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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.

Packers Rookie Cornerback Gets a Fan Meeting Organized by His Mother Despite Not Having Played a Single Game for the Team
GREEN BAY — On Sunday night, a community center near Lambeau filled up with green and gold. No sponsor banners—just a small stage, a few rows of folding chairs, an autograph table, and a long line of No. 26 jerseys waiting for signatures. The person who arranged everything was the mother of Micah Robinson—the Green Bay Packers’ rookie cornerback, a 2025 seventh-round pick at No. 237. “You may not have seen him on TV yet, but I’ve watched him for 23 years,” she said, clutching the game jersey. “My son is this team’s HIDDEN GEM. He deserves a chance—and when it comes, he’ll grab it with both hands.” The fan meeting lasted a bit over an hour: photos, jersey signings, and a short Q&A. On the display table were a few college mementos—a photo of Robinson from his transfer from Furman to Tulane, a notebook full of film-study notes, and a faded wristband from his Second-team All-AAC 2024 season. A team media staffer  offered a brief comment after the event: “We appreciate the family’s support. Personnel decisions are based on tactical needs and practice performance—and Micah is trending in the right direction.” On social media, some argued that holding a fan meeting when a player hasn’t logged meaningful snaps is “a little early.” But his mother smiled and answered right into the mic: “I’m not here to ‘demand a spot’ for my son. I’m here to remind him—and everyone—that dreams don’t wait until you’re called on television. Dreams begin the day you dare to believe you’re good enough.” Robinson offered just one line before slipping backstage: “I’ll let the work speak for itself.” Quick scouting note: Robinson brings a “speed + discipline” CB profile: a 4.42-second 40-yard at pro day; over his last three NCAA seasons he recorded 7 INT and 13 PD, showing ball skills and strong zone reactions. He fits special teams/CB depth right away and could crack sub-packages if he keeps stacking standout practices.