Former Green Bay Packers linebacker Eric Wilson, who was originally drafted by the Minnesota Vikings, is returning to the team that gave him a chance in the NFL. The Vikings announced that they signed the linebacker on Friday.
Over the last three seasons, Wilson played 47 games for the Packers, recording 12 starts for the team in 2024 due to injuries at the unit. Before 2024, though, Wilson played a mostly special teams role for the team. Of the 714 defensive snaps he took in Green Bay, 558 of them came last year. He also registered 826 special teams reps over three seasons with the Packers.
Going forward, Quay Walker is the undisputed middle linebacker in Green Bay’s 4-3 front while Edgerrin Cooper, a rookie breakout in 2024, and Isaiah McDuffie, who re-signed on a two-year deal this offseason, will play as outside linebackers in base looks. The Packers play about two-thirds of their snaps in nickel packages, where Walker will likely be paired with Cooper.
It seems unlikely that the Vikings are planning on playing Wilson as a starter. Instead, he joins Minnesota as special teams depth who has knowledge of a divisional rival’s scheme.
The Packers will probably need to add some depth to their own linebacker unit at some point, as the only true backup on their squad at the moment is 2024 third-round pick Ty’Ron Hopper, who Green Bay struggled to get on the field defensive even in garbage time last year.
