Packers sign veteran guard Laken Tomlinson off Cowboys practice squad

Green Bay adds a 34-year-old with 162 career starts to an offensive line that has been hit hard by injuries, including a season-ending loss at right tackle

The Packers are adding veteran help to an offensive line that has been decimated by injuries. Green Bay is signing guard Laken Tomlinson off the Cowboys' practice squad, a move that brings 162 career starts to a unit in need of stability.

Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet): Long-time NFL guard Laken Tomlinson is being signed by the #Packers off the #Cowboys practice squad, per me and @MikeGarafolo. At age 34, with 162 starts under his belt, Tomlinson will help an O-line that needs it.

The signing comes days after the Packers' offensive line struggled badly in Thursday night's 35-14 loss to the Falcons, a game in which Green Bay managed just nine rushing attempts and 17 yards on the ground. The group has dealt with a series of injuries up front, including a season-ending torn patellar tendon for right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele.

Tomlinson, 34, has not appeared in a game for Dallas this season after signing with the Cowboys a few weeks ago. He played in 10 games with seven starts for the Texans last season and previously started 155 games across stints with the Seahawks, Jets, 49ers and Lions.

Head coach Matt LaFleur rejected the idea of making a change at offensive line coach after the Falcons loss, but the team is clearly making a change to the makeup of the group itself. Tomlinson's experience should help stabilize a unit that has been a major factor in the Packers' early-season struggles, with Green Bay now having extra time to integrate him before a Week 4 trip to Tampa Bay.