The Green Bay Packers have added a boost to their edge-rush game with the signing of former Houston Texan Whitney Mercilus.

At his Thursday press conference, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said he felt fortunate to get a player like Mercilus at this point in the season.

“Everything I’ve heard about him as a man is A-plus,” LaFleur said. “And then I’ve been on teams that have gone against him and he’s always been a problem to play against. So I think we’re pretty fortunate to get a guy of his caliber at this time of the season.

“He just is a guy that you’ve got to account for and he’s been doing it for a long time at a high level. Like I said, you usually don’t find those types of players at this juncture of the season.”

Mercilus was drafted by the Texans in 2012 and was a force for the defense. He recorded 57.0 tackles over his tenure, including 3.0 sacks and four tackles for loss in six games this season.

The addition helps a Packers defense that is down Za’Darius Smith and Chauncey Rivers, who are both on injured reserve. Green Bay is 5-1 this year and coming off a victory over the Chicago Bears. The Packers take on Washington this week.