With the deadline to cut the roster from 90 to 53 players looming, Green Bay Packers GM Brian Gutekunst is facing some tough choices. But a recent positive development in the secondary could influence his final decisions on the defensive backfield.

After leaving last Saturday’s game against the Colts with an oxygen mask, Omar Brown‘s condition was updated by head coach LaFleur during his post-game press conference. LaFleur stated that Brown sustained a chest contusion and would remain in Indianapolis for further evaluation. “It’s a scary deal,” he commented.

But, today, ESPN’s Rob Demovsky reported on X that Omar Brown, who has spent nearly seven days in an Indianapolis hospital with a lung injury, could be cleared to play “very soon.”

“After spending nearly a week in an Indianapolis hospital because of a lung injury, safety Omar Brown could be cleared to play ‘very soon,’ per a source,” Dermovsky reported.

The former Nebraska star had been dominating training camp, stealing three interceptions during Family Day that had fans buzzing about his breakout potential. Everything changed in the third quarter when Brown hit the turf, clutching his chest, requiring immediate oxygen assistance before being carted off the field. However, after days of uncertainty and medical evaluation, encouraging reports have finally emerged about Brown’s condition, bringing much-needed good news to Packers Nation.

The update marked a dramatic swing in fortune for the safety. Brown was carted off late in the third quarter. What began as a “scary deal,” in his coach’s words, escalated into a prolonged hospital stay for a lung issue until this week’s encouraging turn.

The former Nebraska standout was in the middle of a strong preseason, highlighted by a three-interception performance during the Packers’ Family Day scrimmage. At Lincoln, Brown appeared in 23 games, recording 56 tackles, one interception, and three pass breakups before making the jump to the NFL. Green Bay signed him to the practice squad in August 2024, where he quickly carved out a reputation as one of camp’s risers.

Omar Brown’s extended hospital stay for his lung injury has already forced the Packers to shuffle their safety depth and add emergency replacements. Now with multiple players banged up from one preseason game, Green Bay’s front office faces some brutal roster mathematics. The organization hasn’t committed to Brown’s future despite his recovery progress, and these fresh injuries only complicate those already difficult decisions heading into final cuts.

Matt LaFleur makes emergency roster moves after Omar Brown’s hospital scare

Matt LaFleur pulled the trigger on crucial roster adjustments Monday, directly responding to the safety crisis that erupted after Omar Brown’s frightening lung injury left him hospitalized in Indianapolis. With Brown sidelined indefinitely and fellow safeties Xavier McKinney and Zayne Anderson also nursing injuries, Green Bay’s secondary depth had evaporated overnight.

The Packers swooped in to claim Jaylin Simpson, a 2024 fifth-round talent who blazed a 4.45-second forty-yard dash during pre-draft workouts. Simpson earned first-team All-SEC honors at Auburn before Indianapolis drafted him and inexplicably shifted him from safety to cornerback. The Colts waived him during roster cuts, leading to a practice squad stint before the Jets poached him for their active roster in December. New York cut him loose on August 2nd with an injury tag, then released him from IR four days later with a settlement.

Simpson’s journey through three teams in eight months tells the story of his talent versus timing. He worked out for Houston on August 11, Baltimore the next day, then impressed Green Bay on the 13th. Now he joins Evan Williams, Javon Bullard, Kitan Oladapo, and Johnathan Baldwin as LaFleur’s healthy safety options. Green Bay also signed explosive defensive tackle Devonte O’Malley from Northern Illinois, adding a different look from their typical nose tackles Nazir Stackhouse and Warren Brinson.

The moves cost cornerback Garnett Hollis Jr. his roster spot, while injured defensive tackle Keith Randolph was waived with an injury designation. These strategic additions showcase LaFleur’s aggressive approach to roster management. Rather than hoping injured players heal quickly, he’s securing immediate depth to keep his defense competitive while Brown recovers from his Indianapolis hospital stay.