The Green Bay Packers are expected to release veteran linebacker Isaiah Simmons, the eighth overall pick in the 2020 draft, at final roster cutdowns on Tuesday, per Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports.
In hopes of reviving his struggling pro career, Simmons signed with the Packers on a one-year deal in April following the NFL draft. At the start of training camp, the ultra-athletic Simmons looked destined to be an important rotational player at linebacker for defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley and a weapon on special teams for Rich Bisaccia. But the impact plays dried up once the pads came on, and Simmons struggled across three preseason games.
Simmons, 27, missed four tackles and struggled in coverage while playing a team-high 129 defensive snaps during the preseason. He made a strong final impression in the finale against the Seattle Seahawks last Saturday, but it appears it won’t be enough to keep him in Green Bay on the first 53-man roster.
The Packers attempted to reignite Simmons’ playmaking ability by having him focus solely on playing linebacker. But the mistakes were common in exhibition games, and Simmons’ unique role on special teams — he was playing snaps as a gunner for Bisaccia — failed to get him on the roster.
Simmons’ contract with the Packers included a signing bonus of $167,500, which will now hit the Packers salary cap in 2025 as dead money. As a vested veteran, Simmons’ full contract would have guaranteed had he been on the roster for Week 1.
With Simmons expecting to be released, veteran linebacker Kristian Welch is likely a good bet to make the first 53-man roster. Welch, a Wisconsin native, was solid at linebacker and once again proved to be a versatile and impactful player on special teams.
Packers Wire is tracking all the roster cuts down to 53 players on Tuesday here.