Packers open to a Muhammad Wilkerson return

The veteran defensive lineman is coming of a brutal ankle injury. 

Packers defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson's 2018 season was cut short due to a significant ankle injury suffered during the team's Week 3 game in Washington. 

Wilkerson was on a one year deal after signing with Green Bay as a free agent last spring. With that contract set to expire in a few weeks, Wilkerson could be hitting free agency for the second year in a row. 

Could a return to the Packers and defensive coordinator Mike Pettine's scheme be a possibility? 

General manager Brian Gutekunst said Wednesday at the NFL's annual scouting combine that Wilkerson has been a fixture at Lambeau Field this offseason rehabbing his injured ankle. Asked directly if the Packers might bring Wilkerson back for another season, Gutekunst said it was "certainly a possibility" but that they were still in the process of evaluating the roster. 

For his part, Wilkerson indicated he was hoping for a return to the Packers when he spoke with Michael Cohen earlier this offseason. 

While the veteran defensive lineman's play was not exactly a highlight reel for the two weeks of game action he saw in 2018, bringing him back on a team friendly deal to be a rotational player would certainly make sense. Don't expect the Packers to make a move here unless the terms are extremely favorable, which one has to think they will be. Given Wilkerson's history with Pettine and his stated desire to return, the move would make sense. 

 

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Comments (15)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
Handsback's picture

February 27, 2019 at 12:30 pm

Lowry verses Wilks hummmm I'll take the younger and healthier player in Lowry.

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Community Guy's picture

February 27, 2019 at 01:04 pm

at the moment, Wilkerson's bargaining power seems pretty minimal.. given the talent the Packers already have, and the D-line talent about to be drafted.

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Jonathan Spader's picture

February 27, 2019 at 01:06 pm

I was excited for Wilkerson in 2018. Hoping he's wearing the Green & Gold on a team friendly deal in 2019.

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Rak43's picture

February 27, 2019 at 02:38 pm

I hope so too JS. I, by no means think he's washed up. Imho he was hungry last year and ready to prove it. I think this year will be no different in that he's hungry to prove he can still play. He could end up being a huge value with a rebound year.

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carlos's picture

February 28, 2019 at 11:20 am

Sounds like he’s motivated.

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carlos's picture

February 28, 2019 at 11:22 am

Big DT are hard to come by. Need depth. He provides that at the right price, unless you can get someone better. Good Luck unless you pay out a lot of your cap.

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TheVOR's picture

February 27, 2019 at 03:09 pm

Ya, I'm with you as well, he was really starting to Gel when he got hurt. I could see him back on another 1 year prove it deal. Truthfully, it's all he'll probably get in UFA, and it won't be a 5M deal either. But he's already up there, lives there, has been in rehab. Seems logical that if he signs a 1 year deal again, he'd do it in GB, kind of a mutual win win scenario..

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jannes bjornson's picture

February 27, 2019 at 03:36 pm

When will he be ready to hit the field? Depends on his medical evaluation, or will he start on the PUP?

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Skip greenBayless's picture

February 27, 2019 at 01:13 pm

Incentive based team friendly contract, why not. Maybe he might have something to prove this year and will go all out to let people know he's still alive. Worth the risk IMPO.

Dash

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paulwilliamsipw@yahoo.co.uk's picture

February 27, 2019 at 01:14 pm

Bring Mo back on another one year "prove it" deal.

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stockholder's picture

February 27, 2019 at 01:33 pm

"certainly a possibility"? . But yet he couldn't say the same thing about Mathews? If the move makes sense. We have to many holes to worry about next year. Gute is a salesman and not the GM we need. Wilkerson won't generate enough pass rush. This is throwing money down the drain, and trying to fix the leak with a Finger. The belief the game is won in the trenches is the point here. Wilkerson is to slow and has had his best days behind him. I'm against this signing.

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porupack's picture

February 27, 2019 at 03:26 pm

Are you sure that his best days are behind him? What if it takes a bit to gel with new team? Maybe we don't know, since he only played 2 weeks. Is the potential gain, worth the risk? What if he does come on strong?
Risk vs Reward.
Risk: we have a spot on the 53 that doesn't produce as much as the next guy "MIGHT"
Reward: Mo comes on strong in second year as he has feel for his Dline teammates and assignments.
I see reward vs. risk to keeping MWilkerson. Afterall, its not my money. Do it. :)

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stockholder's picture

February 27, 2019 at 03:46 pm

Perry and Cobb didn't teach you anything? He Already was brought in on a Prove it. He got hurt. We can't keep rewarding players who get hurt. You would never draft a player with this type of injury. We don't have a blank check. We have to get better. Better pass rush. More speed. If he wants to be paid like the best. He must be judged on the best. And we must judge are DL on that. His better days are behind him.

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Wilment's picture

February 27, 2019 at 04:17 pm

Id bring him back on a no guarantees, incentive laden contract. Play he was injured on was a freak accident involving another teammate. He is a vet that knows this system and as a rotational guy, I think he could contribute. If he gets beat out in camp, then you are out nothing. Give him a shot. GO PACK!

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crayzpackfan's picture

February 27, 2019 at 06:19 pm

If he’s healthy and willing to restructure, I say throw him a bone.

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