The Green Bay Packers won’t be re-signing free agent linebacker Krys Barnes, according to Bill Huber of SI.com.
Barnes, an undrafted free agent out of UCLA in 2020, was a restricted free agent. He wasn’t offered a tender by Wednesday’s deadline and became an unrestricted free agent.
The Packers tendered offensive tackle Yosh Nijman at the second-round level and re-signed tight end Tyler Davis. Barnes will head elsewhere.
Per Huber, the Packers are looking for more speed behind the starters at linebacker.
Barnes played in 35 games and made 24 starts for the Packers over three seasons. He lost his starting spot when the Packers drafted Quay Walker in the first round of the 2022 draft.
Last season, Barnes played only six games after suffering a significant ankle injury in Week 1. He missed seven games while recovering and then was inactive four times over the final eight weeks.
Isaiah McDuffie is expected to continue on as the primary backup behind Walker and De’Vondre Campbell.
Over 1,089 defensive snaps and 230 more on special teams, Barnes produced 190 tackles, 3.0 sacks, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, four pass breakups, nine tackles for losses and three quarterback hits.
