Morning Buzz: Injury bug bit Packers hard in 2017
Aaron NaglerWelcome to your Morning Buzz, rounding up news and views regarding the Green Bay Packers and the NFL from around the web and here at PackersNews.com. Grab a strong cup of coffee and get caught up on everything you need to know about the Packers.
We’ll start with Tom Silverstein writing on the news that the Packers are planning on bringing back cornerback Tramon Williams.
The 6-foot, 192-pound Williams had a bounce-back year for the Cardinals last season. He signed with the team four months after the Browns released him and was inactive for one game and a backup for five games before replacing Justin Bethel in the starting lineup.
Williams played a heavy dose of press coverage during his years in Green Bay, six under defensive coordinator Dom Capers. Last season, he played in defensive coordinator James Bettcher’s blitz-heavy system and was credited with solidifying the secondary.
Pro Bowl corner Patrick Peterson covered the opposing team’s best receiver, but Williams was left to cover the No. 2. He totaled 41 tackles, 12 pass breakups and two interceptions in the games he played.
The Packers are perilously thin at the corner position after trading 2015 first-round pick Damarious Randall to the Browns. Rookie starter Kevin King is coming off shoulder surgery and veteran starter Davon House is a free agent.
The Packers are expected to address the corner position in the draft and may have one of the youngest cornerback corps in the NFL this season. Williams is a high character person who had a good influence on younger players during his latter years with the Packers.
Tom also wrote on former Bills and Eagles receiver Jordan Matthews making a free-agent visit:
Ryan Wood writes on Muhammad Wilkerson’s fresh start:
I chatted with readers via Facebook Live about the Tramon Williams news:
Jordy Nelson said farewell to Packers fans:
There’s at least one Lambeau regular that is lamenting Ed Hochuli’s retirement:
Elsewhere, the Packers were indeed hit by injuries in 2017:
Can Kevin King be the Packers' top dog at cornerback?
Mike Daniels wants the Packers to draft another Hawkeye:
Adam Schefter thinks an Aaron Rodgers deal gets done before a Matt Ryan deal:
The Packers are reportedly doing their homework on at least one long-snapper prospect:
Rob Demovsky says it’s time for Josh Jones to deliver:
Williams' return has lots of people going down memory lane:
Speaking of memory lane…
The NFL will consider several rules changes next week during the annual meetings: