Tag: Whitney Mercilus

Packers fear significant injury for veteran OLB Whitney Mercilus

“Yeah, that’s a tough one,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said about the biceps injury for veteran OLB Whitney Mercilus.

The Green Bay Packers might have avoided significant injuries for running back Aaron Jones and outside linebacker Rashan Gary, but there’s less optimism about veteran outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus, who left Sunday’s game with a biceps injury.

“Yeah, that’s a tough one,” coach Matt LaFleur said Monday. “I feel bad for him…Just the stability he brings to that room. This guy is a pro’s pro. He’s been doing it at a very high level for a long time. It’s just one of those unfortunate things that happened.”

LaFleur wasn’t able to provide a timeline for the injury but said he was “assuming” it was probably season-ending.

Signed by the Packers on Oct. 21, Mercilus stepped into a rotational pass-rusher role and delivered 10 pressures and a sack over four games in Green Bay. He had a chance at a second sack of Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson on the play in which he suffered the biceps injury.

With injuries to Mercilus, Gary and Za’Darius Smith, the Packers will need to add to the outside linebacker group.

“I know (Brian Gutekunst) and our entire scouting department is looking at every potential option. We have some guys on our practice squad. We’ll see where we need to go,” LaFleur said.

The Packers released outside linebacker La’Darius Hamilton after activating Aaron Rodgers and Isaac Yiadom from the COVID-19 reserve list on Saturday. Tipa Galeai is available on the practice squad.

On Za’Darius Smith, LaFleur said the team is holding out hope that he can return this season, but nothing is guaranteed at this point. He hasn’t played since Week 1 after having back surgery.

LaFleur also said the Packers caught a break with Jones, who has a knee injury. He doesn’t think the injury will be a long-term issue. The Packers are still evaluating Gary’s elbow injury.

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Packers rule out OLB Whitney Mercilus with biceps injury

The Packers lost OLB Whitney Mercilus due to a biceps injury on Sunday against the Seahawks.

An attempted sack of Russell Wilson caused an injury that will keep Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus out for the rest of the game Sunday at Lambeau Field.

Mercilus, the veteran edge rusher, beat Seahawks left tackle Duane Brown and was in a position to sack Wilson on a pass-rush in the third quarter, but Wilson wiggled away and completed a pass. Mercilus injured his biceps on the play and has been ruled out by the Packers.

The injury could be a concerning one for the 31-year-old Mercilus. The Packers first listed him as questionable but quickly ruled him out.

Mercilus has been a valuable addition as the team’s third rusher behind Preston Smith and Rashan Gary. He was signed last month after the Houston Texans released him.

Coach Matt LaFleur may be able to provide more information on the injury post-game, especially if the injury is a significant one.

OLB Whitney Mercilus tallies 4 pressures in Packers debut

The new Packers edge rusher delivered four pressures in his debut against Washington.

The addition of veteran outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus paid off immediately for the Green Bay Packers.

The former Houston Texans edge rusher delivered four pressures over 31 snaps in his debut with the Packers on Sunday against Washington.

Mercilus signed with the Packers on Thursday, practiced on Thursday and Friday and was active on Sunday. And he played a big role. Without Preston Smith available, the Packers had Mercilus on the field for 23 pass-rushing snaps. Per Pro Football Focus, all four of the pressures from Mercilus were hurries.

“I’m a big fan of the Mercilus signing, for a number of different reasons,” quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. “Bringing in a stud like Whitney, who is motivated, can still play at a high level, I really like that signing.”

On one play, Mercilus won against left tackle Charles Leno with an inside move and hurried Taylor Heinicke into an incompletion.

Ben Fennell of CBS and NFL Network had the end zone view of one of the other pressures:

“He’s a dog. His knowledge of the game, what he sees. He’s a smooth guy, man,” outside linebacker Rashan Gary said.

Mercilus arrived in Green Bay with only five total pressures during his first six games in Houston. Playing opposite Gary and alongside Kenny Clark opened up one-on-one pass-rushing opportunities for the veteran, who is clearly energized by the chance to play for a contender and stand up and rush again, especially after transitioning to defensive end to start 2021 with the one-win Texans.

