You wouldn’t have been the only one unfamiliar with the player who caught the night’s first touchdown and vaulted into the stands for a Lambeau Leap on Sunday in Green Bay’s thrilling win over the Kansas City Chiefs.
It was the first career touchdown for undrafted rookie Ben Sims, a Texas native who’s been on the 53-man roster all season.
“Growing up, you always wish to play in the NFL and you always wish to play in the mecca of pro football,” Sims said after the game. “Today, I got to do that and I got to score my first touchdown and got to Lambeau Leap. So my heart is full.
Sims went undrafted out of Baylor but didn’t sign with the Packers; he signed with the rival Minnesota Vikings. But when the Packers elected to trim their roster down to 53 players, the franchise brought Sims into the fold, claiming him off waivers.
The team’s options at the position were thin, with 26-year-old Josiah Deguara as the elder statesman and draft picks Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft likely to get significant playing time.
Both of those players have had success this year, but injuries to Deguara and Musgrave have opened the door for more Sims involvement.