Packers S Josh Jones Seeking Trade
In 2017, the Packers selected safety Josh Jones in the second round of the draft. Two years later, the defensive back is seeking a trade. As ESPN’s Rob Demovsky reports, Jones is skipping the Packers’ OTAs with the hope of forcing a trade.
A source told Demovsky that Jones “believes it would be best for both him and the Packers if they parted ways.” The 24-year-old continues to work out with a trainer in Florida as he prepares for training camp. Jones had previously reported to the start of offseason workouts back in April.
“I have not talked to him,” said head coach Matt LaFleur (via the Associated Press). “I’m just going to focus on the guys that are here. That’s something that I know [general manager Brian Gutekunst] has a good handle on that situation.”
Jones has spent his entire brief career in Green Bay, although he’s yet to emerge as a full-time starter. The safety seemingly took a step back during his sophomore season, finishing with 55 tackles, one sack, and two passes defended in 13 games (five starts). Pro Football Focus ended up ranking Jones 70th among 93 eligible safeties.
The Packers invested heavily on the safety position this offseason. The team inked former Bears safety Adrian Amos to a four-year, $36MM deal. The Packers later traded up in the first round to select Maryland safety Darnell Savage Jr..
Quinton Dial Retires From NFL
Former 49ers and Packers defensive tackle Quinton Dial announced his retirement late Thursday night, via social media. Dial leaves the sport after five seasons and a recent knee surgery that made him reconsider his future. 
“I want to thank the San Francisco 49ers and the Green Bay Packers for the opportunity that you gave a country boy from a small town in Alabama when no one else would,” Dial wrote. “To the fans, thanks for the countless memories that have made the last five years something special…I knew this day would come, but I didn’t know when. That is why I’ve prepared myself since becoming an NFL player; because you are one play away from your career being over. I’ve faced a lot of injuries throughout my career and I feel it is in my best interest to hang up the cleats and pursue another career.”
Dial notched 145 tackles with 4.5 sacks over the course of his career. He was out of the league in 2018, so today’s news doesn’t come as a huge surprise.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/15/19
oday’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived: LB Ejuan Price
Carolina Panthers
- Claimed off waivers: TE Temarrick Hemingway
- Signed: TE Ethan Wolf
Detroit Lions
- Waived: WR Brandon Reilly
Green Bay Packers
- Waived: WR Matt Eaton
Kansas City Chiefs
- Claimed off waivers: G Zack Golditch
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: DB Jake Gervase, WR Jalen Greene, LB Ketner Kupp, DT Bryant Jones
Miami Dolphins
- Waived/injured: C Connor Hilliard, S Rob Rolle
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived: S Cameron Glenn
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: WR Joe Parker
Washington Redskins
- Waived: TE Elkanah Dillon
More Minor NFL Transactions: 5/13/19
Here’s the latest round of minor moves from around the NFL (for this morning’s minor moves, click here):
Carolina Panthers
- Waived: TE Thomas Duarte
Detroit Lions
- Signed: LB Juwon Young
- Released: LB Tre’ Williams
Green Bay Packers
- Claimed off waivers: DB Mike Tyson (from Texans)
New England Patriots
- Released: WR Xavier Ubosi, OL Calvin Anderson
New York Giants
- Signed: DL Freedom Akinmoladun
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: QB Devlin Hodges, DT Greg Gilmore, WR Johnny Holton, DE Henry Mondeaux, OL Damian Prince, LB Tuzar Skipper
- Released: LB Keion Adams, DE Jay Hayes, DT Chris Nelson, OL R.J. Prince, QB Brogan Roback, WR Ka’Raun White
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: FB Michael Burton, DL Geneo Grissom, OL Marcus Henry, OL Ulrick John, LB Colton Jumper, RB A.J. Ouellette, CB David Simmons Jr., WR Micah Wright
- Released: RB Darnell Holland, DT Tomasi Laulile, CB Darius Williams
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived: QB Taryn Christion, TE Mik’Quan Deane
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: DB Kareem Orr, WR Joe Parker, DB D’Andre Payne, DB LaDarius Riley
- Waived: DB Jonathan Crawford, DB Taj-Amir Torres, WR Isaac Zito
- Waived-injured: DB Hamp Cheevers
Washington Redskins
- Signed: DE Jonathan Bonner, G Jerald Foster, DB Deion Harris, DL Austin Maloata, RB Craig Reynolds
- Waived: RB Russell Hansbrough, DB Joshua Holsey, OT Roubbens Joseph
Packers Sign Rookie OL Elgton Jenkins
The Packers are almost finished signing their entire draft class. General manager Brian Gutekunst announced today that the team has signed second-round offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins.
The team used their lone second-rounder (44th overall) on the Mississippi State product. The six-foot-four, 310-pound lineman had a standout college career, allowing only a single sack over his final two seasons (762 snaps). Jenkins started 34 games during his time at Mississippi State, including 26 at center.
The lineman has also spent time at both offensive tackle and offensive guard, and his versatility will make him an intriguing prospect in Green Bay. The organization signed veteran Billy Turner earlier this offseason, and the team is also rostering capable starters in David Bakhtiari, Lane Taylor, Corey Linsley, and Bryan Bulaga. In other words, despite his draft position, Jenkins may be starting the season on the bench.
With today’s signing, the Packers have now inked seven of their eight picks to contracts, including first-rounders defensive end Rashan Gary and safety Darnell Savage. Third-round tight end Jace Sternberger is the lone draft pick who remains unsigned.
LaFleur Didn't Have Final Say On Assistant Coaches?