Thanks mostly to Mercilus, Gary and Kenny Clark, Heinicke was under pressure on 19 of 47 dropbacks on Sunday, per PFF. The Packers didn’t have either starting edge rusher – Za’Darius Smith is on injured reserve, and Preston Smith missed a game for the first time in his NFL career – but the ascension of Gary as an elite player and the addition of Mercilus helped keep the pass-rush disruptive.

The Packers could get Preston Smith back on Thursday night, but the defense  now has the necessary depth at edge rusher to survive an injury or two. As so many recent Super Bowl champions have proved, a team can never have enough quality pass-rusher, and it appears the Packers added another one in Mercilus.

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Chance to contend for a Super Bowl lures Whitney Mercilus to Packers

Whitney Mercilus wanted to play for a contender, and the Packers – with a need at edge rusher – were the right fit.

Whitney Mercilus is 31 years old and coming from a team that is 5-19 over the last two seasons, so naturally the veteran edge rusher wanted to find a title contender to sign with after being released by the Houston Texans on Tuesday.

The Green Bay Packers ended up being the right fit for Mercilus, who officially signed on Thursday despite interest from several other teams.

“For me as far as the direction I want to go, it’s definitely being with a team that has a chance to make it to the playoffs and has a chance to make it to the Super Bowl and to be with a contender, honestly,” Mercilus told Aaron Wilson of SI.com.

The Packers are 5-1 and in control of the NFC North after six weeks.

Mercilus has played in eight career playoff games, and he went to the playoffs five times in his first nine seasons with the Texans, but Houston finished 4-12 last season and started 1-5 in 2021, giving Mercilus all the incentive he needed to pick a winner as a free agent.

The Packers have had more wins than any other team in football since 2019. A team that has been to the doorstep of the Super Bowl in back-to-back seasons needed help at edge rusher with Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith injured, so the timing for both Mercilus and the Packers was just about perfect.

Maybe playing leaving Houston and arriving in Green Bay can benefit Mercilus just like it has for Randall Cobb, who was traded to the Packers in August and has contributed to the passing game as a slot receiver.

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said Wednesday that going from a 1-5 team to a 5-1 team could breathe some life into a veteran player like Mercilus, who had three sacks in six games but has struggled to consistently get pressure.

Coach Matt LaFleur is excited to add a veteran at a premium position to the team.

“I think we’re pretty fortunate to get a guy of his caliber in at this time of the season,” LaFleur said.

The Packers coach wasn’t sure if Mercilus would be able to play Sunday against the Washington Football Team. Two weeks ago, the Packers signed Jaylon Smith on Thursday and then made him inactive on Sunday while he learned the defense and got comfortable in his new home. Smith finally made his Packers debut this past Sunday.

A similar path could be ahead for Mercilus, although rushing the quarterback takes less schematic knowledge than playing inside linebacker.

LaFleur thinks Mercilus can give the Packers a boost in the locker room and on the field.

“Everything I’ve heard about him as a man is A-plus. I’ve been on teams that have gone against him, and he’s always been a problem to play against,” LaFleur said. “He’s a guy you have to account for, and he’s been doing it for a long time at a high level. You usually don’t find those type of players at this juncture of the season.”

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Packers announce signing of OLB Whitney Mercilus

The Packers officially announced the signing of veteran edge rusher Whitney Mercilus on Thursday.

The Green Bay Packers announced the signing of veteran outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus on Thursday.

The addition was first reported by Aaron Wilson and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on Wednesday. The Houston Texans released Mercilus on Tuesday.

The timing was just about perfect for the Packers, who are hurting at outside linebacker and could use the veteran help. The defense is without All-Pro Za’Darius Smith, who is on injured reserve with a significant back injury, and veteran starter Preston Smith is now dealing with an oblique injury.

The Packers hope Mercilus can add a boost to the pass-rushing group.

Now 31 years old, Mercilus left Houston with 57 sacks and 13 forced fumbles, both the second-most in Texans history, plus seven more postseason sacks. The 31-year-old produced three sacks in six games this season.

It’s possible Mercilus could make his Packers debut on Sunday against the Washington Football Team.

Mercilus wore No. 59 his entire career in Houston but will wear No. 50 with the Packers. Tipa Galeai, who is on the practice squad, switched from No. 50 to No. 40. Linebacker De’Vondre Campbell wears No. 59.

