The Green Bay Packers have no shortage of injuries after a costly Week 16 loss to the Chicago Bears left the franchise down to one healthy tight end. John FitzPatrick suffered a season-ending injury, which gives Green Bay only one rostered tight end that they can expect to return to Week 17.
This obviously creates a healthy level of desperation when it comes to searching for outside-the-box options this late in the season. Fansided's Freddie Boston had one interesting idea, pointing to the Packers stealing a former Bears tight end and current Denver Broncos practice squad piece, Marcedes Lewis.
Lewis spent the 2023-24 season with the Chicago Bears as an important veteran leader and reliable backup. Now, the veteran is attempting to continue his career, spending time on the Denver Broncos practice squad. This perfectly sets up the Packers to steal a needed piece and put Lewis in a contributing role on a playoff team. The veteran pass catcher has 5,115 yards and 40 career touchdowns.
More importantly, even an aging version of Lewis is a reliable blocker and plays an incredibly physical brand of offense. This is exactly the boost the Packers are seeking and one that Chicago has to hope doesn't work out. While the Bears remain in the driver's seat in the NFC North, all the Packers need to do is win one game to cement a playoff berth. Having a former Bears veteran help this effort is obviously not ideal.
Former Bears Tight End Marcedes Lewis Pointed to as Potential Green Bay Answer
Chicago has gone 3-17 against the Packers over the last decade, reiterating the fact that there is still a healthy level of fear of the hated rival. The Bears need every possible advantage to go their way if there is a playoff rematch, and Lewis obviously pushes this equation in the wrong direction.
Head coach Ben Johnson is running an entirely different offense. However, Lewis can offer insight on Chicago's players and boost Green Bay at a position that is quickly becoming one of the league's most desperate. Only Luke Musgrave is healthy heading into Week 17, with the Packers forced to finish last Saturday's game with only one tight end.
This aided Chicago's clutch overtime win, leaving the Packers in desperation mode. Seeing a former Bear help solve this concern is far from ideal and gives Chicago even more reason to be aware of their rival entering the playoffs. This is especially true given the fact that the Broncos have already elevated Lewis to the active roster from the practice squad the maximum number of times allowed under league rules. Nothing is preventing Green Bay from cherry-picking the veteran off Denver's practice squad roster, if they so choose.
Still, there is no denying that the win locked up the Bears as one of the favorites in the NFC and has left a healthy level of concern for Green Bay fans. The addition of Lewis isn't ideal, but it doesn't drastically tip the scales in a potential playoff rematch.