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Packers coaches declare open competition at inside linebacker spot next to new starter Christian Kirksey

GREEN BAY — No one has the inside track on the Green Bay Packers’ second starting inside linebacker spot alongside Christian Kirksey.

Defensive coordinator Mike Pettine made that clear on Friday morning, confirming what has been relatively evident throughout the first week of training camp practices: Oren Burks, Ty Summers and rookie Kamal Martin are all in the mix to be the second inside linebacker in the base defense when the regular season kicks off Sept. 13 at Minnesota.

Wanting more speed and coverage skills at the position, the Packers made little effort to re-sign leading tackler Blake Martinez, watching him leave for the New York Giants on a three-year, $30 million free-agent deal while replacing him with Kirksey, whose two-year, $13 million deal is a relative bargain after back-to-back season-ending injuries the past two years before being cut by the Cleveland Browns.