On Sunday, the Green Bay Packers hope to make a statement. Their first season with Jordan Love at quarterback resulted in a playoff appearance. Something Aaron Rodgers, his predecessor, was unable to do. This season, however, the Packers are far from being considered a Super Bowl candidate. A victory might change that.
Meanwhile, the Cowboys are hoping to make a statement as well. They last advanced to the NFC Championship game in 1995. Dallas wants to show the world that they are a legitimate title contender.
Today, the Packers welcomed back a familiar face who saw parallels between this Packers team and the Super Bowl Champion Rams he was a member of in 2022.
The Green Bay Packers Sign Former Super Bowl Champion Prior To Matchup Against The Dallas Cowboys
The Green Bay Packers have added cornerback David Long Jr. to their practice squad and let go of running back Kenyan Drake from the same squad. General Manager Brian Gutekunst made the announcement of these transactions on Friday.
Long Jr. is a fifth-year player from the University of Michigan, standing at 5-11 and weighing 196 pounds. He is rejoining the Packers after playing three games for them following a waiver claim from the Carolina Panthers on December 5. Originally chosen by the Los Angeles Rams in the third round (No. 79 overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft, Long spent four seasons with the Rams (2019-22) before joining the Las Vegas Raiders in the recent offseason. During this season, he played eight games with one start for the Raiders before being released on November 2. Subsequently, he was claimed by Carolina, where he participated in three contests with one start.
Over his career, Long has appeared in 66 regular-season games with 12 starts, contributing 94 tackles (81 solo), one interception, eight passes defensed, and two tackles on special teams. In the postseason, he played in six games with one start for the Rams (2020-21), registering 12 tackles (11 solo), a tackle for a loss, and an interception returned for a touchdown. Long will wear No. 30 for the Packers.
The Packers Will Look For As Much Depth As Possible Against Dallas
With Jaire Alexander’s availability uncertain, it will be fascinating to see whether the Packers call up Long to the active roster. Long would be an intriguing possibility owing to his significant postseason experience.
Dallas had the top scoring offense in the NFL this season (29.9 points per game). It will be critical to find any means to slow them down.