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What are the Packers getting in new edge rusher Whitney Mercilus?

The Packers are signing veteran edge rusher Whitney Mercilus. What are the Packers getting?

The Green Bay Packers, in need of help at edge rusher due to injuries, will be signing veteran Whitney Mercilus, per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.

What can Mercilius provide the Packers?

The tape from 2021 shows a veteran player that still has some juice as a pass-rusher but probably isn’t a full-time player and might benefit from a strictly rotational role on a winning team like the Packers.

Over 110 pass-rushing snaps this season, Mercilus has produced three sacks but only five total pressures. The efficiency as a rusher hasn’t been there, but it’s worth noting that he’s played in a three-point stance as a defensive end this season after playing most of his career as a stand-up rusher in a 3-4 defense.

Both of Mercilus’ sacks this season came on third down. He took down Trevor Lawrence in Week 1 and then sacked Sam Darnold in Week 3. On the first, he worked around Jaguars left tackle Cam Robinson and chased down Lawrence who was attempting to escape to his right. On the second, he beat Panthers right tackle Taylor Moton with a speed move and got to Darnold in the pocket quickly.

Mercilus can still get off the ball and threaten the outside shoulder of an offensive tackle occasionally, but he’s no longer a dominant down-to-down rusher. At his peak, Mercilus could beat tackles with speed or any number of devastatingly effective counter moves. He’s no longer that kind of player. His best snaps in 2021 have come in obvious passing situations when he can time up the snap and get up the field.

Also, Mercilus could benefit from playing alongside better players. His best seasons came when playing opposite of J.J. Watt. Without Watt, the Texans relied on him to provide most of the defense’s pressure, but at this point in his career, Mercilus is much more of a complementary player than a disruptive focal point. Lining up next to Kenny Clark and Rashan Gary could help free him of extra attention and up his efficiency as a rusher.

The Packers are hurting at outside linebacker and could use a veteran to play snaps immediately, especially if Preston Smith misses time. Za’Darius Smith is on injured reserve and isn’t guaranteed to return this season after having back surgery.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers said Mercilus in a pass-rushing role could be a “big plus for our squad” on Wednesday.

Think of a future situation in which the Packers are facing a top quarterback and need a big stop. Would you prefer to have Mercilus or someone like LaDarius Hamilton on the field for 3rd-and-9 in the fourth quarter against Patrick Mahomes or Tom Brady?

Provided an opportunity to add a veteran rusher by the Texans, the Packers pounced, and now the depth at outside linebacker looks considerably more stable entering a tough stretch of games.

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Report: Chiefs were ‘in the mix’ for new Packers OLB Whitney Mercilus

The #Chiefs were reportedly “in the mix” for Whitney Mercilus, but the #Packers offered him two things that Kansas City could not.

Just a day after his release from the Houston Texans, veteran pass-rusher Whitney Mercilus has decided on a new team. Despite their best efforts to land him, Mercilus won’t be signing with the Kansas City Chiefs.

According to numerous reports, Mercilus will sign with the Green Bay Packers. The 31-year-old was owed quite a bit of guaranteed money from the Texans, and it doesn’t sound like this was an issue of the Chiefs getting outbid. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler says Kansas City was in the mix for his services. Instead, it sounds like this decision to join Green Bay was a matter of opportunity and fit for Mercilus.

For the last nine seasons, Mercilus has played the outside linebacker position in a 3-4 defense in Houston. This year was actually his first season playing as a hand-in-the-dirt 4-3 defensive end. Going to a team that plays a scheme he’s more comfortable and familiar with seemed to be a priority.

At the same time, Mercilus likely would not have been a starter in Kansas City, but rather part of a rotation. Right now, the Packers are dealing with injuries at the outside linebacker position with both Za’Darius Smith and Chauncey Rivers on injured reserve. They also have Preston Smith dealing with an injury too. That means he should have a larger role from the get-go in Joe Barry’s defense.

At the end of the day, Green Bay could offer those two things that the Chiefs simply couldn’t offer. Kansas City will have to look elsewhere as they pursue help on the defensive line, perhaps pouncing on an opportunity at the trade deadline.

