Depth at safety has become a major problem for the Green Bay Packers. S Atari Bigby is out. S Nick Collins and S Aaron Rouse were injured against the Bengals, and Mike McCarthy didn't confirm on Monday that either would be available next Sunday. They should be OK with S Jarrett Bush starting, although the other possible starter is S Derrick Martin, who was acquired in a trade just a couple weeks ago. Since there is literally no depth behind Bush and Martin, the Packers brought in a couple free agent safeties for workouts. From the Press-Gazette:
With both their starting safeties injuried this week, the Packers worked out three defensive backs Tuesday, including five-year NFL veteran Matt Giordano...
The other player the Packers worked out, according to the NFL transactions wire, were Nate Ness, an undrafted rookie from Arizona who was cut by Seattle during training camp; and DeAndre Wright, a sixth-round draft pick of the New York Giants this year who was cut at the end of training camp...
Of that group, it sounds like Giordano might be worth signing. From Stampede Blue:
The last few seasons, one of the best special teams players on the Colts was safety Matt Giordano. Giordano was also one of the fastest players on the team PERIOD, and he had a knack for delivering big hits (like the one he placed on a Bears tight end in the Super Bowl).
Nate Ness was in Seattle for about a minute. From NFL Draft Scout: He's an undrafted free agent who was generally unknown until he ran a 4.46 in the 40 at his pro day, and he's been signed and released by three NFL teams in the last six months. I don't like combine stars who didn't do enough make a name for themselves in college.
DeAndre Wright might be a good candidate for the practice squad, but not for the active roster. NFL Draft Scout called him "very raw and unpolished" and Big Blue View described an ugly play he was involved in this preseason:
DeAndre Wright: The rookie sixth-round pick got himself all turned around, then fell on the field in a heap on Erik Ainge 70-yard touchdown pass to Aundrae Allison late in the fourth quarter. Probably appropriate, though, since I think Wright's chance to make the team crashed to the ground as soon as he did.
The big problem with signing someone like Giordano is that someone else would have to be released to make room for him. If disaster strikes and Collins's season is over, they could place him on I.R. Otherwise someone like CB Brandon Underwood would have to be released.