According to reports by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Thursday, the Green Bay Packers and their first-round draft pick B.J. Raji had reached an agreement in principle on contract terms. The news was somewhat confirmed by coach Mike McCarthy who said that the two sides were close to a deal.
As a former Boston College defensive tackle, Raji was taken by the Packers as the No. 9 overall pick. However, the team has not given him a contract since they reported to training camp July 31 and that caused a holdout lasting nearly two weeks.
Raji is considered to be a rare combination of size, power and quickness and he can play both as a natural nose tackle and defensive end in the 3-4 defense being installed by new defensive coordinator Dom Capers. His absence will mean losing one of Capers’ defense’s cornerstones.
Even if a contract is signed before the preseason opener, it is still unlikely to see Raji playing in Saturday night’s game against the Browns. McCarthy acknowledged that it will take some time for Raji to get in shape and it is hard to say whether he will be ready by the Sept. 13 season opener.
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