Tag: Kingsley Enagbare

Healthy Kingsley Enagbare gives Packers DE room a needed depth boost

On Tuesday, Matt LaFleur said Kingsley Enagbare was a “full go,” giving the Packers needed depth at the defensive end position.

The biggest takeaway from Tuesday’s OTA practice open to the media wasn’t about who was lined up where or what player made the big play. Instead, it was that Packers’ defensive end Kingsley Enagbare was even on the practice field–providing the depth of that unit with a needed boost.

Back in January, the thought was that Enagbare had suffered a torn ACL in the Packers’ playoff win over Dallas. However, following the NFL Draft, Matt LaFleur shared that this wasn’t the case:

“He’s still fighting his way back,” LaFleur said. “It was never confirmed it was an ACL. He did not have surgery. He’s still rehabbing through it, and we’re still optimistic about it.”

In the midst of that promising news from LaFleur, there still wasn’t a timeline given in regards to when Enagbare would be back on the field. So the fact that he was a “full go,” as LaFleur put it on Tuesday, still very much came as a surprise, and certainly a pleasant one.

“I think he’s doing great out there,” said LaFleur on Tuesday. “And he’s just been working his tail off.”

As the second half of last season progressed, Enagbare really began to pick up steam. Of his 27 total pressures on the year, 18 of them came from Week 12 and on. Out of 128 eligible edge rushers, Enarbare ranked 28th during that span in PFF’s pass-rush win rate metric. He was also a key member of the Packers’ special teams unit.

“I can’t say enough great things about him,” said LaFleur of Enagbare last season. “To see the growth from last year to this year. His contributions not only on defense but on teams as well, and I just love his play style. His relentless pursuit of the football. There’s a number of examples in that game of just the physicality that we preach. The hustle to the ball.”

Under the original presumption that Enagbare was going to miss some of the 2024 season, there were questions around the depth of this position group. Edge rusher – or now defensive end for the Packers – can be a heavily rotated position, with four or sometimes even five players seeing snaps each week.

If the Packers were without Enagbare, that would force them to rely on either Keshawn Banks, Brenton Cox, or Arron Mosby unless someone else emerged. Banks and Cox are both 2023 UDFAs with no defensive snaps in the NFL. Mosby, meanwhile, has played only two career defensive snaps.

Understandably so, a lot of attention will be on the Packers’ secondary under Jeff Hafley, but a big factor in how much this defense improves will be dependent upon greater consistency from the defensive front against both the run and the pass.

Last season, the Packers ranked 23rd in yards per carry allowed and surrendered four games of 200-plus rushing yards. This was also a very hot and cold pass-rush unit. There were seven games in which the Packers pressured the quarterback on greater than 45 percent of his dropbacks–which is fantastic. On the flip side, there were seven games where they pressured the quarterback on fewer than 30 percent of his dropbacks–which is the opposite of fantastic.

Contributing to what hopefully ends up being more consistent play from this unit will be a Year 2 leap from Lukas Van Ness, a one-gap system that results in a more attacking front, and of course, a healthy Enagbare who continues to ascend in this third NFL season.

Following injury scare, Packers edge rusher Kinsgley Enagbare is practicing at OTAs

Packers edge rusher Kingsley Enagbare is practicing to open OTAs.

In a surprising turn of events, Green Bay Packers edge rusher Kingsley Enagbare was practicing with the team for the start of OTAs on Tuesday. Enagbare suffered what was initially believed to be a significant knee injury during the Packers’ win over the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Wild Card Round, but it was later confirmed not to be that serious.

Here’s a video of Enagbare participating in a drill:

After sustaining the injury, Enagbare told USA Today’s Ryan Wood that he thought he sustained a bone bruise and tried to play through it. He was later told he had torn his ACL. 

However, following the 2024 NFL Draft, Matt LaFleur clarified it was never confirmed that Enagbare suffered an ACL injury. Lafleur gave a promising outlook on Enagbare’s recovery and said that the 24-year-old edge rusher never had surgery. 

