The Green Bay Packers have added depth to their defensive line.
The Green Bay Packers have made a move on their defensive line, claiming defensive tackle Jonathan Ford off of waivers from the Chicago Bears.
Ford was drafted by Green Bay in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He spent time with the Packers from 2022 to 2024 before playing for Chicago.
This move comes after defensive tackle Jordon Riley suffered a season-ending injury in Week 17 against the Baltimore Ravens. That's another injury to a defense that has been ravaged by injuries, with superstar pass rusher Micah Parsons going down with a torn ACL and defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt out for the season with a fractured ankle.
The losses on the defensive line were felt in the Packers' loss to the Ravens, as they allowed 307 yards rushing. Derrick Henry had a dominant game, rushing for 216 yards and four touchdowns on 36 carries.
If the Packers want to make a deep run, they will need to improve their run defense heading into the postseason.
Green Bay takes on the Minnesota Vikings in Week 18 in a final game to build momentum. Going into the playoffs on a four-game losing streak would be far from ideal.
The Vikings are coming off a win over the Detroit Lions, where they rushed for 158 yards. However, a 65-yard touchdown rush by wide receiver Jordan Addison skews their success on the ground.
Running back Aaron Jones added 53 yards and a touchdown, but did so on 18 carries (2.9 yards per carry). Ty Chandler had 24 yards on seven carries (3.4 yards per carry).
With Minnesota's offensive line banged up, this is a game where the Packers can stop the run and gain confidence ahead of the playoffs.
As the No. 7 seed in the playoffs, the Packers will face either the Chicago Bears or Philadelphia Eagles. Both of those teams have strong run games and will be a major challenge for Green Bay.
While Ford won't solve all of the Packers' problems stopping the run, he adds depth to an injured room and could play a role on their defensive line down the stretch.