Guion's MCL sprain leads to Price signing

GREEN BAY — It's not looking like defensive lineman Letroy Guion will play Sunday against the Detroit Lions.

After spending the week rehabbing with a slim hope of being able to play, Guion missed a second straight day of practice with what he said was an MCL sprain, leading the Packers to sign practice squad defensive lineman Brian Price to the 53-man roster.

The Packers had only 52 players on their roster when they played the Minnesota Vikings last week, but general manager Ted Thompson made sure his team will be at capacity for the home opener Sunday afternoon and not short of defensive linemen with both Guion and Datone Jones, both of whom have knee injuries, sidelined this week.

Guion said his left knee got hit from the side during the Vikings game and that he will have to wear a brace when he returns to protect his MCL. Though he didn't rule himself out Sunday, Guion is a longshot to play given how gingerly he's moving and the bye week is coming after the Detroit game.

If he doesn't play, he would have a minimum of two weeks rest before having to practice for the New York Giants game Oct. 9.

Thompson signed Price to fill the 53rd roster spot, which had been vacant since the release of running back Jhurell Pressley shortly after the win over Jacksonville. Price signed with the Packers as an undrafted free agent from Texas-San Antonio and went through training camp in Green Bay before getting released during final cuts.

Price, who stands 6-2½ and weighs 325 pounds, came into camp as something of a project given his small-school background. But what he lacked in technique he made up for with intensity, and the coaching staff liked what they saw during the exhibition season. He finished training camp on a high note with a forced fumble and several effort-laced pass rushes against the Kansas City Chiefs.

"Brian is a high-energy guy, much like myself," defensive lineman Mike Daniels said. "I look forward to seeing him whenever he gets his name called because he's a guy that's always talking about giving maximum effort and he does no matter what he's doing. So that's going to be good. It's going to be nice to see him frustrate some offensive linemen, just by being a pest.

Price may have to play right away. If Jones can't play, the Packers will have to fill a spot in their base 3-4 defense and could start rookies Kenny Clark and Dean Lowry with Daniels. Price would have to spell Clark in those situations and possibly play Guion's spot in the early down nickel defense.

Thompson also wasted no time in filling Price's spot on the practice squad and chose to re-sign cornerback Robertson Daniel, another player released during final cuts. Daniel spent the majority of last season on the practice squad and went through training camp in Green Bay.

Daniel, a physical corner with good size and speed, was previously cut in favor of undrafted free agents Josh Hawkins and Makinton Dorleant.