The Green Bay Packers are making several changes to their defensive interior after suffering another season-ending injury in Week 17’s loss to Baltimore.
According to the team’s official transaction wire, the Packers swapped out one defensive tackle for another in a slew of roster moves on Tuesday, December 30, releasing veteran Quinton Bohanna and claiming Jonathan Ford off waivers from the Chicago Bears.
The Packers also placed defensive tackle Jordon Riley on injured reserve, shutting him down formally after he suffered a season-ending Achilles injury against the Ravens.
The Packers had added Bohanna (claimed on waivers from Seattle) and Riley (signed off the New York Giants‘ practice squad) in early December to bolster their defensive tackle position after the season-ending injury to Devonte Wyatt. In Bohanna’s case, though, he had only just played his first game, tallying two tackles against the Ravens.
Now, the Packers will move back in a familiar direction at the position with Ford, their former 2022 seventh-round pick who spent most of his first three seasons in Green Bay.
Ford did not play any games for them during his first stint, but he has since appeared in 12 games for the Chicago Bears, recording 13 total tackles on his 173 defensive snaps.
The Packers (9-6-1) will close out the 2025 regular season with a road trip to take on the Minnesota Vikings (8-8) at U.S. Bank Stadium at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, January 4.
Packers Also Shut Down Backup CB in Roster Moves
In addition to their defensive tackle changes, the Packers also made several more roster moves at the cornerback position before diving into their first practice for Week 18.
Per the team’s transaction wire, the Packers placed backup cornerback Kamal Hadden — who was carted off with an ankle injury against the Ravens — on the injured reserve list along with Riley on December 30. Hadden had appeared in 10 games as a reserve cornerback and special teams contributor, logging 103 snaps (37 on defense) in 2025.
The Packers also signed cornerbacks Shemar Bartholomew and Jaylin Simpson from their practice squad to their 53-man roster, helping them fortify the position group.
Both Simpson and Bartholomew came into the league in 2024, with Simpson landing with the Indianapolis Colts as a fifth-round pick. At this point, though, Bartholomew is the only one between them with playing time, having appeared in five games in 2024 as an undrafted rookie for the Carolina Panthers and notching two pass deflections.
Packers Have Also Likely Lost CB Nate Hobbs to Injury
Losing Hadden to IR is part of the reason why the Packers signed up two cornerbacks from their practice squad, but they also had another critical injury to motivate them.
During his New Year’s Eve press conference, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur told reporters that he does not anticipate veteran cornerback Nate Hobbs — who suffered a knee injury against the Ravens — will return in time to help them in the NFL playoffs.
LaFleur also said the same is true for safety Zayne Anderson, who has an ankle injury.
Without Hobbs, the Packers will have no choice but to lean on Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine as their outside cornerbacks for the rest of their campaign. They have safety Javon Bullard playing in the slot, but their only other cornerbacks on the roster include wide receiver/cornerback hybrid Bo Melton and the newcomers.
Not ideal for a postseason run.
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