The NFL business can be brutal.
On Friday morning, the Green Bay Packers wished defensive lineman Jonathan Garvin a happy 24th birthday with a post on social media. Just hours later, they released him from the team.
— Freezing Cold Takes (@OldTakesExposed) July 28, 2023
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur addressed this unfortunate situation on Saturday.
“Unfortunately, sometimes it’s time to move on. I understand the timing wasn’t great, being his birthday. But you guys know this business never stops,” he said, via team insider Ryan Wood.
Matt LaFleur on #Packers releasing Johnathan Garvin: “Unfortunately, sometimes it’s time to move on. I understand the timing wasn’t great, being his birthday. But you guys know this business never stops.”
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) July 29, 2023
The Packers selected Garvin with a seventh-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. The former Miami Hurricane took the field for 38 games over his first three professional seasons, logging 32 tackles, 1.5 sacks and seven quarterback hits.
Garvin started his NFL career at defensive end before switching to linebacker in 2022. The Packers are deep at the LB position with starters Rashan Gary and Preston Smith, and backups Justin Hollins and Lukas Van Ness.
Garvin was working with the defensive linemen to start this year’s training camp, possibly as a last-ditch effort to land a roster spot at a new position.