Green Bay, WI — The Green Bay Packers responded aggressively to the loss of starting defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt, adding almost 700 pounds of fresh power to the trenches in a two-part roster overhaul that could reshape their December identity.
Just 48 hours before their rivalry matchup with the Chicago Bears, the Packers signed Jordon Riley off the New York Giants’ practice squad — a 6-foot-5, 338-pound run-stopper with raw upside — and followed that move by claiming
Quinton Bohanna, the 6-foot-4, 355-pound interior anchor waived by the Seattle Seahawks.
Together, the additions deliver exactly what Green Bay needs: size, leverage, and physicality in the middle of a defensive line suddenly short-handed.
A Direct Response to Losing Devonte Wyatt
Wyatt’s placement on injured reserve left a glaring hole in the interior. Riley and Bohanna were added for one clear purpose —
stop the run immediately, especially with cold-weather games approaching in Chicago, Denver, Baltimore, and Minnesota.
Riley, 25, arrives with youthful potential. A 2023 seventh-round pick of the Giants, he flashed strong preseason tape and brings elite frame and strength for early-down situations. Green Bay views him as both immediate help and long-term depth.
Bohanna, meanwhile, brings experience. Across 39 career games, he has carved out a niche as a pure nose tackle — someone who wins with power, absorbs double teams, and sets up linebackers to make plays. He earned praise from former Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy for his improved pass-rush work before bouncing through Detroit, Tennessee, and Seattle.
The Packers Want to Play Cold-Weather Football Again
These are not finesse additions. These are December football additions.
With the schedule turning toward smash-mouth matchups and temperatures dropping, the Packers’ defensive strategy is crystal clear:
Bulk up. Control the A-gaps. Force teams into predictable downs.
Dan Quinn’s scheme depends on an anchor in the middle, and without Wyatt, the defense lacked that presence. Riley and Bohanna give Green Bay multiple solutions — one developmental, one established — and the flexibility to rotate fresh bodies in the trenches for the first time all season.
The Roster Move That Signals Urgency
Green Bay’s 53-man roster is now full, meaning activating WR Jayden Reed for Sunday would require another move. It’s a sign of how committed the Packers are to restoring defensive stability after weeks of attrition.
Bohanna’s arrival also adds an intriguing personality to the locker room. Known as “Big Bo,” he has one of the more unique backgrounds in the league — from Memphis grit to playing quarterback in high school, to becoming a team captain at Kentucky, to grinding through multiple NFL stops. His toughness and attitude match exactly what the Packers want in December.
The Packers Get Bigger, Stronger, and Tougher
No single player can replace Devonte Wyatt. But 693 pounds of defensive tackle?
That’s a statement.
One that says Green Bay refuses to let its season slip away in the trenches.
And with the NFC North on the line, the timing could not be better.
Bills Reunite With Former DE Who Has Been Released by the Team Three Times
reports the Bills are signing DE Shaq Lawson to the practice squad following a successful workout on Monday.
In correspondence, the Bills announced they have released DE Andre Jones Jr. from the practice squad.
Lawson, 31, is a former first-round pick of the Bills back in 2016 out of Clemson. He played out his four-year, $10.27 million rookie contract that included $9.82 million guaranteed and made a base salary of $1.85 million in the final year of the agreement.
The Dolphins signed Lawson to a three-year, $30 million deal in free agency in 2020. He was set to make base salaries of $7.9 million and $8.9 million in the final two years of the deal when Miami traded Lawson to the Texans as part of the trade for LB
After reworking his deal, the Texans later traded Lawson to the Jets at the start of the regular season for a sixth-round pick in 2022. He played out the 2021 season with the Jets and signed two one-year deals to return to the Bills in 2022 and 2023.