For once, the “next man up” for the Green Bay Packers after losing starting linebacker Jake Ryan won’t be an undrafted free agent or late-round rookie who has to come in and overcome long odds to be a contributor.
He’s still a rookie (what did you expect, really?) but third-round pick Oren Burks will get the first shot to replace Ryan inside. The luxury of throwing a pedigreed player out there amid a major injury isn’t one the Packers have recently had, but it actually could be the undrafted free agent hoping to overcome long odds who interjects himself into the conversation.