Green Bay Packers veterans reported to training camp today with the expectation that they would be ready and able to start practices on Wednesday. With so many questions surrounding the team, there are plenty of starting jobs up in the air, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
Unfortunately, two players who the Packers were hoping would provide a hint of quality depth on defense are not going to be able to start practicing immediately. 2022 seventh round draft pick Tariq Carpenter and 2023 offseason free agent signing Tarvarius Moore have both been placed on the non-football injury list.
Packers have placed Tariq Carpenter and Tarvarius Moore on the non-football injury list.
— Aaron Nagler (@AaronNagler) July 25, 2023
What Do the Injuries to Tariq Carpenter and Tarvarius Moore Do to the Green Bay Packers?
Earlier this offseason, the Packers announced that Carpenter was transitioning from safety to linebacker. His inability to participate right away may hurt his ability to earn a roster spot at a position that is led by De’Vondre Campbell and Quay Walker.
In addition to the starters, the Packers also have linebackers Keshawn Banks, Jonathan Garvin, Isaiah McDuffie, La’Darius Hamilton, and Eric Wilson (among others) on the roster.
While the Packers have a lot of options, that in and of itself does not bode well for Carpenter. He has to learn a new position, and will not be getting the snaps he needs to do so early on. While there is plenty of time before the start of the regular season, fringe roster players cannot afford to miss much, if any, time.
Tarvarius Moore may not be as much of a fringe roster player as Carpenter. He is already established himself as a quality special teams player.
That being said, the starting spot next to Darnell Savage is wide open. Rudy Ford and Jonathan Owens are each candidates for the job, but Moore was believed to be an option as well. Like Carpenter, missing valuable snaps early in camp may set him behind the rest of the players at his position.
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