If you were searching for a reason to watch the Green Bay Packers’ inconsequential regular season finale against the Minnesota Vikings, Matt LaFleur provided one on Thursday.
LaFleur said he “anticipates” Packers rookie defensive end Collin Oliver finally making his NFL debut in Week 18.
Oliver was drafted in the fifth round out of Oklahoma State, where he mostly lined up as an edge rusher and off-ball linebacker, totaling 134 tackles, 40.5 tackles for loss, and 23.5 sacks. Unfortunately, his senior season was limited to just two games due to a foot injury.
“He dealt with a little bit of an injury this year, didn’t play a lot, but the one thing about him, especially back to the ’23 tape, you turn the tape on him, and you can see he’s got a twitch and explosiveness off the edge that brings a little bit more of a unique skillset that way,” said Packers director of scouting Milt Hendrickson after the team took Oliver 159th overall. “He’s also got some versatility that’s going to allow him to play some stack (linebacker), and then he brings incredible special teams value with his whole skillset.”
Oliver was expected to be a situational pass rusher and contributor on special teams, but a hamstring injury cost him all of training camp and the preseason.
The Packers placed Oliver on the physically unable to perform list to start the regular season and didn’t designate him for return until Dec. 2. After making it through multiple weeks of practice, Oliver was then activated to the 53-man roster on December 22.
The hope is that Oliver can add some juice to a Green Bay pass-rushing unit that will be without Micah Parsons for the rest of the season and hasn’t gotten a sack from Rashan Gary in nine straight games.
However, even if Oliver makes his rookie debut Sunday against the Vikings, the game will have no impact on the Packers’ playoff positioning. Coming off three consecutive losses, they are already locked in as the NFC’s seventh seed. Green Bay is expected to rest several of its key players against Minnesota, including quarterback Jordan Love, who sustained a concussion against the Chicago Bears on Dec. 20 and only recently cleared the league’s protocol. With backup Malik Willis dealing with a shoulder injury, LaFleur confirmed Thursday that third-string quarterback Clayton Tune will be the starter.
Still, Sunday’s game could be an opportunity to get a good look at Oliver and newly acquired corner Trevon Diggs as the team tries to get back on track to make a deep run in the postseason.
