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Packers Offically Sign With Former Browns 4th-Round RB , Send Strong Message After Roster Move

The Green Bay Packers have wasted no time making a decisive roster move. In a quick turnaround, the franchise reached a verbal agreement with a proven depth back, pending medical evaluation, to bolster their backfield and special teams.

This move comes shortly after Cleveland shuffled its backfield and left Pierre Strong Jr. available on the open market, putting a speed threat with real NFL snaps within reach for teams seeking immediate help.

Green Bay—already searching for added juice behind its lead runner—jumped at the opportunity. With postseason ambitions and an offense that prizes spacing and discipline, general manager Brian Gutekunst identified a chance to strengthen Matt LaFleur’s roster.

That player is Pierre Strong Jr., a 2022 fourth-round pick (via New England) who has logged 99 carries for 499 yards and 2 touchdowns over his first three NFL seasons. He also offers kick-return experience, adding roster flexibility on game day. The production and pedigree as a one-cut accelerator are clear.

Strong brings rare burst and scheme fit. Throughout his career, he’s thrived in zone concepts as a perimeter accelerator who can press the landmark, plant, and explode through the second level—while contributing on screens, draws, and pass protection. His return ability only expands the ways Green Bay can win hidden yards.

In his mid-20s, Strong also arrives with a professional reputation: coachable, detail-oriented, and comfortable in multiple roles—a profile the Packers value inside their locker-room culture.

For Green Bay, the addition could reshape the running back rotation and special-teams plans. With Josh Jacobs entrenched as the lead and depth pieces rotating behind him, Strong gives the Packers a credible elevation candidate who can stress the edge, change tempo, and provide insurance as injuries mount over a long season.

While final details remain pending, one thing is clear: the Packers didn’t just fill a roster spot. They may have landed the kind of explosive complementary back who can swing tight NFC games and keep the chains—and the season—moving.

Steelers Add Two Former Packers Fan Favorites to Practice Squad To Strengthen Defense Ahead Of Browns Game
  PITTSBURGH – On Wednesday, October 8, 2025, the Pittsburgh Steelers welcomed two linebackers formerly with the Green Bay Packers for a workout session. The players invited were Michael Barrett and Isaiah Simmons, as the team looks to bolster its defensive unit ahead of upcoming games. Isaiah Simmons, selected as the 8th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft out of Clemson, has appeared in 84 games. He has recorded 329 tackles (226 solo, 103 assisted), 8.5 sacks (74 yards), 5 interceptions (127 yards), 2 interception touchdowns, 9 forced fumbles, and 3 fumble recoveries. Simmons, who briefly signed with the Packers in 2025 but didn’t make the final roster, is known for his versatility and impressive speed. Michael Barrett, a 7th-round pick (240th overall) by the Carolina Panthers in the 2024 NFL Draft out of Michigan, has limited NFL experience. He has appeared in a few games on practice squads with teams like the Packers and Browns but has yet to record significant stats (0 tackles, sacks, or interceptions). At Michigan, Barrett had a standout final college season with 65 tackles, 3 sacks, and 3 forced fumbles. Alex Highsmith, a key linebacker for the Steelers, suffered a high ankle sprain during the team’s Week 2 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on September 14, 2025. The injury sidelined him for Weeks 3 and 4, with an estimated recovery time of 4-6 weeks. While Highsmith was not placed on injured reserve to maintain roster flexibility, he is still recovering post-bye week and expected to return soon. However, the Steelers are seeking temporary replacements for the edge rusher position. The workouts with Barrett and Simmons reflect head coach Mike Tomlin’s cautious approach to adding depth to the defense, especially after releasing Ja’Whaun Bentley and losing Jon Rhattigan to the Raiders. Simmons, with his experience and athleticism, could be an ideal short-term option to support T.J. Watt and Nick Herbig. The Steelers have not yet announced any contract decisions regarding the two linebackers. SOURCE: https://x.com/FarabaughFB/status/1976031373946388722