Edgerrin Cooper’s former college teammate will assist the Green Bay Packers at linebacker during training camp as they wait for him to recover.
Aaron Wilson, an NFL insider, announced to X that linebacker Chris Russell was being signed by the Packers. Cooper was a teammate of the former Texas A&M Aggie linebacker throughout their collegiate careers.
Following a good team workout, Russell was signed. Linebacker Isaiah Moore, running back Nate McCrary, and former Houston Texans running back Gerrid Doaks were among the other players brought in for drills.
Russell was the only player signed straight out of training. For the former Aggies linebacker, who is attending his first NFL training camp, it will be a fantastic opportunity.
Chris Russell: Who Is He?
Russell has not been seen as an NFL-caliber linebacker by the rest of the league. He does, however, have a ton of college experience when he joins Green Bay.
In 2019, Russell was a three-star prospect out of Tennessee. He received offers from several SEC schools, such as Arkansas and Auburn, before deciding to play for Texas A&M.
Russell quickly became aware of the field in college. Over the following few years, he made his way into the defensive rotation despite initially serving mostly on special teams. With 66 tackles, seven tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and a forced fumble in 2022, he had his greatest season to date.
Russell’s best performance came in his last college season, even though his output declined in 2023. Russell picked off a batted ball in the third quarter of a close game against Arkansas and returned it all the way for a score.
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Russell is 6-foot-0 and weighs 235 pounds, making him a smaller frame candidate for the NFL. He did, however, perform well during the pre-draft process, recording a Relative Athletic Score of 8.58 with a solid timing of 4.54 seconds for the 40-yard dash.
Russell’s tape wasn’t good enough to be drafted. After attending the Packers rookie minicamp, he’s been waiting for another opportunity and is returning to Green Bay to compete for a position on the practice squad.
The Packers’ Destroyed Linebacker Position
By Week 1, the majority of Green Bay’s linebackers ought to be ready to play. Sadly, as we approach the second preseason game, that isn’t the situation at this time.
There are several injuries at the position for the Packers. One of the rookies that Packers supporters were most excited to see in the first game was Edgerrin Cooper. Rather, he hasn’t returned to practice since the end of July due to a hip issue that has sidelined him.
Cooper’s return date is unknown, but it’s expected that he’ll be fit for the regular season. After battling an ankle issue, fellow rookie linebacker Ty’Ron Hopper made his practice debut on August 13.
These two rookies’ injuries could seriously hinder their capacity to adjust to the NFL game. In the first few weeks, they’ll probably be very rusty or Matt LaFleur will probably hold them back and ease them into the rotation while they try to adjust to Green Bay’s defensive scheme.
In any case, Quay Walker, a former first-round selection, will have to deal with an even heavier workload in 2024. Eric Wilson and Isaiah McDuffie should also see some early-season reps.
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