McKenzie, who joined the Packers on the practice field Wednesday, takes over
the roster spot vacated by the Tuesday release of defensive tackle Jared
Tomich.
Sherman also announced the signing of Terdell Sands, a huge (6-7,
340-pound) defensive tackle, to the team's practice squad.
McKenzie's addition will add depth and experience to a recently shorthanded
defensive line. Starter Vonnie Holliday has missed the last two games
following arthroscopic knee surgery and Cletidus Hunt sat out Sunday's game
at Minnesota, also with a knee problem.
Rookie end Aaron Kampman also is now hampered by a broken right hand, an
injury incurred during team warm-ups prior to the Vikings contest.
McKenzie, a seventh-year professional originally drafted by the Packers out
of Ball State in 1996, helped Green Bay win Super Bowl XXXI that year
before signing with the Cleveland Browns as an unrestricted free agent in
2000. His 2001 season later limited to 7 games by an ankle injury, he
finished the year on injured reserve.
Again an unrestricted free agent, McKenzie subsequently signed with the
Chicago Bears on May 30, 3002. He played in the Bears' first four games,
starting in place of Phillip Daniels (ankle) at defensive end in Weeks
2-3-4 and posting 8 tackles over that span. He then was inactive for the
Bears' Week 5 Monday night game against the Packers before being released
by Chicago October 16.
A seventh-round selection in the '96 NFL draft, McKenzie made an immediate
impact as a Packer rookie, proceeding to lead the NFL in preseason sacks
with 5.5. He went on to play in 58 games for Green Bay, primarily as a
pass rusher, before being signed by Cleveland in 2000 with the lure of an
opportunity to become a starter.
McKenzie, who left GB with 18.5 career sacks, started all 16 games
for the Browns that season, posting a career-high 61 tackles and equaling
his career best with 8 sacks for the third consecutive season.
McKenzie has been assigned jersey No. 73, Sands No. 78. He wore No. 95 in his first go-around in Green Bay.
In another transaction, the Packers placed running back Najeh Davenport on
injured reserve. Davenport, hurt on the opening kickoff of Sunday's
Minnesota game, underwent surgery Tuesday for repair of a left eye orbital
floor fracture. The move leaves Green Bay with 52 players on the active
roster, one below the regular season limit.