Re-signed by the Packers on Jan. 13, 2025…Spent the entire 2024 season on Green Bay's practice squad…Was released on Aug. 27 and was signed to the practice squad on Aug. 28…Originally entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the Packers on May 3, 2024…Appeared in 49 games with 43 starts over five seasons at Northern Illinois (2019-23), recording 121 tackles (50 solo), 20 tackles for a loss, nine sacks, seven passes defensed, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery…Also blocked a field goal on special teams…Started all 13 games in 2023, earning second-team All-Mid-American Conference honors after posting a career-high 49 tackles (23 solo), a career-best 6½ tackles for a loss, a career-high four sacks, two passes defensed and a fumble recovery…Logged five tackles (three solo) and two tackles for a loss at Nebraska (Sept. 16)…Posted a season-high six tackles (two solo) vs. Ohio (Oct. 14)…Matched his season high the following week vs. Eastern Michigan (Oct. 21) with six tackles (three solo), 1½ tackles for a loss and a sack…Tied his season best with six tackles (four solo), a tackle for a loss and a sack at Kent State (Nov. 25)…Logged a solo tackle and a pass defensed in the victory over Arkansas State (Dec. 23) in the Camellia Bowl…Started all 12 games in 2022, earning third-team All-MAC honors after recording 28 tackles (10 solo), six tackles for a loss, two sacks, an INT returned for a touchdown, two passes defensed and a career-high two forced fumbles…Began the season vs. Eastern Illinois (Sept. 1) with two tackles (both assists), a shared tackle for a loss and a shared sack…Posted four tackles (one solo), a shared tackle for a loss, a shared sack and a forced fumble that led to a Huskies TD on the ensuing drive at Kentucky (Sept. 24)… Recorded his first career INT at Eastern Michigan (Oct. 15) when the Eagles were backed up on their own 5 and he picked off a pass in the Huskies' end zone for a touchdown…Posted a season-high six tackles (two solo), 1½ tackles for a loss and a pass defensed vs. Central Michigan (Nov. 2)…Forced another fumble at Western Michigan (Nov. 9) when he sacked QB Treyson Bourguet and the Huskies recovered it and scored on the ensuing offensive drive…Matched his season high with six tackles (one solo) and a tackle for a loss vs. Miami (Ohio) (Nov. 16)…Started all 14 games in 2021, earning third- team All-MAC recognition after posting 25 tackles (seven solo), 3½ tackles for a loss, two sacks, a pass defensed and a blocked extra point on special teams…Recorded a 6-yard sack vs. Eastern Michigan (Oct. 2) on the Eagles' first possession of the game…Logged four tackles (one solo) at Toledo (Oct. 9)…Posted an assisted tackle, a shared tackle for a loss and a pass defensed vs. Ball State (Nov. 10)…Recorded a season-high five tackles (two solo) and a shared tackle for a loss in an overtime win at Buffalo (Nov. 17)…Posted a shared tackle for a loss and blocked an extra point vs. Coastal Carolina (Dec. 17) in the Tailgreeter Cure Bowl…Appeared in all six games with four starts in the shortened 2020 season, recording 17 tackles (eight solo), two tackles for a loss, a sack and two passes defensed…Logged a season-high four tackles (two solo) and a shared tackle for a loss vs. Central Michigan (Nov. 11)…Matched his season high with four tackles (all assists) and a shared tackle for a loss at Ball State (Nov. 18)…Posted three tackles (two solo), a tackle for a loss, a sack and a pass defensed at Eastern Michigan (Dec. 12)…Played in four games as a redshirt freshman in 2019, recording two tackles (both solo) and two tackles for a loss…Logged a solo tackle that went for a loss of 1 yard in his college debut at Nebraska (Sept. 14)…Posted another solo tackle that went for a loss of 3 yards vs. Eastern Michigan (Nov. 19)… Earned his degree in communications…Was a three-year letterwinner at Cass Technical High School in Detroit, Mich., helping lead the team to a 10-1 record and a Detroit Public League championship as a senior…Helped the team to district and regional titles as a junior… Earned first-team all-state honors from the Detroit Free Press and first-team all-conference accolades after recording 42 tackles, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, an INT and a blocked kick as a senior…Played running back, linebacker and defensive line in high school…His sister, Taylor, played soccer at Howard University…Given name James Thomas Ester; born in Detroit, Mich.
