Tag: Krys Barnes

#Packers LB Krys Barnes, who suffered a calf injury last night and exited the game after the first half, tested positive for COVID-19, source said. He’s not experiencing symptoms as of right now.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 6, 2020

Green Bay Packers linebacker Krys Barnes tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

The rookie linebacker played 25 snaps before exiting with a calf injury during Thursday night’s 34-17 win over the San Francisco 49ers.

Barnes is the Packers’ second positive test this week, joining rookie running back A.J. Dillon. Running back Jamaal Williams and linebacker Kamal Martin were placed on the COVID-19 reserve list as high risk contacts.

The Packers and NFL will need to do contact tracing with Barnes to know if any other players need to be put on the reserve list.

Barnes, an undrafted free agent from UCLA, leads the Packers with 50 tackles through the team’s first eight games.

The Packers don’t play again until Nov. 15. They will host the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lambeau Field.

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The Green Bay Packers have one of the NFL’s most surprising rookie defenders to start the 2020 season.

Linebacker Krys Barnes, an undrafted free agent from UCLA, is receiving national recognition after emerging as a surprise starter for Mike Pettine’s defense. Pro Football Focus, who grades every player on every play of every game, named Barnes to the site’s All-Rookie Team after four games. According to PFF, Barnes has seven stops – or a tackle constituting a failure for the offense – and zero missed tackles over 85 snaps.

Overall, he’s the site’s second-highest graded rookie linebacker among players with at least 25 snaps played.

Amazingly, Barnes wasn’t even on the Packers’ initial 53-man roster. GM Brian Gutekunst added him to the active roster on the Saturday before the Packers’ season-opener against the Minnesota Vikings, and then Pettine shocked many by started him at linebacker next Christian Kirksey.

The rookie now looks like he’ll be a contributor all season, possibly even when Kirksey (pectoral) and fellow rookie Kamal Martin (knee) return from injured reserve.

Through four games, Barnes ranks second on the team in total tackles with 25. He also has three pressures as a blitzer, per PFF, and he nearly intercepted Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan on Monday night.

Barnes and Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen – who was on the board when the Packers took Jordan Love in the first round of April’s draft – were the two All-Rookie linebackers. No other Packers rookie made PFF’s team.

In our quarter-season awards, Packers Wire named Barnes as the team’s best defensive rookie.

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The Green Bay Packers filled their final roster spot on Saturday, signing rookie linebacker Krys Barnes from the practice squad.

Barnes, an undrafted free agent from UCLA, will give the Packers four inside linebackers entering Week 1. He joins Christian Kirksey, Oren Burks and Ty Summers at the position. Kamal Martin, the team’s impressive rookie, is on injured reserve after having knee surgery.

Barnes (6-2, 229) played in 43 games for UCLA, tallying 212 tackles, 5.0 sacks, 21 tackles for losses, 15 pass breakups and two interceptions. In 2019, he produced 10 tackles for losses, 4.0 sacks and eight pass breakups, all career-highs. Barnes was signed by the Packers immediately following the draft and was in Green Bay throughout training camp.

The Packers had an open roster spot after putting Martin and cornerback Kabion Ento on injured reserve earlier in the week.

Barnes was a high school teammate of Jordan Love, the Packers’ first-round draft pick.

Although the Packers did not keep an undrafted rookie free agent on the initial 53-man roster, Barnes’ promotion to the active roster ensures the Packers will have one to start the regular season.

The Packers take on the Minnesota Vikings in the season opener on Sunday.

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