 “He looks pretty good right now. He’s still fighting his way back,” LaFleur said. “It was never confirmed it was an ACL. He did not have surgery. He’s still rehabbing through it, and we’re still optimistic about it.”

Clearly, rehab is going well. 

We still don’t know the exact injury, but it is a great sign that Enagbare is already back on the field participating in drills. 

At this rate, the 2021 fifth-round pick appears to be on track to play in the season opener. September 6 is still a long way off, but the team must feel good about Enagbare’s availability after Green Bay did not take a single edge rusher in this year’s draft. 

After totaling 68 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, five sacks, and a forced fumble over the last two seasons, Enagbare projects to be the No. 4 edge rusher on the depth chart. 

Packers edge rusher Kingsley Enagbare avoided surgery on knee injury

Green Bay Packers edge rusher Kingsley Enagbare avoided needing surgery to repair a knee injury and is currently rehabbing the injury with hopes of being available to start the 2024 season. 

Green Bay Packers edge rusher Kingsley Enagbare avoided needing surgery to repair a knee injury and is currently rehabbing the injury with hopes of being available to start the 2024 season.

Enagbare suffered the injury during the Packers’ win over the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Wild Card Round at AT&T Stadium on Jan. 14. Early indications were that Enagbare tore his ACL and would need reconstructive surgery, potentially putting him out of action for 9-12 months.

Coach Matt LaFleur provided the surprising update on Saturday night, potentially explaining why the Packers didn’t feel a need to provide depth at edge rusher via the draft.

“He looks pretty good right now. He’s still fighting his way back,” LaFleur said. “It was never confirmed it was an ACL. He did not have surgery. He’s still rehabbing through it, and we’re still optimistic about it.”

General manager Brian Gutekunst provided additional context.

“We certainly feared for the worst when he went down. Pleasantly, we got some good news and I think that we may have avoided something as serious as a complete tear,” Gutekunst said. “So he’s working through that right now. We’re very hopeful he’ll be able to avoid surgery, but we will see how that goes.”

Enagbare’s exact injury is unclear.

A fifth-round pick in 2021, Enagbare played over 450 defensive snaps each of the last two seasons. He produced 2.0 sacks, 24 total pressures, eight tackles for loss, six quarterback hits and one forced fumbles in a rotational role behind Rashan Gary and Preston Smith. His special teams playing time expanded in 2023, going from only 86 snaps as a rookie to 194 (45 percent) last year.

If healthy to start the 2024 season, Enagbare would be expected to be the No. 4 edge rusher.

Packers fear torn ACL for OLB Kingsley Enagbare

The belief is that Packers OLB Kingsley Enagbare tore his ACL against the Cowboys.

The Green Bay Packers are moving onto the NFC Divisional Round, but Matt LaFleur’s team will likely do so without help from second-year outside linebacker Kingsley Enagbare.

The backup edge rusher is feared to have torn his ACL during Sunday’s win over the Dallas Cowboys, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Coach Matt LaFleur lacked optimism regarding Enagbare’s knee injury in the immediate aftermath of the 48-32 victory at AT&T Stadium.

A significant knee injury at this point of the year — mid-January — puts into question whether or not Enagbare will be available for most of the 2024 season. He will almost certainly miss time to start next season.

Enagbare, a fifth-round pick in 2022, played 40 snaps against the Cowboys. He’s been a primary rotational player behind Preston Smith and Rashan Gary at edge rusher all season.

In 17 games, Enagbare delivered 2.0 sacks, six quarterback hits, eight tackles for loss, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

The Packers have rookie Brenton Cox Jr. available behind Enagbare. It’s possible Keshawn Banks will have an opportunity to move up to the 53-man roster from the practice squad ahead of Saturday’s showdown with the San Francisco 49ers.

Expect Enagbare to go on injured reserve, opening up a roster spot this week.

With Rashan Gary questionable, Kingsley Enagbare ready for potential larger role vs. Justin Herbert, Chargers

The Packers may need more out of top backup Kingsley Enagbare if Rashan Gary (shoulder) can’t go or is limited Sunday against the Chargers.