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Packers signing OLB Whitney Mercilus

The Packers are adding more veteran help on defense.

The Green Bay Packers are adding more veteran help on defense.

According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, the Packers are signing former Houston Texans edge rusher Whitney Mercilus.

The Texans released Mercilus on Tuesday.

Over six games with the Texans in 2021, the 31-year-old Mercilus produced three sacks, four tackles for a loss and three quarterback hits.

The Packers are hurting at outside linebacker and could use the help. Za’Darius Smith and Chauncey Rivers are on injured reserve, and Preston Smith is dealing with a new oblique injury.

Mercilus is second in Texans history with 57 career sacks.

According to Fowler, Mercilus took less money to sign with Green Bay.

The Packers haven’t been reluctant to add veterans on defense. Mercilus joins Jaylon Smith and Rasul Douglas as recent additions.

Report: Mutual interest between Chiefs, pending Texans free agent DE Whitney Mercilus

The #Chiefs and pending #Texans free agent Whitney Mercilus have mutual interest according to a new report.

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The Kansas City Chiefs continue to look for ways to improve their roster as the season progresses, this time looking into help on the defensive side of the ball.

According to Aaron Wilson of Sports Talk 790, who broke the news of Houston Texans DE Whitney Mercilus’ pending release, there is mutual interest between the Chiefs and the veteran pass-rusher. A former first-round draft pick in 2012 by the way of the University of Illinois, Mercilus has been a steady force on the Texans defensive line for nearly a decade.

Houston’s decision to release Mercilus has more to do with a youth movement at the position as opposed to his performance. In six games played this season, including two starts, Mercilus managed 12 combined tackles, three sacks, four tackles for loss, and three quarterback hits.

The 31-year-old has played the majority of his career as a 3-4 outside linebacker in Houston. This is actually his first season playing with his hand in the dirt as a 4-3 defensive end. Coming to Kansas City, he’d still be playing that unfamiliar role in a three-point stance.

“It’s been a little different, I’ll tell you that,” Mercilus told reporters in September. “Because now it’s like my keys are shortened down to just reading tackles and tight ends and pre-snap reads, so I can’t see anything that’s post-snap or when motions happen, stuff like that, to get a beat on what might happen, things like that. It’s just reading my keys more so and locking in on that, and just letting instinct take over.”

The one catch here is that Mercilus has yet to be officially released by Houston, so there could be a last-ditch effort to leverage his release into a trade. His contract, however, is rather prohibitive with nearly $5 million in guaranteed money, so it’s unlikely a team would be trading for him. He’d likely be willing to accept a minimum contract if he does hit free agency. If he does get released at the end of the day on Tuesday the earliest he could possibly sign with Kansas City is Wednesday.

Mercilus does have some connections to Kansas City. He played with Chiefs defensive captain Tyrann Mathieu in Houston and was a college teammate of former Chiefs OL Jeff Allen.

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Texans release DE Whitney Mercilus

The Houston Texans are releasing defensive end Whitney Mercilus.

The Houston Texans are releasing one of their last holdovers from the Gary Kubiak era in defensive end Whitney Mercilus.

According to Aaron Wilson of Sports Talk 790, the Texans are going to release their former 2012 first-round pick as the club seeks to go with a youth movement along the edge defense.

Defensive end Lovie Smith told reporters on Oct. 7 that they liked what Mercilus was doing and that they were focusing on him rushing the passer.

“Whitney’s been a good pass rusher for a long period of time,” said Smith. “He’s playing the pass, his numbers say that. That’s the case right now.”

Mercilus had played as an outside linebacker from 2012-20. This season was his first as a down lineman in the Texans’ new Tampa 2 scheme.

The adjustment to playing with a hand in the dirt was different for Mercilus.

Said Mercilus on Sept. 21: “It’s been a little different, I’ll tell you that. Because now it’s like my keys are shortened down to just reading tackles and tight ends and pre-snap reads, so I can’t see anything that’s post-snap or when motions happen, stuff like that, to get a beat on what might happen, things like that. It’s just reading my keys more so and locking in on that, and just letting instinct take over.”

The former Illinois product gathered 12 combined tackles, 3.0 sacks, four tackles for loss, and three quarterback hits through six games, two of which he started.