The Green Bay Packers have a former Chicago Bears veteran defensive lineman on their radar as a potential signing ahead of Week 16’s rematch in Chicago.
According to the NFL’s official transaction wire, the Packers hosted former Bears veteran defensive tackle Byron Cowart for a roster workout on Monday, December 8.
Cowart — a 2019 fifth-round pick for New England — had his most productive season as a pass rusher with Chicago’s defense in 2024, recording career-high totals in sacks (2.5) and tackles for loss (five) while appearing in 15 games and making seven starts. He was primarily a backup for Matt Eberflus’ defensive interior, but he played due to injuries.
Cowart’s workout likely isn’t an intelligence-gathering mission for the Packers, though. He wouldn’t know much about new Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen’s system, even though he would know some of their defensive players’ tendencies. More likely, the Packers are curious about whether Cowart could add depth to their practice squad.
The Packers also worked out offensive tackle Sataoa Laumea, a 2024 sixth-round draft selection for the New Orleans Saints, as part of the same workout group as Cowart.
It is worth noting, however, that December 10’s first practice for Week 15’s matchup with the Denver Broncos came and went without the team announcing any signings.
The Packers (9-3-1) will take on the Broncos (11-2) on the road at 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday, December 14, before getting a short week to prep for their Bears rematch.
Packers Are Lacking DT Experience on Practice Squad
GettyFormer Bears defensive tackle Byron Cowart.
The Packers are unlikely to consider the 29-year-old Cowart as an addition for their 53-man roster. Not only has Cowart not played since Week 18 of the 2024 season — when he tallied one sack in the Bears’ walkoff win — but the Packers also just added two new defensive linemen to their roster last week in Jordon Riley and Quinton Bohanna.
Even still, Green Bay could stand to improve its practice squad’s defensive tackle depth.
The Packers currently count James Ester — a 2024 UDFA signing — as one of the only two interior defensive linemen on their 16-man practice squad. They also have rookie Dante Barnett as their 17th practice-squader, thanks to his international designation.
While Ester has the advantage of familiarity, having spent the entire 2024 season on the practice squad learning Jeff Hafley’s defensive system, Cowart has experience.
Before his time with the Bears, Cowart played 19 games and 462 total defensive snaps for the New England Patriots during his first two seasons in the NFL, making 14 starts in 2020 and recording a career-high 27 tackles. He also played 17 games as a reserve for the Indianapolis Colts‘ defensive line in 2022, though seeing action on only 227 snaps.
While the Packers may wind up leaving Cowart on the shelf, the appeal is there if they decide that they need someone more experienced to bolster their practice-squad ranks.
Will Packers Regain DL Depth for Broncos Matchup?
Regardless of whether the Packers make another addition to their practice squad, there is a chance that their defensive line will regain some depth before Week 15’s matchup.
The Packers opened the practice windows for two of their defensive ends — Brenton Cox Jr. and rookie Collin Oliver — to return to the active roster from their respective injury lists last week. Oliver has been on the reserve/physically unable to perform (PUP) list since the start of the season, while Cox has been on injured reserve since Week 2.
While the Packers ruled out Oliver (hamstring) in their final injury report for Week 14’s matchup with the Bears, they listed Cox as questionable and left the door open for him to be activated before ultimately deciding the day before kickoff to give him more time.
The Packers will presumably give Cox and Oliver both chances to return to action again ahead of Week 15’s road game against the Broncos, but neither showed any clear sign of progress in December 10’s first injury report. Both started as limited participants, the same statuses that they held all throughout Week 14’s build-up to hosting Chicago.
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