Green Bay Matt Wilhelm and Diyral Briggs, a pair of linebackers experienced in the 3-4 defense, were added by the Green Bay Packers on Tuesday to their 53-man roster.
Wilhelm, 6 feet 4 inches and 247 pounds, is an inside linebacker who has played in 82 games, including 22 starts, in an eight-year career for San Diego, Philadelphia and San Francisco.
Briggs, 6-2 and 248, is an outside linebacker who played in five games for the 49ers in 2009-'10 and one game for Denver this season.
The Packers signed Wilhelm as a free agent. They were awarded Briggs on waivers from the Broncos.
Wilhelm replaces inside linebacker Maurice Simpkins, a former Green Bay Blizzard arena league player who was released. He was on the roster for three weeks, playing on special teams in two games.
Briggs replaces outside linebacker Brady Poppinga, who was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury suffered against Miami.
Defensive end Mike Neal was placed on injured reserve with a rotator cuff injury. Presumably, Neal's roster berth will be filled later in the week with either Al Harris or Atari Bigby from the physically unable to perform list.
For now, at least, the Packers have A.J. Hawk, Desmond Bishop, Brandon Chillar and Wilhelm at inside linebacker, and Clay Matthews, Brad Jones, Frank Zombo and Briggs at outside linebacker. Rob Francois can play all four positions.
Wilhelm, the Chargers' fourth-round draft choice in 2003 from Ohio State, started 14 games in 2007 and seven in '08. He received a $2.625 million signing bonus as part of a six-year deal in December 2006.
San Diego cut Wilhelm in July 2009. He spent August 2009 with the Eagles before being cut and then played 11 games for the 49ers later in the season.
The 49ers negotiated an injury settlement with Wilhelm and waived him Sept. 9. A source said Wilhelm rehabilitated a knee injury and was ready to play about two weeks ago.
"If you were looking for an inside backer in a 3-4 he was probably one of the top two or three guys available," said a personnel man for a team using a 3-4 defense. "He's not a descending player. He's close to 30 (29), but he's not one of these aging, veteran types."
Wilhelm ran 40 yards in 4.72 seconds in 2003. He scored 19 on the Wonderlic intelligence test and had an exceptional 39-inch vertical jump.
"He's more of a weak inside backer, where he can flow and pursue to the football, than a strong inside backer," the scout said. "He's got size, he's got instincts and he's a pretty good athlete. Not necessarily a heavy-handed player at the point of attack but he can slip and slide off blocks."
For his career, Wilhelm has 258 tackles, two sacks, six interceptions, no fumbles forced and no fumbles recovered. He added 53 tackles on special teams.
Briggs registered 26 sacks in a 47-game, 27-start career at Bowling Green, then signed as a free agent with the 49ers. He played five snaps on defense and 35 on special teams last year in San Francisco. He has a 40 time of 4.75 and a vertical jump of 31.
"Pretty good athlete and better than average speed," the scout said. "He's more of a speed rusher than a bull rusher off the edge. He will need to win with his speed more than an array of moves."
"He can meet a block and hold the point. I dont think he re-sets the line of scrimmage. Hes experienced in the defense so it should be a pretty seamless transition. I dont think his ceiling is high."
Besides Wilhelm, the Packers on Tuesday also worked out defensive end Nick Reed and linebacker Erik Walden.
The Packers were the only team to claim Briggs. His minimum-salary contract extends through 2011.