The Green Bay Packers have added undrafted rookie outside linebacker Keshawn Banks to the gameday roster for Saturday’s NFC Divisional playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers. Banks, who was a four-time all-Mountain West selection at San Diego State, will make his NFL debut. He started his final 47 games and ranks sixth in school history with 42 tackles for losses. Banks will be the NFL debut for the Packers, following the season-ending knee injury sustained by Kingsley Enagbare.
The Green Bay Packers have added undrafted rookie outside linebacker Keshawn Banks to the gameday roster for Saturday’s NFC Divisional playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers. Banks, who was a four-time all-Mountain West selection at San Diego State, will make his NFL debut. He started his final 47 games and ranks sixth in school history with 42 tackles for losses. Banks will be the NFL debut for the Packers, following the season-ending knee injury sustained by Kingsley Enagbare.
Banks had a strong training camp, but his most notable moment was being ejected from a joint practice against New England. Banks expressed his ability to play at this level, stating that he is a hard worker, talented, and reliable. He believes he can make plays and be a factor on every level of the game, including defense and special teams. Banks believes he is a jack of all trades who can play at this level and be useful to a team.
The Packers will face the 49ers w
ith their usual starting duo of Rashan Gary and Preston Smith, with first-round pick Lukas Van Ness as the top backup. Undrafted rookies Banks and Brenton Cox provide additional depth. Banks will be the first player on the gameday roster, while Cox, who spent the season on the 53-man roster, has played sparingly, being inactive for 12 games during the regular season. Cox’s last game action was Thanksgiving at Detroit and Week 6 at Denver.
The Packers will rely on first-round pick Van Ness to provide a break for Gary and Smith. Van Ness has four sacks in the regular season and one against Dallas. Defensive coordinator Joe Barry said that Van Ness is still young and excited about his current performance. He had a sack in his NFL debut at Chicago in Week 1, but went without a sack for each of the next 10 games. He has now had one in four of his last seven games. The Packers are happy with Van Ness’s progress and hope he will improve in the future.
The quarterback, who has been transitioning from Iowa to Green Bay, has faced numerous hurdles in his rookie season. He believes that the business of judging players quickly and seeking instant results is a common issue. However, he believes that the last few months have allowed him to play more freely and have fun, which is crucial for the team’s success. The goal is to play the best football, especially during January football, when it’s meaningful and when players want to play their best. The quarterback believes that the best football is needed in this meaningful season.
