Green Bay, WI – October 26, 2025
In a locker room that values grit and discipline above everything else, the Green Bay Packers have found one of their most reliable workhorses emerging quietly from the defensive line — a young player who’s proving that consistency, not flash, wins in Titletown.
He doesn’t talk much. He doesn’t chase headlines. But each week, his presence grows stronger in the trenches, earning the trust of both his coaches and teammates.
That player is
Colby Wooden, the 23-year-old defensive tackle drafted by the Packers in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. After two developmental seasons, Wooden is now stepping into a critical rotational role on Green Bay’s defensive front — and he’s making the most of it.
With Devonte Wyatt sidelined, Wooden’s workload has surged. In Week 7, he logged 41 defensive snaps, a 20% increase from the previous week, and continues to be a force against the run. His
PFF grade of 78.5 highlights his impact in clogging lanes and holding his ground at the line of scrimmage.
Head coach Matt LaFleur praised the young lineman’s professionalism and dependability, saying:
“He’s stepped up exactly the way you hope a young lineman will — tough, disciplined, and dependable. Every week he’s earning more trust in that rotation. He’s not chasing headlines; he’s just doing the dirty work that wins games in Green Bay.”
Wooden’s recent performances have backed up that statement. Over the past few weeks, he’s averaged 3.5 tackles per game, showing improved gap discipline and leverage technique against opposing run blocks. His ability to absorb double-teams has helped free up playmakers like
Kenny Clark and Rashan Gary to attack the backfield more aggressively.
Through 85 non-special teams snaps this season (per Acme Packing Company), Wooden has emerged as a valuable depth piece — one that embodies the “next man up” philosophy LaFleur and defensive coordinator
Jeff Hafley have emphasized all year.
In Green Bay, where hard work and quiet consistency are part of the franchise DNA, Colby Wooden is fitting right in — not with words, but with every snap he earns.