GREEN BAY, Wisconsin – With Rashan Gary and Preston Smith unlikely to play much and two young backups out due to injury, the Green Bay Packers’ two new defensive ends, Brevin Allen and Zach Morton, have an incredible opportunity in Saturday’s preseason game against the Cleveland Browns.
“Yes, it’s a great opportunity,” said Morton. “I’m definitely looking forward to it.”
With Keshawn Banks and Deslin Alexandre out, the Packers signed Allen and Morton on Wednesday. They practiced on Wednesday and Thursday and should be ready to contribute against the Browns.
Allen was a two-time FCS All-American at Campbell. He had 20.5 sacks and 38 tackles for loss in 44 career games, including 9.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss in 2021 when he was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, which goes to the best defensive player in FCS.
“I like to combine speed with power,” Allen said of his bread-and-butter switch as a pass rusher. “If I don’t beat them at the line, I go right back to my long arm to get by him.”
Allen went undrafted in 2023 and landed with the Chargers. Although he didn’t make their roster, he spent the entire season on the practice squad and played in two games.
It was an important year for Allen as he worked with two of the best in the industry.
“I just learned from two greats, Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa. They taught me a lot,” Allen said. “They taught me a lot of pass-rush moves – how to line up, how to make one play after another. They were really great veterans.”
Allen was released about three weeks after this year’s draft.
“After I got kicked out of the Chargers, I just put my head down, got back to work and God brought me here,” he said.
For the past three months, Allen has worked to “stay in NFL shape,” but at times it’s been difficult to work toward an opportunity that may never come his way.
“It’s been pretty tough, but I’m very motivated from within,” he said. “I want to be in this league and I know I can play in this league.”
Allen and Morton were signed after practicing for the team on Tuesday.
“It definitely happened quickly,” Morton said. “I’m just happy to be here and ready to be a Packer and compete.”
Morton spent his first four seasons at Syracuse. After redshirting in 2017 and sitting out 2018 with a knee injury, he worked as a backup in 2019 and 2020. He spent his final two college seasons at Akron. In his final season in 2022, he had 4.5 sacks and eight tackles for loss.
The Detroit native went undrafted and signed with the Lions, but was released before the first preseason game. He spent the rest of the year out of the NFL, working toward a dream that might never come true.
“That’s a fact,” he said. “A lot of prayer and faith, honestly. God helped me get back to this position, so I owe everything to him.”
“Yes,” he added, “there were definitely some bad days. My support system, family and friends helped me keep a clear head.”
This spring, he played in a few games for the UFL’s San Antonio Brahmas, which helped him get in shape for his tryout with the Packers.
“I was just blessed” to have signed, Morton said. “I was happy and blessed and excited.”
Since Gary and Smith – and even Lukas Van Ness and Kingsley Enagbare – were unlikely to get much playing time against the Browns, the Packers had to rely on Brenton Cox, Arron Mosby and Kenneth Odumegwu at defensive end.
Allen and Morton will be important reinforcements for the Packers. For Allen and Morton, this is an opportunity to keep their dreams alive.
“Yes, it is. 100 percent,” Morton said. “Hopefully everything works out. I’m going to go out there and do my best.”
The goal is simple.
“Make it to the 53-man roster,” Allen said.
And how will he do that?
“Give it your all in the preseason.”
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Hafley and the $220 million man highlight five things to watch for today’s game against the Browns. ⬇️https://t.co/qkFsC7w4fb
— Bill Huber (@BillHuberNFL) 10 August 2024
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