Clay Matthews Pleased With Move Outside
- Clay Matthews says he never pressured Packers head coach Mike McCarthy to move him back to outside linebacker, but he did admit to Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com that he hoped the transition inside would be short-lived. Matthews is set to return to his pass-rushing role again in 2016, as Green Bay will roll with Jake Ryan, Sam Barrington, and fourth-round rookie Blake Martinez at inside ‘backer.
Packers Waive Two, Sign One
- The Packers have waived two rookies, receiver Devonte Robinson (non-football illness) and guard Cory Tucker, and signed first-year guard Lucas Patrick, writes Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com.
Packers Swap Quarterbacks
- Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweets that the Packers have cut quarterback Ryan Williams and replaced him with Marquise Williams. The team’s new 6-2 signal-caller out of North Carolina will join a quarterback grouping that includes Aaron Rodgers, Brett Hundley, and Joe Callahan.
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Packers Release Vince Kowalski
- The Packers released guard/tackle Vince Kowalski, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com tweets.
Packers Open To Re-Signing John Kuhn
In recent weeks, we have heard conflicting reports on whether the Packers intend on bringing back fullback John Kuhn. Earlier this month, one report cited an NFL source claiming that “mutual interest” remained between the two sides with ongoing talks. However, the next day, a separate report cited a Packers source saying the team had “moved on” from the veteran. This week, coach Mike McCarthy went on the record and indicated that the team has not ruled out a reunion with Kuhn. 
“Player acquisition is year round so I would never say doors are closed, especially on any of our former players, especially John Kuhn,” McCarthy said (link via the Journal-Sentinel). “As far as his situation, we’re still focused on the players we have right now. So as far as John and his future, those are probably questions for other people. But I don’t think you ever close the door. But guys filled out our roster and right now we’re working and focusing on these young players.”
The Packers don’t necessarily need Kuhn after selecting fullback Aaron Ripkowski in the sixth round of the 2015 draft. Beyond the second-year man, Green Bay also added undrafted free agent Alstevis Squirewell this offseason. Still, Kuhn has an intimate knowledge of the team’s offense and he’s a popular figure within the Packers’ locker room. The 33-year-old has spent the last nine seasons with the Packers, a stretch that is topped only by quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who has been with the club for eleven seasons.
Kuhn was also in limbo last offseason despite being the fullback on the 2014 All-Pro first team. Ultimately, he agreed to play for the league minimum in April 2015. In total, Kuhn played in 23.4% of the Packers’ offensive snaps last season.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/18/16
Today’s minor moves:
- The Browns claimed kicker Jaden Oberkrom off waivers from the Jaguars, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter). Waived by the Jags on Monday to make room for veteran guard Jeff Linkenbach, Oberkrom kicked for four years at TCU, making 79-of-100 field goals for the Horned Frogs. He’ll join Travis Coons and Brad Craddock as Cleveland’s rostered kickers. However, the Browns are searching for help after Coons had four kicks blocked last season, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
- The Panthers have added wide receiver Avius Capers to the roster, as David Newton of ESPN.com tweets. Capers is a familiar face for the Panthers, having spent time with the team in training camp last year. As of this writing, Carolina has a dozen receivers on its roster.
- The Colts are signing former New Mexico State corner Winston Rose following a successful private workout, Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle tweets. Rose boasts a 4.37-second 40-yard-dash time and his speed has led to NFL attention.
- The Packers have signed safety Jermaine Whitehead, according to a source who spoke with Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. Whitehead finished last season with Baltimore, who signed him late in the year off San Francisco’s practice squad.
Mike Neal Won’t Rule Out Packers Return
During the draft, linebacker Mike Neal made some waves when he took to Twitter and expressed his feeling that the team’s third-round selection of Utah State linebacker Kyler Fackrell would spell the end of his time in Green Bay. Soon after, team director of player personnel Eliot Wolf said that the veteran free agent has “moved on” from the team. However, Neal tells Michael Cohen of the Journal-Sentinel that his infamous tweet was meant to be sarcastic and the veteran still won’t rule out a return to the Packers. 
“I’m not here to throw anyone under the bus,” Neal said, while adding that he “definitely” wants to continue playing football. “I love Green Bay. They’ve started my life off great, so how can you ever be mad at that? You know what I’m saying? You can never be mad at that. That’s just a business, that’s what they choose to do. I’m in a good place. I couldn’t be in a better place.”
Neal visited the Seahawks and Lions earlier this offseason but it doesn’t appear that either visit lead to a realistic contract offer. The linebacker also says that the Packers never made him a contract offer to return. During the opening stages of free agency, the Packers informed Neal’s agent that they would circle back once they had explored other targets of interest. After that time lapsed, Green Bay execs never called, and Neal, whose feelings were admittedly hurt, instructed his agent not to go chasing them.
Neal has been a key player for the Packers for years now, having recorded at least 4.0 sacks in each of the last four years. On paper, there’s little reason as to why he would be without a team in mid-May. However, Neal feels that the Al Jazeera report from 2015 has “heavily, heavily, heavily, heavily, heavily” influenced his free agency process. For what it’s worth, it doesn’t sound like the 28-year-old will face discipline over the PED accusations as he says the NFL has not contacted him about the documentary.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Latest On John Kuhn, Packers
As Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk points out, there have been conflicting reports lately about the possibility of fullback John Kuhn returning to the Packers for another season, with one outlet suggesting the team has moved on, while another says there’s “mutual interest” between the two sides. Kuhn has been a Packer since 2007 and has earned Pro Bowl nods in each of the last two years, but he’s no lock to be on Green Bay’s roster in 2016.
Packers Sign Kyler Fackrell
- The Packers have signed third-round linebacker Kyler Fackrell, the team announced today in a press release. Green Bay has now secured all but one of its seven draft picks, with only first-round defensive tackle Kenny Clark still unsigned.
Packers Reach Settlement With TE Grinnage
- The Packers have reached an injury settlement with tight end David Grinnage, who was signed as a rookie free agent (Twitter link via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com).