The Green Bay Packers have claimed LB Diyral Briggs off waivers from Denver, signed LB Matt Wilhelm, placed DE Mike Neal and LB Brady Poppinga on injured reserve, and released LB Maurice Simpkins. The transactions were announced Tuesday by Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations Ted Thompson.
Briggs, whose first name is pronounced DIE-rell, is a 6-foot-3, 248-pound second-year player out of Bowling Green who entered the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers as a non-drafted free agent in May 2009. He appeared in four games for the 49ers in 2009 and one this season before being released in September. Briggs was then signed to Denver's practice squad before being elevated to the active roster, and he appeared in one game for the Broncos. He will wear No. 47.
Wilhelm, a 6-foot-4, 247-pound eighth-year player out of Ohio State, has played in 82 career games with 22 starts. Drafted in the fourth round (112th overall) by San Diego in 2003, he played in 71 games with 21 starts with the Chargers from 2003-08. Wilhelm also played in 11 games with one start last season with San Francisco. He will wear No. 57.
Neal sustained a shoulder injury at Washington in Week 5, while Poppinga injured his knee vs. Miami in Week 6.
