Lattimore visits New York Jets

Green Bay Packers free-agent linebacker Jamari Lattimore is visiting the New York Jets, the team announced Wednesday.

It's the first reported interest Lattimore has received since free agency began last week. After cutting A.J. Hawk and Brad Jones last month, it's conceivable the Packers are allowing the 6-foot-2, 229-pound linebacker to walk in their bid to revamp the position.

Lattimore, 26, was one of three undrafted rookies to make the Packers' roster in 2011. A defensive end at Middle Tennessee State, he converted to a 3-4 outside linebacker during his rookie season before shifting inside in 2012.

A fixture on special teams, Lattimore has played in 49 games with nine starts. He's totaled 66 tackles with two sacks, and an interception on defense and 19 tackles in kick coverage. He was voted a special-teams captain during the 2012 playoffs.

The Packers always have liked Lattimore's ranginess and athleticism. So much that they gave him a right-of-first-refusal tender last offseason when he was a restricted free agent out of fear another team may swoop in if they relinquished his rights.

Lattimore had a career-best 39 tackles with an interception before suffering an ankle injury against New England on Nov. 30 that ultimately landed him on injured reserve. He started five games in place of an injured Jones before falling out of the rotation.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy said at last month's NFL scouting combine that the organization plans to address inside linebacker this offseason. They currently have only one natural inside linebacker with any NFL in-game experience on the roster in Sam Barrington.

-whodkiew@pressgazettemedia.com and follow him on Twitter @WesHod.