Former San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks, who was released last week after eight seasons with the 49ers, is expected to sign with the Green Bay Packers this week.

According to ESPN, Brooks’ agent, Gregory Williams, said he expects the deal to be finalized by Wednesday.

Since he won’t have time to practice with the team, Brooks isn’t expected to play in Green Bay’s preseason finale on Thursday. He is expected to be in the rotation when the Packers open the season against the Seattle Seahawks.

The Packers have been in need of a pass rusher after losing Julius Peppers and Datone Jones in free agency.

The Packers had hoped that fourth-round pick Vince Biegel and second-year pro Kyler Fackrell would fill the void. However, Biegel had surgery on a foot he injured in May and hasn’t practiced since. He will likely start the season on the physically unable to perform list.

Fackrell, who was a third round pick in 2016, hasn’t progressed as much as the coaching staff would like, and isn’t expected to produce much this season.

With Clay Matthews as their only pass rusher, the Packers don’t have a lot of depth at the position so the addition of Brooks makes a lot of sense.
Brooks, who made the Pro Bowl in 2013 when he had a career high 8.5 sacks, is entering his 11th season in the NFL. In eight seasons in San Francisco, he finished third in franchise history with 51.5 sacks.

In 120 games with the 49ers, Brooks had 325 tackles, 11 forced fumbles and three interceptions to go with the 51.5 sacks.

Packers outside linebackers’ coach Winston Moss was asked what he thought about the addition of Brooks.

“Tough. Tough. Physically imposing,” Moss said of Brooks. “A rusher. Can play very, very well versus the run. Can play stout versus the tight end. He can do everything that we would ask him to do in our scheme. He can play to the tight-end side; he can play to the open-end side. He can play the outside linebacker; he can play the elephant. If he were to be placed on our roster — however that decision goes down — he could come right in and fit right in.”