Packers brutally cut player three hours after wishing him happy birthday

28 July 2023 , 18:11

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Jonathan Garvin was released by the Green Bay Packers on his 24th birthday (Image: Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

The Green Bay Packers have released one of their players, just hours after wishing him a happy birthday.

Jonathan Garvin, who was preparing for his fourth NFL season with the Packers, has been released from the roster. The news was announced by head coach Matt LaFleur during a press conference on Friday. Garvin was drafted in 2020 in the seventh round with the 242nd overall pick. The linebacker had been a regular figure in the Packers defence prior to this off-season.

Earlier on Friday, the Packers tweeted a happy birthday message to Garvin. The tweet read: “Smile, it's your birthday! #SmileLikeAPro.” It was later reported by that the Packers had released Garven. It was also reported the 24-year-old had not taken part in the majority of the off-season training programme, which began with the organised team activities in May.

The Packers and LaFleur are preparing for their first season without Aaron Rodgers as their star quarterback for nearly two decades. Rodgers was traded to the New York Jets just days before the 2023 NFL Draft in April, ending an 18-year career in Wisconsin.

It’s not just Rodgers who has left the team over the course of the off-season, and not even the only one to leave for the Jets. Wide receivers Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb, as well as safety Adrian Amos, have all followed the 39-year-old in moving to the MetLife Stadium.

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LaFleur is preparing for his fifth season in charge of the Packers, having taken over as head coach following the departure of Mike McCarthy in 2019. He has guided the franchise to three play-off runs including two NFC Championship game appearances, but failed to win any of them.

Last season, though, there was disappointment in what turned out to be Rodgers’ final season with the franchise. The Packers finished 8-9, third in the NFC North, and failed to reach the post-season for the first time since 2018. Work will now be underway in training camp ahead of a busy pre-season schedule. Jordan Love is expected to be the starting quarterback for the Packers going into the 2023 regular season.

The pre-season schedule sees the Packers have three friendly games against the Cincinnati Bengals, New England Patriots, and the Seattle Seahawks. That will all be the build-up to the Week One opener against NFC North divisional rivals the Chicago Bears on September 10.

Mark Wakefield