The Green Bay Packers got a pleasant surprise at OTAs when edge rusher Kingsley Enagbare was a full participant. That is critical because the former South Carolina star provides the Packers with crucial depth at one of the most vital positions on the defense.

Enagbare suffered what was believed to be a serious knee injury in the team’s playoff win over the Dallas Cowboys. The injury was believed to be a torn ACL.

But when the Packers returned to their practice facility for OTAs this spring, Enagbare wasn’t working with the rehab group. He was participating in all practices and drills. Apparently, the injury was not a full tear and did not require surgery.

This will be Enagbare’s third season with the Packers. In his first two campaigns, he provided the team with solid play as a rotational edge rusher. Rashan Gary and Preston Smith were the starters with “J.J.” right behind them on the depth chart.

In his rookie season, Enagbare recorded 31 total tackles and three sacks. He made five tackles for loss while being credited with eight quarterback hits.

When Gary suffered a season-ending injury in Week 9, Enagbare was pressed into the starting lineup for the rest of the season. By the conclusion of his rookie year, he was clearly making progress.

In 2023, Gary returned to the starting lineup, so Enagbare started just four games while still playing in all 17. He recorded two sacks while upping his total to 37 total tackles and eight tackles for loss.

Although his sack total went down from three to two, head coach Matt LaFleur saw a lot of progress in Enagbare’s game.

“I can’t say enough great things about him,” LaFleur told reporters late in the 2023 season. “To see the growth from last year to this year…His relentless pursuit of the football. There’s a number of examples in that game of just the physicality that we preach, the hustle to the ball.”

Enagbare graded out consistently against both the run and at rushing the passer last season according to Pro Football Focus.

Rushing the passer is one of the most critical things a defense can do to disrupt an offense and teams need quality depth at edge rusher. Ideally, teams have a four-man rotation of players who can get pressure on the quarterback.

Gary and Smith are back as the starters. Last season’s first round pick, Lukas Van Ness will also return and hopes to make a second-year jump in his sophomore season in the league.

If healthy, Enagbare provides the Packers with a fourth player at the position who can get to the quarterback. If he’s not available, the next player on the depth chart is second-year, undrafted free agent, Brenton Cox, Jr. Cox has raw ability but has only played in four games as a rookie and played a total of four snaps on defense in those games.

The Packers are happy to have Enagbare back and ready to play. “He understands that it could have gone either way for him,” Gary said. “So, having that mindset and having the way that he's attacked this offseason … He's hungry and he's going to have a hell of a year for us.”

Enagbare is excited for the new season and is looking forward to playing in Jeff Hafley’s new defense. Like most defensive players, Enagbare welcomes the more aggressive mindset that Hafley brings to the unit.

“It's very simple. Really nothing to think about – see-ball, get-ball type of thing,” Enagbare said. “It's pretty much how we all essentially want to play… Just look forward and make a play.”

With Enagbare’s return, the Packers should have enough depth at edge rusher. All of them will have to adjust to starting plays with their hands on the ground as defensive ends rather than starting upright as an outside linebacker. Enagbare is expected to battle with Van Ness for the third edge rusher in the rotation.

Regardless of what his ultimate role becomes, the Packers are fortunate to have a healthy Enagbare ready to compete as training camp opens later this month. Now, he has a chance to take his game to the next level and show what he can do in his third NFL season.