A shoulder injury suffered during Friday’s practice now has Rashan Gary’s status for Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers up in the air He is listed as questionable. If out, or even on a snap count, second year edge rusher Kingsley Enagbare and rookies Lukas Van Ness and Brenton Cox are going to be thrust into larger roles.

The Packers have primarily relied on a four-man edge rusher rotation since Gary’s playing time increased a few weeks ago. Of course, Gary and Preston Smith are have taken the majority of the snaps, but Enagbare has averaged about 27 snaps per game this season and Van Ness 23. Presumably, it could be Enagbare starting along side Smith on Sunday if Gary is inactive.

“That’s a given,” said Enagbare when asked about the young edge rushers needing to step up if Gary can’t go. “We prepare like we the next man up every day, so we’re not too worried about that.”

Pressuring the quarterback is always the name of the game in the NFL but it feels like a near must for the Green Bay defense against Herbert. When throwing from a clean pocket this season, Herbert has been incredibly efficient, completing 74.6 percent of his passes at 7.7 yards per attempt with 13 touchdowns to only one interception.

Herbert’s top target, Keenan Allen, has been one of the most productive receivers in the NFL, ranking fourth in receiving yards, along with being one of the most efficient as well, averaging the 10th best yards per route run rate in the NFL. The Packers may once again find themselves short-handed in the secondary, with Jaire Alexander questionable and Rudy Ford doubtful.

“(Herbert) is always trying to pass the ball,” added Enagbare. “They have a pretty explosive reciever in 13 (Allen) a running back in 30 (Austin Ekeler). So it’s pretty much trying to limit those three guys and the explosive plays.”

Pressuring Herbert doesn’t guarantee success against a quarterback of his caliber, but it’ll at least not have the odds so far stacked in the Chargers’ favor. When under duress, Herbert’s completion percentage falls to 50 percent, his yards per attempt 6.4, and four of his five interceptions this season have come with pressure. Offensive tackles Trey Pipkins and Rashawn Slater rank fifth and 18th in terms of most pressures allowed this season.

While getting after Herbert will be crucial, the Chargers also do a really good job of utilizing running back Austin Ekeler in the passing game, specifically on screens. Ekeler’s 11.3 yards per catch are the second-most this season among running backs as is his average of 12.5 yards after the catch. If the young Green Bay edge rushers become too aggressive in their pursuit of Herbert, it’s going to lead to opportunities for Ekeler to make plays in space.

”They like to use him in screens a lot,” said Enagbare. “So we have to more aware of how the tackles are standing and if we can peep if it’s a different kind of set for him so we can get out the stack and pretty much stop him, limit the yards after the catch he’s able to make and hopefully get a TFL (tackle for loss) on those type of screens.”

This season, Enagbare has totaled eight pressures and one sack, according to PFF. He ranks 59th out of 113 eligible edge rushers in pass rush win rate, which is actually the second-highest mark amongst the Packers edge rusher position group behind Gary, who is second. Enagbare also ranks second among Green Bay edge rushers in run-stop rate and 42nd overall.

Outside of Gary, the Packers defense as a whole has been inconsistent this season in terms of generating pressure on the quarterback. Green Bay will enter Week 11 with the 22nd most pressures, despite being on the field for the ninth-most defensive plays per game this season.

“Pretty much just accepting the game and just knowing what to expect,” said Enagbare when asked where he’s seen the biggest jump in his game this season. “Better at reading formations. Tuned in more on tendencies and being able to steal more plays and stuff like that.”

Jared Goff pancakes Packers EDGE Kingsley Enagbare with a killer block

Jared Goff gave Packers edge-rusher Kingsley Enagbare quite the block on Kalif Raymond’s 40-yard end-around run.

In the first quarter of the Detroit Lions-Green Bay Packers Thursday Night Football game, the Lions outgained the Packers 199-1. and put up a 14-3 lead.

