Ahead of their matchup on Thursday with the Detroit Lions, the Green Bay Packers made a series of roster moves. Here is what you need to know:
Dealing with a litany of injuries, the Packers signed wide receiver Bo Melton and running back James Robinson from the practice squad to the 53-man roster. While not yet official, the assumption is that Green Bay will be without Dontayvion Wicks in this game as he is still going through concussion protocol. It’s also not a good sign for Jayden Reed, who was added to the injury report on Tuesday with a chest injury he sustained in Sunday’s game.
It’s possible the team doesn’t yet know if Reed can go and are adding Melton to the roster just in case. However, it’s worth noting that the Packers have had just five receivers active on game days this season and if both Reed and Melton are available, that puts them at six.
My guess is that Robinson will fill the third running back role behind AJ Dillon and Patrick Taylor, with those two seeing the bulk of the snaps. Perhaps Robinson could see some snaps as a change-of-pace option out of the backfield, but Dillon will most likely be the first and second down back with Taylor handling third downs with his ability as a pass-blocker and pass-catcher.
In order to make room on the 53-man roster for Melton and Robinson, the Packers moved Luke Musgrave and Emanuel Wilson to IR. Musgrave suffered a lacerated kidney in Sunday’s game that he somehow played through, after not notifying anyone on the medical staff of the injury. Wilson suffered a shoulder injury in that same game. Both players will have to miss a minimum of four games before they can return.
“He’s got a pretty significant injury,” LaFleur said about Musgrave on Tuesday. “I think it just speaks to his toughness, because he didn’t say anything all game, and then something came up.
“It’s been pretty significant,” added LaFleur. “This kid is as tough as they come, and I think that was pretty evident coming out of that Denver game when he hurt his ankle. He was battling to get back into that game and wasn’t happy when they weren’t letting him back in.”
The Packers passing game was finally picking up some steam in recent weeks and the catalyst behind that charge was the combination of Musgrave, Reed, and Wicks, all of whom have become reliable options for Jordan Love and helped this offense create some needed chunk plays in the passing game. Now players like Tucker Kraft, Malik Heath, and Samori Toure could all be thrust into larger roles.
The final two moves made were the Packers elevating safety Benny Sapp and fullback Henry Pearson from the practice squad. Sapp was elevated last week and primarily played special teams but was also the Packers third safety on the field when they were in dime.
Darnell Savage has been designated to return from IR and it does sound like — based on what LaFleur had to say on Tuesday — that he does have a chance of playing on Thursday. Rudy Ford was listed as limited during Monday and Tuesday’s practices working his way back from a biceps injury. With Dallin Leavitt no longer on the team, Sapp provides special teams depth and gives the Packers four healthy safeties at the moment. Having either Ford or Savage available would give them five.
”We’ll see where he’s at,” said LaFleur of Savage. “He’s been working out and I know he’s itching to get back out there. This has been killing him. But we will see where he’s at.”
The elevation of Pearson tells us that the team could be without Josiah Deguara on Thursday as well. If Deguara and Musgrave can’t go, the Packers would be left with only two available tight ends. Pearson can help fill the Deguara role but does come to the NFL with tight end experience after playing that position in college at Appalachian State.
