-foot-1 1/2 and 222 pounds and flashed big-time athleticism with a 4.57 in the 40-yard dash and 40.5-inch vertical leap.

Pierre was a graduate student from Murray State who also played at Butler Community College before spending his final two seasons at Kent State. During his final season, he had 96 tackles, including 7.5 for losses, with one interception, two forced fumbles and two pass breakups. He had eight tackles against Oklahoma before a three-game stretch of at least 11 tackles.

The highlight of his final season was an interception he returned for a touchdown against Bowling Green in a 40-6 victory for the Golden Flashes.

Ian Swenson (Photo by USA Today Sports Images)

Also an undrafted rookie, Swenson spent time with the Houston Texans this offseason and had a tryout with the New York Jets at their rookie minicamp.

At Connecticut, Swenson recorded 88 tackles and a half-sack during his final season. In four seasons, he totaled 242 tackles, three sacks, 14 tackles for losses, four passes defensed and two forced fumbles.

Like Pierre, he is incredibly explosive. At 6-foot-1 1/8 and 217 pounds, he ran his 40 in 4.57 seconds with a 41.5-inch vertical at the Huskies’ pro day.

The Packers have a strong depth chart at linebacker, starting with Quay Walker lining up alongside De'Vondre Campbell. Campbell is battling through an ankle injury that general manager Brian Gutekunst doesn't believe will affect his status for the first week of the regular season.

The projected backups are Isaiah McDuffie and Eric Wilson. McDuffie took a solid second-year jump last season and Wilson had been a productive starter with the Vikings. They tied for No. 1 on the team with 13 tackles on special teams last season.

Tariq Carpenter is mostly a special teamer and going through a position change after being drafted as a safety. Jimmy Phillips, an undrafted rookie, rounds out the depth chart.