The Green Bay Packers chose not to retain one of their former starters. While he hasn’t been a full-time starter, he has been asked to start 23 games over the last three seasons. In doing so, the Green Bay Packers showed confidence in the inside linebackers they currently have on the roster. According to a report, Lineback Kyrs Barnes will not return to the team.
Former Green Bay Packers Linebacker Kyrs Barnes Will Not Return To the Team
According to Bill Huber of Sports Illustrated:
The third of their restricted free agents, linebacker Krys Barnes, will not return, according to a source. The Packers will be looking for more speed as they round out the depth chart behind high-profile starters De’Vondre Campbell and Quay Walker. Isaiah McDuffie, a sixth-round pick in 2021 who impressed last season, will be back for his third season.
Barnes was quite a story. A former high school teammate of presumptive new Packers starting quarterback Jordan Love, Barnes went undrafted in 2020. He landed with Green Bay, failed to make the opening 53-man roster but wound up starting in Week 1.
In his first two seasons, Barnes started 23 games and was part of 161 tackles. The first-round pick used on Walker knocked Barnes out of the starting lineup, and the rise of McDuffie knocked Barnes further down the depth chart.
Nonetheless, he played 141 snaps on defense. Even with relatively minimal playing time, Barnes recorded 29 tackles. His 4.86 snaps per tackle was by far the best on the team; Campbell averaged 7.23 snaps and Walker averaged 7.11.
With a nose for the football and a physical style, Barnes should find a landing place now that he’s an unrestricted free agent.
“That’s going to drive me forever,” he said in 2020 of going undrafted. “I feel like for me, being passed up on by 31 other teams is going to drive me to no end. I want to get better every day, continue to prove that I belong to be here, continue to make those teams feel like they missed on something great.
The release shows the confidence that the Green Bay Packers have in De’Vondre Campbell and Quay Walker manning the interior of their defense.
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1 Comment
Done as a Packer fan..it’s over…..🍁