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Packers Bring Back Fan Favorite DT Who Won Two Super Bowls, Name Him Week 1 Starter on the Initial Depth Chart

“I can’t even put into words how I felt when I got the call from Coach LaFleur. Coming back to Green Bay makes me truly happy — to put on the Green & Gold, the colors that have lifted multiple Lombardi Trophies. Being listed as a Week 1 starter on the initial depth chart surprised me, but I’ll be ready and play my heart out for this jersey,” Mike Pennel said.

After a brief free-agency stint elsewhere, Pennel — an undrafted nose tackle who began his NFL career with the Packers — was acquired in a low-cost late-round pick swap that brings a system-fit run anchor back to Lambeau. The reunion hands Green Bay a ready-made interior piece who already understands the scheme, minimizing the playbook ramp-up ahead of Week 1.

The team’s first depth chart lists Pennel alongside Devonte Wyatt as the starting defensive tackles, with T.J. Slaton and Karl Brooks on the second line. The roles are clear: Pennel profiles as a 1-tech/shade run stopper who preserves gap integrity for the linebackers, while Wyatt works primarily at 3-tech to generate interior disruption. On third-and-long, Brooks and Slaton could see an uptick in snaps to juice the pass rush.

Before the move back, Pennel admitted the call caught him off guard mid-routine — and the biggest hassle was simply having to move again. Even so, he emphasized that everything “worked out the right way,” returning to the place where his NFL journey started and bringing with him two Super Bowl rings earned during his years away.

Pennel’s Green Bay homecoming is about more than depth: it’s a cultural fit. With a familiar voice in the room and a proven early-down anchor on the field, the Packers expect the interior to clamp down on the run and set the table for heavier pressure packages off the edge — Green & Gold business from the very first snap.

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Chiefs Linked To Saints Super Star With 5x Pro Bowl & 2x All-Pro in Blockbuster Trade, Per Source
Kansas City, MO — According to a circulating on X (Twitter), the Kansas City Chiefs have been “linked” to Alvin Kamara—the New Orleans Saints superstar, five-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro—as a potential target ahead of the trade deadline. The speculation has heated up as various outlets have also floated Kamara as a logical “fit” should the Chiefs look to add a versatile, late-season playmaker on offense. At 30, Kamara is a rare dual-threat RB who excels as both a runner and receiver. He tied the NFL single-game record with six rushing touchdowns (Christmas Day 2020 vs. the Vikings), and he has recently been recognized as the Saints’ all-time leader in rushing yards. Across his career: 5× Pro Bowl, 2× Second-Team All-Pro, and a skill set tailor-made for Andy Reid’s motion/spacing concepts—screens, angle/choice routes, safe check-downs, and short play-action. Tactically, if a move ever materialized, Kamara would immediately put stress on short-to-intermediate coverages, force defenses to roll a safety, and give Kansas City intriguing two-back looks alongside Isiah Pacheco on 3rd-and-medium and in the red zone. In this hypothetical scenario, Kamara voices a desire for a fresh challenge after hitting so many personal milestones in New Orleans: “I’ve achieved just about everything with the Saints, and I want a new challenge for myself. What could be better than a team competing directly for a Super Bowl? Just thinking about wearing Red and Gold really excites me.” Source: @nflrums X As of now, there has been no official confirmation from the Chiefs or the Saints regarding any talks. Still, Kamara’s résumé and toolbox explain why his name is quickly paired with Kansas City whenever rumors of an offensive upgrade surface. With 5× Pro Bowls, 2× All-Pro honors, and a proven knack for tilting games as both a runner and receiver, even a whisper on social media is enough to make Chiefs Kingdom perk up.