Packers Re-Sign Linebacker Eric Wilson

The Green Bay Packers continued their offseason focus on special teams by keeping linebacker Eric Wilson.

Author:
Bill Huber
Updated:
Mar 25, 2023 4:53 PM EDT
Original:
Mar 25, 2023

In this story:

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers re-signed linebacker Eric Wilson on Saturday, the latest special-teams standout retained by the team in free agency.

Wilson was signed off the Saints’ practice squad following their trip to London, then went right back to London with Green Bay. In 13 games, he was in on 13 tackles on special teams – tied for the team lead.

While special teams will be his niche, he’ll have an opportunity to contribute on defense. Krys Barnes, who started 23 games in 2020 and 2021, was not retained as a restricted free agent. While Isaiah McDuffie will return as the primary backup to De’Vondre Campbell and Quay Walker, there is a role on defense to be won. Even with the rise of McDuffie, Barnes played 141 snaps on defense in 2022.

With Minnesota in 2020, Wilson started 15 games and stuffed the stat sheet with 122 tackles, including three sacks and eight for losses, and added three interceptions and one forced fumble.

It’s been a great offseason for special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia. The Packers also have re-signed All-Pro returner and cornerback Keisean Nixon, safety Rudy Ford, tight end Tyler Davis and cornerback Corey Ballentine. Their lone offseason additions were safety Tarvarius Moore and Super Bowl champion long snapper Matt Orzech.

Kicker Mason Crosby and safety Dallin Leavitt, two more special teams standouts, remain unsigned.

Of the team’s eight players with 145-plus snaps on special teams in 2022, only Leavitt is not under contract.

“He’s a really solid defender, and he’s really good on (special) teams,” coach Matt LaFleur said when the team added Wilson last year. “We’re lucky to pick up a guy like that. He’s got a lot of versatility. He can run really well and he’s physical.”

Wilson, who will turn 29 early this coming season, got his first tattoo while he was in high school. It’s his last name on his left pectoral. It’s a Wilson football.

“Me and a group of friends actually did it in high school,” he recalled. “All of our last names are Wilson. One was my running back, one was the quarterback and I played receiver. So, all of our last names were Wilson so we got a Wilson (tattoo). One has it on their arm. Another one has it on their back. I have this one.”

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Here is the latest on Green Bay Packers free agency.

Receivers – Signed: Allen Lazard (Jets); Unsigned: Randall Cobb

Lazard, who led Green Bay in receptions in 2022, signed a four-year deal with the Jets that averaged $11 million per season and could net the Packers a fourth-round compensatory pick. Lazard presumably will join Garrett Wilson as top targets for Rodgers.

“He works out the same place I do,” Lazard said during his introductory news conference. “We were able to cross paths and just connect a little bit on what we were thinking and everything, but there was no trying to do this in a sense. We were both trying to do what's right for the both of us, and his situation is a little bit different with his career and everything and where I want to take my career and the next step. Sitting here today, obviously, it feels good ‘12’ is going to be my quarterback again.”

Tight ends – Signed: Robert Tonyan (Bears); Unsigned: Marcedes Lewis

The free-agent case for Lewis is an interesting one. The Packers, obviously, are going young on offense and this is a strong draft class of tight ends. On the other hand, with the team transitioning to Jordan Love at quarterback, a powerful running game would be especially useful. Blocking is the strength of Lewis’ game.

The Jets expressed interest in Lewis, too, but they’re pretty well set at tight end with Tyler Conklin and CJ Uzomah.

The longer Lewis remains unsigned, the greater the odds that he’ll remain a free agent until after the draft, at which point teams and Lewis will consider their options.

Tonyan, who among tight ends was No. 1 in catch percentage (84.1) and drop percentage (one; 1.9 percent), returned to his native Illinois on a one-year deal with the rival Bears. With the 2021 ACL injury a year in the rear-view mirror, he hopes to parlay this contract into something bigger next offseason.

Defensive line – Signed: Dean Lowry (Vikings), Jarran Reed (Seahawks)

Reed, who provided some juice on the pass rush, and Lowry, whose consecutive-games streak ended in January at 101 games, played almost 1,200 snaps last season. While not great players, that’s a huge void. Kenny Clark and the unproven tandem of Devonte Wyatt and TJ Slaton are the only defensive linemen on the roster who’ve played in a game. Expect the Packers to draft a player and add a low-cost veteran.

Both players will bring back compensatory picks in 2024.

Outside linebacker – Re-signed: Justin Hollins

Claimed off waivers just before Thanksgiving, Hollins provided quality depth following Rashan Gary’s torn ACL. Back on a one-year contract, Hollins, Gary, Preston Smith, and Kingsley Enagbare will provide a quality four-man rotation though a big-swing draft pick could be on the way.

Inside linebacker – Re=signed: Eric Wilson

Signed off the Saints’ practice squad on Oct. 4 following their trip to London, Wilson made his Packers debut in London the following week. Even while not playing a full season, he tied for the team lead with 13 tackles on special teams. The Packers did not retain Krys Barnes, so there was a spot on the roster for a linebacker - especially someone proficient on special teams, which has been the team's offseason direction.

Cornerbacks – Re-signed: Keisean Nixon, Corey Ballentine

Nixon changed the season and the state of Green Bay’s special teams, which is why he’s back on a one-year deal that’s worth $4.25 million with incentives that could push the value to $6 million.

Getting his first shot in Week 6, Nixon led the NFL with a 28.8-yard average on kickoff returns. Among players with at least 20 runbacks, he led the league by 2.5 yards over Minnesota’s Kene Nwangwu and 4.7 yards over the third-place returner, Cleveland’s Jerome Ford. He also averaged 12.7 yards per punt return. Had he had enough returns to qualify among the leaders, he would have ranked second.

Safeties – Unsigned: Adrian Amos, Dallin Leavitt: Re-signed: Rudy Ford

Will it be Darnell Savage and Ford starting at safety in Week 1? Or will Amos return for a fifth season? The standout veteran remains a free agent, though he visited with his hometown Baltimore Ravens on Thursday. Amos, who will turn 30 next month, started all 71 possible games (playoffs included) in four seasons in Green Bay and set a career high in tackles in 2022.

In his first five seasons, Ford had one interception, three passes defensed and six starts. Picked up from Jacksonville at the end of training camp, Ford had three interceptions, three passes defensed and six starts. He is fast and physical.

Leavitt, who joined special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia after spending the past few seasons with the Raiders, is unsigned. The Packers might have signed his replacement with fellow safety Tarvarius Moore.

Kicker – Unsigned Mason Crosby

Crosby has scored a franchise-record 1,918 points – more than the next two players on Green Bay’s career list combined and threatening the NFL’s top-10 list. General manager Brian Gutekunst thought Crosby’s leg issues last year stemmed from offseason knee surgery rather than age.

Kicking in the deep-freeze cold of Lambeau Field is different. In January home games (regular season and playoffs), Crosby is 27-of-30, or 90 percent. During those same games, opposing kickers made 27-of-36, or 75.0 percent.

The thought was Crosby’s future was tied to that of Rodgers. Would the Packers really reload for another shot at a championship with an unproven kicker? That seemed unlikely. With a new quarterback, it might time for a new kicker, as well.