The Packers have had a drama-filled offseason. Various media reports have detailed extensive dysfunction in the organization during the final days of the Mike McCarthy era, and Aaron Rodgers has feuded publicly with old teammates like Greg Jennings. Green Bay is looking to put all the drama behind them this season, and seem to be very excited about starting fresh with new coach Matt LaFleur. Those around the team are hoping that LaFleur will provide some desperately needed energy to the team, and will help push and revitalize Rodgers.
Apparently the Packers weren’t willing to cede too much control to the first-time head coach however. Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes that LaFleur “wasn’t the sole decision-maker” when it came to filling out his coaching staff. “Defensive coordinator Mike Pettine was not forced on LaFleur, but the new coach was strongly encouraged to keep him,” Silverstein writes, and it sounds like other assistant coaching decisions may not have been left up to LaFleur. Team president Mark Murphy has strongly denied that LaFleur wasn’t allowed to pick his own staff.
Silverstein points out that the Packers currently have a chaotic power structure with LaFleur, GM Brian Gutekunst, and director of football operations Russ Ball all reporting directly to Murphy, and many in the organization worry that’s a dynamic that is going to lead to dysfunction. This isn’t a great start for LaFleur’s tenure, but winning a few games early on will make all of this worry go away pretty quickly.
Packers Sign Two Draft Picks
The Packers have moved one step closer to wrapping up their 2019 rookie class, as the club recently announced it has signed fifth-round defensive tackle Kingsley Keke and sixth-round cornerback Ka’dar Hollman.
Keke (6’4″, 305) projects as an interior rusher for the Packers, and his performance at the Senior Bowl was impressive enough for Mike Renner of Pro Football Focus to label the Texas A&M product one of the steals of the 2019 draft. During his final season with the Aggies, Keke posted 7.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss while ranking 16th in among all NCAA interior defenders in run-stop percentage. He might not see much playing time during his first season in Green Bay, as he’s currently behind Mike Daniels, Kenny Clark, Dean Lowry, and Montravius Adams on the team’s defensive line depth chart.
Hollman may have an even more difficult path to playing time than Keke, as he’s stuck behind Jaire Alexander, Kevin King, Josh Jackson, and a host of other defensive backs. However, Hollman does possess elite athletic traits, as his 9.23 Relative Athletic Score places him near the upper echelon of historical cornerback averages. As Kent Lee Platte of SB Nation recently noted on Twitter, Green Bay has been targeting prospects with excellent athletic testing results in each of the past four drafts.
With Keke and Hollman now under contract, the Packers have only two unsigned draft choices remaining: second-round offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins and third-round tight end Jace Sternberger.
Former Packers GM Ted Thompson Diagnosed With Autonomic Disorder
Earlier today, former Packers general manager Ted Thompson revealed that he’s been suffering from an autonomic disorder. The executive noted that his health played a major role in him stepping away from his job as the head of Green Bay’s front office.
“Late in the 2017 season, Mark Murphy and I had a conversation about my health and future with the Packers,” Thompson said in a statement. “At that time, we mutually agreed that it was in the best interests of myself and the organization to step away from my role as general manager. In consultation with team physician Dr. John Gray, I began a complete health evaluation that has included second opinions over the last year from the Medical College of Wisconsin, the Mayo Clinic and the UT Southwestern Medical Center.
I have been diagnosed with an autonomic disorder. I feel that it’s important to mention that based on the test results and opinions of medical specialists, they feel that I do not fit the profile of someone suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).”
In January of 2018, Thompson took on a new role with the organization. The organization ended up promoting former director of player personnel Brian Gutekunst to general manager, with Thompson sliding into the position of senior advisor to football operations.
Following a nine-year playing career with the Oilers, Thompson became the Packers’ general manager in 2005. He has been with the organization through two stints since 1992. During his first offseason at the helm, Thompson selected Aaron Rodgers with the 24th overall pick. Green Bay has been among the best teams in the draft since Thompson’s arrival, plucking stars like Clay Matthews and Jordy Nelson.
Under Thompson’s watch, the team advanced to the playoffs nine times and won the Super Bowl in 2010.
Jawill Davis To Compete For Return Specialist Role
- The Packers claimed wide receiver Jawill Davis off waivers from the Giants earlier today, and Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes that Davis will compete for a return specialist role. Davis appeared in seven games for Big Blue last season, returning 12 punts and seven kickoffs. He also caught four passes for 40 yards.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/6/19
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: DE Aaron Adeoye, CB Terrell Bonds, OT Darrell Williams
- Waived: DB Robertson Daniel, S Evan Worthington, OL C.J. Toogood
Chicago Bears
- Signed: OL Tommy Doles, DE Jalen Dalton
- Cut: DB Adarius Pickett, DE Lawrence Marshall
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: CB Jhavonte Dean, RB Travon Gray, LB Willie Harvey
Green Bay Packers
- Claimed: WR Jawill Davis
- Signed: WR Darrius Shepherd, CB Chandon Sullivan
- Released: RB Lavon Coleman
Kansas City Chiefs
- Reserve/non-football injury list: DE Tim Ward
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: LB Bryce Hager
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: CB Terrance Alexander, DE Stacy Keely, DB Isaiah Wharton
New England Patriots
- WR Xavier Ubosi
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DT Kenny Bigelow Jr., RB Devine Ozigbo, CB Jordan Wyatt
New York Giants
- Signed: G Austin Droogsma
New York Jets
- Waived: QB Brandon Silvers
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: P A.J. Cole, DT Ronald Ollie
- Waived: P Drew Kaser, OL Jamar McGloster
San Francisco 49ers
- Claimed: OL Willie Beavers,
- Signed: LB LaRoy Reynolds, RB Austin Walter
- Waived: RB Matthew Dayes, DL Ryan Delaire