What a rush!
The Green Bay Packers are losing players to injury faster than they can replace them but on Thursday, they welcomed the latest addition in hopes of gaining another edge with their pass rush.
Whitney Mercilus says hello.
31 year old Whitney Mercilus checked in, donning number 50 at his first practice on Clarke Hinkle Field. The 10 year veteran, was released by the Houston Texans earlier this week, the team that drafted him in the first round out of Illinois in 2012. Mercilus said he could see handwriting on the wall, playing on a 1-5 team, an expensive veteran who signed a big extension two years ago, getting reduced playing time. The Texans cut him loose yet there were several teams on the horn with his agent soon thereafter. Kansas City was very interested but Mercilus opted, at less money, to join a contender in the NFC.
The last former Texan to arrive in Green Bay was wide receiver Randall Cobb, acquired in a trade at the behest of Aaron Rodgers and when he stepped in the media auditorium to meet reporters, he blurted out, “I’m reborn!”
The escape from Houston was heard all the way back to Texas where Mercilus would be toiling for another couple of months.
Head Coach Matt LaFleur met briefly with Mercilus and said, “Everything I’ve heard about him as a man is A-plus.”
His new position coach, Mike Smith said it won’t take long to get him up to speed.
“He’s a 10 year veteran, this is not his first rodeo,” Smith said, “he knows what he’s doing, he knows how to rush.”
If Mercilus crams through the playbook language, he might get some spot duty against Washington on Sunday.
He was signed because Preston Smith suffered an oblique injury against Chicago last week and has not participated in practice. He at best will be listed as questionable in what could be the first game he’s missed in his NFL career.
Kevin King looks to be on the mend. He has been limited in practice recovering from a shoulder injury suffered in Cincinnati. If he’s not ready, Rasul Douglas, another in-season veteran signing by General Manager Brian Gutekunst is likely to start at cornerback.
Safety Darnell Savage has come through the concussion protocol. After sitting out Wednesday, Savage was limited on Thursday.
