The Green Bay Packers placed linebacker Krys Barnes on injured reserve on Tuesday, clearing a roster spot for rookie offensive tackle Caleb Jones, who was signed from the practice squad.
Barnes injured his ankle in the second half of the Packers’ season-opening loss to the Minnesota Vikings. He was carted off the field after an air cast was placed around his lower leg to support the injury.
While coach Matt LaFleur expressed optimism that Barnes actually avoided a season-ending injury, going on injured reserve means the third-year linebacker will miss at least four games before he is eligible to return.
Barnes played 15 snaps on special teams and another nine on defense in place of rookie Quay Walker, who left with a minor shoulder injury.
Barnes, an undrafted free agent out of UCLA in 2020, started 23 games and made 161 tackles for the Packers between 2020 and 2021. He’s a core special teamer and now the top backup behind Walker, the team’s top draft pick in 2022, and De’Vondre Campbell, an All-Pro in 2021.
Second-year linebacker Isaiah McDuffie will assume the duties of the primary backup. The Packers also have Ray Wilborn available on the practice squad.
The signing of Jones, a rookie from Indiana, gives the Packers 11 offensive linemen on the 53-man roster.
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