BREAKING: HC Matt LaFleur Hands Down Harsh Punishment After Rookie Leaves Preseason Game vs Jets Early for Not Playing
Share this article:
Green Bay, WI – August 10, 2025 — The Packers’ preseason opener was supposed to be a proving ground for roster hopefuls. Instead, it ended with head coach Matt LaFleur delivering a sharp reminder about what it means to wear Green and Gold. On Saturday night, a rookie defensive tackle exited Lambeau Field before the final whistle after failing to see the field — a move that stunned teammates and coaches and triggered immediate discipline.
That player: Warren Brinson, a 2025 sixth-round pick (No. 198 overall) out of Georgia whose interior power and first-step quickness intrigued Green Bay on draft weekend. In his final two seasons with the Bulldogs, Brinson produced 4.0 sacks and 9.0 TFLs, flashing inside-rush upside before signing his rookie deal in May.
“You don’t walk out on the Green and Gold just because your number wasn’t called. This is a team sport — in Green Bay, commitment comes first. If you can’t stand on the sideline with your brothers, you don’t belong in this locker room,” LaFleur said postgame.
As a result, Brinson will be suspended for the Packers’ remaining two preseason games and will practice in isolation for the next week — no direct coaching or teammate interaction — a harsh internal penalty designed to underline standards.
The timing couldn’t be worse. Green Bay’s defensive interior is crowded: Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt, Karl Brooks, and Colby Wooden head the rotation, while rookies Nazir Stackhouse and Brinson jostle for evaluation snaps alongside depth pieces James Ester and Keith Randolph Jr. Missing time — even sideline time — makes an already steep climb to the final 53 even tougher.
Context matters, too. Green Bay dropped its preseason opener to the Jets, 30–10, on August 9 at Lambeau, heightening urgency for young linemen to stack good tape over the next two games. Every rep is currency; discipline buys trust.
With two preseason contests left before cut-down day, LaFleur’s message is unmistakable: in Green Bay, the privilege of wearing Green and Gold is earned through commitment, discipline, and standing shoulder-to-shoulder with your teammates until the final whistle.
May You Like
Chiefs Head Coach Announces Chris Jones to Start on the Bench for Standout Rookie After Costly Mistake vs. Jaguars
Cowboys Reunite with a Former Starter, Bolstering a Battle-Tested Defense for the Stretch Run
Pittsburgh Steelers Reach Agreement with Safety Shilo Sanders, Pending Medical Evaluation Amid Personal Drama, per source
