Packers put Davon House on injured reserve, sign Bashaud Breeland

GREEN BAY - The Green Bay Packers will be without the services of veteran cornerback Davon House for the rest of the season and moved quickly to sign an immediate replacement.

Veteran Bashaud Breeland, who had been on the street since injuring his foot in a non-football-related accident, signed with the Packers on Tuesday.

Breeland, a four-year starter in Washington, was set to sign with Carolina in free agency, but his injury derailed the deal. He started 58 of 60 games with Washington and had eight interceptions.

He was considered the top veteran option on the market, but one scout said he would make sure Breeland would fit in the locker room before signing him.

In addition to some reported flare-ups in practice during his time in Washington, he engaged in some Twitter spats with fans that drew public attention. In 2015, he was suspended for one game for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.

Breeland had been cited for simple marijuana possession during training camp the year prior. He later attributed it to a "stupid, rookie mistake."

In addition to Breeland, the Packers worked out cornerbacks David Amerson and Arrion Springs, tackles Anthony Coyle, Gerhard de Beerand and Tony Garcia and defensive tackle Quinton Dial. The Packers may bring back Dial, who played for them last season but was not re-signed, to help fill the void left by the season-ending ankle injury to Muhammad Wilkerson.

House has been battling shoulder pain of late and it was determined he would need surgery to repair it, a source said. The Packers have decided to put him on injured reserve and create a roster spot for a replacement.

NFL Network was first to report that House was headed for injured reserve.

Analysis: Packers' pinball offense must also show patience

Packers grades: Position evaluation vs. Washington

Muhammad Wilkerson suffers season-ending ankle injury

The Packers started the season with considerable depth at cornerback, but shoulder and groin injuries have affected starter Kevin King’s status and now House’s absence will put some pressure on the position.

King missed the Washington game after dropping out with a groin injury against Minnesota in Week 2, and his status for Buffalo on Sunday remains a question mark. When King was healthy, House was only playing on special teams, but with King out, House was seeing time in the six- and seven-defensive back packages.

He played just five snaps on defense and committed a pass interference penalty in the end zone that set up Washington’s second touchdown. Later in the game, defensive coordinator Mike Pettine used safety Jermaine Whitehead as one of the four cornerbacks in the dime package.

House continued to play special teams and logged 13 snaps.

The Packers’ healthy cornerbacks are veteran Tramon Williams and rookies Jaire Alexander and Josh Jackson. Alexander has been starting in place of King, and Jackson has been serving as the nickel back.

If King comes back, the Packers will have more flexibility, but he has not been able to stay healthy and had been battling a right shoulder injury during training camp. Last year, he was placed on injured reserve because he needed surgery to repair his left shoulder.

The Packers are also hoping to get safety Josh Jones back this week after a three-game absence due to an ankle sprain. But he can’t play cornerback and so the Packers were debating their options to fill House’s spot.

They had claimed cornerback Deante Burton off waivers from Atlanta two weeks ago, but they cut him last week to make room for running back Aaron Jones. 

NOTE: The Packers signed Coyle to the practice squad, releasing center Austin Davis to clear room.

Coyle, a rookie out of Fordham, originally signed as an undrafted rookie with the Houston Texans in May. He was released in final cuts at the beginning of September.

Davis signed originally as an undrafted rookie out of Duke this spring.

Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette contributed.