The Inexperienced Bay Packers might be lining up towards a well-recognized face after they play the Chicago Bears of their Week 1 regular-season opener this yr. On Friday, NFL Community’s Tom Pelissero reported that former Packers tight finish Marcedes Lewis, who turned a free agent in 2023 when his contract with the group expired, has signed with the division rival Bears.

Lewis was by no means a lot of a pass-catcher with Inexperienced Bay, recording a excessive of 214 receiving yards in a single season over his five-year stretch with the group, however is acknowledged as the most effective blocking tight ends within the league. If Lewis even data a single snap towards the Packers in Week 1, he’ll set the NFL all-time report for many seasons performed on the tight finish place at 18.

The signing of Lewis marks the second tight finish that the Bears have added from Inexperienced Bay this offseason. Again in March, the group additionally signed pass-catcher Robert Tonyan, who performed a complementary position to Lewis’ skillset with the Packers. It’s price mentioning right here that Chicago’s offensive coordinator Luke Getsy was previously Inexperienced Bay’s quarterback coach till final season.

The Bears have made a number of additions to their roster not too long ago, past Lewis, together with pass-rusher Yannick Ngakoue. Ngakoue signed a one-year, $10.5 million take care of the group simply yesterday, giving Chicago some much-needed pass-rushing juice.

The Packers hope to switch Lewis and Tonyan this yr with a pair of rookies in second-round decide Luke Musgrave and third-round decide Tucker Kraft. Via two weeks of coaching camp, it seems that Musgrave is within the driver’s seat for the beginning tight finish place, whereas Kraft, off-line tight finish Josiah Deguara and Tyler Davis are competing for enjoying time behind Musgrave.