The Green Bay Packers were soft against the run in 2012, and they could be without second-year pro defensive tackle Jerel Worthy for most of the 2013 season because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament. That has the Packers looking hard at the free-agent defensive tackle market.
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A source told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that the Packers have expressed interest in Ricky Jean Francois, an impending free agent who served as a top backup for the San Francisco 49ers last season.
Mike McCarthyinsists that his team is "tough," but it's not a great sign that he cited the team's Super Bowl win as proof. That was two years ago. They have been much easier to push around defensively since then.
This is not a bad free-agent year to be looking for a rotational player up front like Jean Francois. There aren't great top-level guys available, but there is depth with players like Desmond Bryant, Glenn Dorsey, Richard Seymour, Michael Bennett and Sedrick Ellis available, among others. It's a good bet that Packers GM Ted Thompson will sign someone at the position.
Just don't expect the Packers to do it too early in free agency.
Follow Gregg Rosenthal on Twitter @greggrosenthal.
