Packers confirm ‘open competition’ at inside linebacker
Three players, with a fourth to be added soon, are competing to be the No. 2 inside linebacker next to Christian Kirksey for Mike Pettine’s Green Bay Packers defense.
Pettine confirmed there’s an “open competition” at the position between Oren Burks, Ty Summers, Kamal Martin and even Curtis Bolton, who remains on the PUP list.
“As far as the other spot, there’s open competition there,” Pettine said Friday. “Oren Burks. You’ve got Ty Summers. You’ve got Kamal, the draft pick. All those guys, they all have their own particular skill sets. Unfortunately, Curtis Bolton is not able to be out there just yet coming off the injury.”
Pettine and the Packers are hoping the competition can push at least one of the players to new heights as a featured player next to Kirksey.
“That’s the thing, Matt (LaFleur) always talks about it, how important it is, is competition,” Pettine said. “We’re hoping competition brings out the best in those guys.”
A job is open after B.J. Goodson, who played 254 snaps as the No. 2 linebacker last season, departed in free agency.
Burks, a third-round pick in 2018, is coming off two injury-plagued seasons to start his NFL career but might be the favorite to play the biggest role. He’s not only the most athletic, but he’s entering his third season in the system and is once again healthy to start camp.
“He’s healthy right now and running around out there,” inside linebackers Kirk Olivadotti said. “We’re working through the missed time he had the last two years.”
Summers played exclusively on special teams as a rookie but both LaFleur and GM Brian Gutekunst have expressed confidence in his ability to play more on defense in 2020. He’s tough and athletic and should be more comfortable in Year 2.
“He grew during the season,” Olivadotti said.
And don’t rule out the rookie.
“Kamal is a guy who really worked at it with all the Zoom stuff. When he got in here, he was mentally in a really good place, especially for a rookie,” Olivadotti said.
Bolton remains on the PUP list while recovering from last year’s torn ACL. He was impressive at times last summer.
The Packers are happy with Kirksey, who was signed to replace Blake Martinez in free agency.
Pettine said Kirksey has “been great” to start camp.
“Guys gravitated to him,” Pettine said. “He’s a good communicator on the field, good communicator off the field in the meeting room…He looks good. He’s running around well, he’s what we expected when we signed him.”
