Packers put Johnson on injured reserve

GREEN BAY, Wis., Oct. 9 (UPI) -- The Green Bay Packers have signed free agent defensive back Bryant Westbrook, most recently with the Dallas Cowboys.

The signing was announced by General Manager and Coach Mike Sherman, who also said defensive end Joe Johnson has been placed on the injured reserve list. Westbrook takes Johnson's roster spot.

Johnson tore his left triceps Monday night against the Chicago Bears. On the defense, he joins end Vonnie Holliday, who is out until at least mid-November with a torn pectoral muscle.

"It's a loss for us," defensive coordinator Ed Donatell told the Green Bay News-Chronicle. "The way Joe was playing, each game it looked like he was progressing."

The 6-foot, 201-pound Westbrook spent his previous five seasons with the Detroit Lions, where he made a total of 12 interceptions and 208 tackles.

The Packers also have terminated the contracts of three practice squad players: wide receiver Corey Parchman, defensive end John Gilmore (injured) and offensive lineman Al Jackson.

In their places, the Packers re-signed defensive back Todd Franz, and added defensive back Brandon Jennings, a third-year free agent cut recently by the Oakland Raiders, and offensive lineman Mitch White, a rookie free agent out of Oregon State, who has been on the rosters of the New Orleans Saints and New York Jets.