But that was not the most prominent embarrassment for the Packers. That came with 39 seconds left in that first quarter, when Jared Goff handed the ball to running back Jahmyr Gibbs, who then handed the ball to receiver Kalif Raymond, who trucked 40 yards up the right side of the field.

The centerpiece of the play was how Goff moved up to block edge-rusher Kingsley Enagbare, giving it his all when most quarterbacks make relative business decisions when “blocking.” This isn’t a true pancake (more like a ju-jitsu throw), but in a relative sense, it’s quite impressive. Enagbare reversed field to keep up with the play, and that’s when he discovered the HAMMER.

The Packers are out of sorts on both sides of the ball, and the Lions can seemingly do no wrong after Goff’s early interception.

Highlighting strong two-game stretch from Packers rookies

Christian Watson isn’t the only Packers rookie that has stepped up over the last two weeks.

Green Bay Packers second-round pick Christian Watson has an NFL-high five touchdowns over the last two weeks, but he isn’t the only rookie in Green Bay making noise over the last two games.

Here’s a quick look at the impact of Watson and three other rookies in Weeks 10 (win over Cowboys) and 11 (loss to Titans):

Packers film room: Enagbare flashes in preseason opener against 49ers

Packers rookie Kingsley “JJ” Enagbare produced some impressive moments in his preseason debut against the 49ers.

Green Bay Packers rookie edge rusher Kingsley “JJ” Enagbare wasn’t turning a lot of heads through the first couple of weeks of training camp. However, that changed when the fifth-rounder took the field against the San Francisco 49ers in the preseason and was one of the team’s standout performers on defense. 

Enagbare totaled one sack and a team-high three pressures in 45 snaps. A performance like this may not mean a whole lot against a backup offensive line, but after being on the outside looking in at Green Bay’s outside linebacker rotation, it was a step in the right direction. 

The Packers have their two starters in Rashan Gary and Preston Smith. After them, it’s Jonathan Garvin, Tipa Galeai, La’Darius Hamilton, and Enagbare fighting to be the primary backups on the depth chart. 

Enagbare is the youngest in the group. Before arriving in Green Bay, he had a strong collegiate career at the University of South Carolina. Unfortunately, a poor showing at the combine caused Enagbare to slip into day three of the NFL draft. 

Enagbare may not be an elite tester, but he proved to have some very coachable skills while playing for the Gamecocks. That was enough for the Packers, who needed to add to their outside linebacker room after releasing Za’Darius Smith in the offseason. 

Of course, one preseason game isn’t going to set the world on fire. It’s mostly backups playing against other backups, but in Enagbare’s case, these are valuable reps he can use to hone his craft. The important thing is that football is back, and now we have some film to review in our return to the Packers film room. Without further ado, let’s do a breakdown of Engabare’s tape against the 49ers.

Enagbare wasn’t a great run defender at South Carolina, but reps like this are encouraging. In this play, he’s our edge rusher on the left side of the screen doing a good job of funneling this outside run call back to the middle. Enagbare displays good technique to widen out toward the sideline even as he takes on a couple of blocks. He doesn’t make the tackle, but his ability to maintain proper leverage and set the edge gives the running back nowhere to go, so his help can finish the play for no gain.

Enagbare’s strength is one of his best assets. Again he is the edge rusher on the left side of the screen, but this time he is showing some legit knockback power on a bull rush to push the left tackle back into the quarterback. His pad level, hand placement, and leg drive are all positive things you want to see out of a rookie. 

Another bull rush but against a bigger, longer left tackle. Enagbare takes a good arc off the edge and showcases a powerful punch on another bull rush as he knocks the left tackle off balance. It opens up a clear lane to the quarterback, who tries to spin out of the pocket, but Enagbare is able to get a hand on him for the sack. Enagbare clearly has some legit power in his hands. 

Here is a different type of pass rush with Enagbare as the looper on a stunt. The guard is slow to pick up on the stunt, but the center shows good recognition to slide over in protection. Enagbare fights through the initial punch and shows solid balance to stay on his feet and continue to chase after the quarterback. He doesn’t get the sack, but he does get the pressure and a hit on the QB. 

