The Green Bay Packers’ cuts have been coming down heavy over the last few hours, with the news about guard Josh Sitton being the most shocking. However, news has leaked out about another potential starter getting the boot today: inside linebacker Sam Barrington.
A source close to ILB Sam Barrington said the #Packers have told Barrington he is being released. Team has made no announcement.
— Bob McGinn (@BobMcGinn) September 3, 2016
After missing most of last season with an ankle injury, Barrington sat out the entire offseason program and started training camp on the PUP list. He was back in the starting lineup upon his return thanks to Jake Ryan’s hamstring injury. However, he did not play particularly well during the preseason and has earned his release.
Along with Carl Bradford’s release, the Packers now have four inside linebackers on the roster: Ryan, Blake Martinez, Joe Thomas, and undrafted rookie Beniquez Brown. Stay tuned to find out of all four of those players make the final 53-man roster.
One thing that Barrington’s release ensures is the players in the starting lineup - Ryan and Martinez will lock down those jobs, with Martinez likely calling the signals for the defense.