Kenny Clark reveals Packers looking to surprising source to help fill nose tackle spot

The Green Bay Packers' lack of blockbuster additions to their defensive interior this offseason, coupled with the departure of T.J. Slaton in free agency, has left many wondering what the team's plan is regarding the nose tackle position.

Slaton filled the role well in his four years with the team, and Kenny Clark’s all-around skillset means he could be the prime candidate to take on those responsibilities in 2025, but even then, questions have been raised over who would back up Clark in that scenario.

It has been presumed that two rookies, sixth-rounder Warren Brinson and UDFA Nazir Stackhouse, would be fighting for the position, but after Clark spoke with the media this week, it seems the Packers might be looking into a creative solution.

According to Clark, third-year defensive tackle Colby Wooden has at least partly turned his attention to more of a run-stuffing role. Clark said Wooden has been “learning how to play more nose” this offseason.

This is notable because entering the league, Wooden had about as different a body type as a defensive lineman could possibly have compared a traditional nose tackle.

He weighed in at 273 pounds at the scouting combine, which is extremely light for any type of defensive tackle, never mind a nose, and is closer to edge rusher size.

Wooden put on weight last offseason, which he said took him from 278 pounds after his rookie year to around 290 pounds in 2024.

That was a big jump to make, and he would probably have needed to add the same amount of weight this offseason, if not more, to get anywhere near nose tackle size, which is usually 320 pounds or more.

At 6-4 even, Wooden theoretically has the frame to do it, and it will be interesting to find out where he is in terms of weight once he speaks to the media for the first time this year.

Whether he can adapt to the demands of the position from a mental standpoint is another question, and the move could actually be seen as ominous for his chances of making the team in 2025.

It is not often a good sign for a player’s roster status when after having little impact in their first couple of years, they suddenly change positions or roles.

Given that Brinson and Stackhouse can play the nose, the Packers may have decided the last player or two on their defensive tackle depth chart need to be able to play nose, so have encouraged Wooden to learn the position to give himself more chance of sticking around.

Can he perform well enough in that role after just a few months focusing on it, and after potentially making drastic changes to his body, to beat out Brinson and/or Stackhouse?

Clark also mentioned the entire defensive tackle group is being asked to alter their plan of attack in 2025 under new defensive line coach DeMarcus Covington, telling the media: “We’re going back to playing more technique."

He explained: “Last year we were pretty much going up the field, stopping the run on the way to the quarterback pretty much, this year we’re playing more technique.”

The change means veering away from the upfield, penetrating style they used in 2024, and as Clark put it, going back to their “old stuff”, which implies the defensive front will be using similar techniques to the ones Joe Barry’s defense called for.

Whether this change benefits or hinders Wooden’s ability to play nose tackle remains to be seen.  

This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers looking to surprising source to help fill nose tackle spot