We’ll finish off with another run play. This was one of Enagbare’s two tackles from the game, and it came from the backside. The run call is away from his side of the field, but he shows good pursuit to get back into the play to make the tackle. Also, this type of effort could give Enagbare value on special teams. 

In conclusion, there were plenty of positive takeaways from Enagbare’s preseason debut. He flashed good play strength as a pass rusher and even looked good against the run despite having some issues in college. Overall, he probably won’t play a huge role in 2022 but could be a solid backup with plenty of upside down the road. 

[lawrence-related id=83103,83086,83058,83054]

Packers rookie Kingsley Enagbare stringing together strong performances

Packers fifth-round pick Kingsley Enagbare backed up a productive preseason debut with a disruptive practice on Sunday.

It had been a quiet start to training camp for Green Bay Packers fifth-round pick Kingsley Enagbare.

With two rotational roles up for grabs behind Preston Smith and Rashan Gary at the edge rusher position, La’Darius Hamilton, Tipa Galeai, and Jonathan Garvin had captured more of attention.

However, between the Packers’ preseason opener against San Francisco and Sunday’s practice, Enagbare has strung together some impressive performances.

Enagbare was on the field for 45 snaps on Friday, according to PFF, and came away with a team-high three pressures, one of which was a sack, along with two total tackles.

By PFF’s win-rate metric, which measures how many “wins” a pass-rusher had against their blocker, Enagbare won 20% of his snaps. For some context around that figure, last season Maxx Crosby led all edge rushers in this category, winning 26.8% of the time.

Then during the final two-minute drill portion of Sunday’s practice, as Bill Huber noted, Enagbare would beat Royce Newman on two separate occasions to pressure Aaron Rodgers for what very well would have been sacks in a real game.

As previously mentioned, there is playing time available at the edge rusher position, and the battle for those rotational roles still seems fairly wide open.

Enagbare, Garvin, Galeai, Hamilton, and Randy Ramsey have all had their fair share of snaps with the second team defense, and most have even had reps with the starters at times.

In 2021, both Gary and Smith were on the field for roughly 70% of the Packers’ defensive snaps, meaning whoever can emerge as the third and fourth edge rushers could see roughly 20-25 snaps per game this season.

If a part of that rotation, Enagbare will most likely be featured in obvious passing situations, such as on third downs or second-and-longs, where he can pin his ears back to get after the quarterback – which is what he does best.

Enagbare finished his 2021 season at South Carolina with 45 pressures, and he was PFF’s fourth-highest graded edge rusher, for what it’s worth. However, as The Draft Network wrote, there is “plenty of room for improvement” against the run.

As a fifth-round rookie, Enagbare could play an important role this season. Edge rusher is a premier position in this game, and the Packers have snaps available.

Whether it be Enagbare or any of the other edge rushers not named Smith or Gary, the Packers need more from their rotational players this year, as there was a lack of production against both the run and the pass in 2021 from that group.

With a pair of joint practices this week with New Orleans followed by a preseason game, this is an important week for Enagbare, as well as anyone fighting for playing time and a roster spot. There is still a lot to be determined at the Packers’ edge rusher position.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbxb1xg7g19wqdc player_id=none image=https://packerswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

5 things to know about Packers’ fifth-round pick Kingsley Enagbare

A few interesting things to know about Kingsley Enagbare, the Packers’ fifth-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft.

The Green Bay Packers used the 179th overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft on South Carolina edge rusher Kingsley Enagbare, one of the top pass-rushers in the SEC over the last two seasons.

While he wore No. 52 and No. 1 in college, Enagbare will wear No. 55 for the Packers. He’ll have an opportunity to fill an important role as a rotational edge rusher behind Rashan Gary and Preston Smith as a rookie.

Here are five interesting things to know about Enagbare, the seventh of the Packers’ 11 draft picks in 2022: