The Green Bay Packers hope to get a key performer back in the lineup on Sunday when they visit the Arizona Cardinals. Defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt hopes to return after missing the last game and a half due to injuries. His presence has been missed in the middle of the defensive line since his injury. The Packers could get a huge boost if Devonte Wyatt returns to the lineup this Sunday.

Packers Could Get a Huge Boost if Devonte Wyatt Returns: The Start of His Career

The Packers selected Wyatt with their second pick in the first round in 2022. In his first three NFL campaigns, the Georgia alum could not establish himself as a full-time player. He started only five total games in those three seasons with all of them coming in 2023. He recorded a career-high 5.5 sacks that season and followed that up with five sacks last season despite missing three games due to injury.

Wyatt provided the team with pressure on the quarterback in the middle of the defensive line. That became even more important in 2024 when Kenny Clark’s pass rush fell off as he played through a broken toe.

Wyatt’s play against the run was less consistent. That was what kept him from taking on a larger role in the defense. He played only 41 percent of the defensive snaps last season and 50 percent in 2023.

The Packers traded Clark in the trade that brought Micah Parsons to Green Bay just before the start of the season. They also opted not to re-sign T.J. Slaton, who had played nose tackle as a run stopping specialist. That meant Wyatt had an opportunity to take on a larger role this season.

A Strong Start to the Season

Wyatt got off to a great start for the Packers this season. The addition of Parsons gave him more one-on-one opportunities as Parsons drew double coverage. He recorded a sack in each of the first two games of the season and knocked down two passes. He also was among the league leaders in quarterback pressures among defensive tackles.

The Green Bay defense was dominant in the first three games of the season. No team gained 250 total yards in game against the Pack. That included explosive offenses like the Lions and Commanders. The defense also started off strong against the Cowboys but started to struggle and gave up a lot of yards after Wyatt got hurt and had to leave the game. All 40 points the Cowboys scored happened after the injury.

Without Wyatt putting pressure on quarterbacks up the middle, quarterbacks like Dak Prescott were able to step up and evade the pass rushers coming off the edge. As a result, the defense gave up more yards especially through the air.

Parsons himself admitted the Packers missed Wyatt. “He’s under looked in his value on this team,” Parsons told reporters.

Packers Could Get a Huge Boost if Devonte Wyatt Returns: The Outlook

Wyatt now hopes to return Sunday against the Cardinals. He did not practice Wednesday, but head coach Matt LaFleur said he would give the defensive tackle the full week to try to recover and get healthy enough to return. Since he was injured, LaFleur said Wyatt was “week to week.” The Packers did not choose to place him on the injured reserve, meaning they expected him to miss fewer than four games.

“He’s getting closer,” LaFleur told reporters Wednesday. “He won’t go [today], but we’ll give him the week.”

Green Bay’s defense was better in nearly all statistical categories with Wyatt in the lineup. That is due to a combination of Wyatt’s strong play and the Packers lack of proven depth behind him. Last week against Cincinnati, rookie sixth-round pick Warren Brinson saw his first action of the season and played well. Still, he’s not yet on the level of Wyatt.

The Packers signed Wyatt’s to a fifth-year option so he will return to Green Bay in 2026. They may still seek to sign him to a long-term extension before this season ends.

For now, getting Wyatt healthy and back in the lineup would make a big difference for the Green Bay defense against the Cardinals and for the rest of the season.

 

 

 

 

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