Packers Add RB Kenyan Drake, Claim CB David Long
Enjoying a busy 2023 without seeing much game action, Kenyan Drake has secured an opportunity with a fourth NFL team this year. The Packers are signing Drake, ESPN.com’s Field Yates tweets. Drake posting a Packers logo provided a good indication he has found yet another gig this season.
After being one of the Ravens’ fill-ins during the second season to feature J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards injury trouble, Drake has since bounced from Indianapolis to Baltimore (once again) to Cleveland and now to Green Bay. This is a practice squad agreement. Drake will replace James Robinson on Green Bay’s taxi squad.
Drake, 29, joined the Colts during a training camp overshadowed by Jonathan Taylor‘s absence but did not end up on Indianapolis’ 53-man roster. After losing Dobbins in Week 1, the Ravens brought Drake back. His 2023 season (two games) came in a Ravens uniform. Drake’s Browns stint did not include game action.
In addition to the Drake move, the Packers will become the second team this season to prevent David Long from hitting free agency. Accompanying Drake as a 2023 nomad, the veteran cornerback will join a third team this year. Initially a Raiders free agency addition, Long received his walking papers last month. The Panthers scooped Long up on waivers, reuniting him with former Rams secondary coach Ejiro Evero. After the Panthers cut bait, Long will once again land in a familiar scheme. Packers DC Joe Barry spent four seasons on Sean McVay‘s staff, two of them overlapping with Long.
Long, 25, joins a Packers team that has played without Jaire Alexander for stretches and has seen Eric Stokes land on multiple injury lists. The 2021 first-rounder is again on his way back, but the Packers have not yet activated him from IR. The Pack also traded starter Rasul Douglas to the Bills on deadline day. A regular for the Super Bowl-winning Rams edition two seasons ago, Long has played in 11 games this season. He made one start apiece in Las Vegas and Charlotte, but both teams waived him. Long spent four seasons in Los Angeles, starting 10 games. He played 516 defensive snaps in 2021, when the Rams still employed both Jalen Ramsey and Darious Williams.
As for Drake, he finished last season with 482 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Drake has two 800-plus-yard rushing seasons, with his most productive work coming in Arizona. The former transition tag recipient now profiles as a backup option, but the Packers have been without Aaron Jones for much of this season. After a hamstring injury shelved Green Bay’s starter early this year, he sustained an MCL sprain in November. Jones has missed five games this year. During his most recent absence, AJ Dillon and Patrick Taylor have operated as the Pack’s primary backs.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/4/23
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Waived: WR Dan Chisena
Baltimore Ravens
- Designated to return from IR: LB Malik Hamm
Carolina Panthers
- Waived: G Brett Toth
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed to active roster: QB A.J. McCarron
Green Bay Packers
- Claimed off waivers (from Panthers): DB David Long
Indianapolis Colts
- Reinstated from suspended list: DT Grover Stewart
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Promoted: TE Josh Pederson
New York Giants
- Waived: QB Matt Barkley
While the Giants haven’t activated Tyrod Taylor, the veteran QB is expected to be back on the active roster next Monday. In preparation, the team has moved on from Matt Barkley, who has been serving as the backup to Tommy DeVito since Daniel Jones went down with an injury. Barkley hasn’t seen the field for a regular season game since 2020, when he got into five games with the Bills.
Packers Activate S Darnell Savage Off IR
The Packers’ secondary is getting a solid reinforcement as the Packers announce the activation of starting safety Darnell Savage off of injured reserve. Savage returns after missing the team’s last five contests. 
The past two games have seen Green Bay function with two backups at safety as starting strong safety Rudy Ford has missed time with a combination of biceps and groin injuries. In both contests, the team was forced to rely on Jonathan Owens and Anthony Johnson.
Owens has been filling in for Savage since his placement on IR and has mostly struggled as a starter, grading out as the league’s 75th-best safety, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). In his lone season as a starter for the Texans last year, Owens struggled in a similar fashion, grading out as the 86th safety out of 88 ranked players at the position. Johnson, a seventh-round rookie, hasn’t fared much better, grading as the 72nd safety, according to PFF, but he did nab an interception in one of his three starts this year.
Savage will now have a chance to return and make a case for himself in what’s left of his contract year. The Packers picked up his fifth-year option back in the 2022 offseason, but it doesn’t seem like there has been much in the way of extension talks. In fact, it was seeming like Green Bay may have regretted their decision to opt-in for the additional year of Savage’s rookie contract after benching him for a four-game stretch last year. The Packers don’t have much of a choice but to start Savage for now, allowing him an additional few games to show what he’s worth in free agency.
In addition to Savage’s activation, Green Bay announced its two standard gameday practice squad elevations for tomorrow’s Sunday night matchup with the Chiefs. Fullback Henry Pearson and running back James Robinson will be suiting up with the active roster tomorrow night. Robinson spent time with both the Patriots and Giants in the offseason. After failing to make a 53-man roster, Robinson signed to the Packers’ practice squad in mid-October and has been off-and-on with both the p-squad and active roster ever since. He has yet to make an in-game appearance this season.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/2/23
Today’s gameday callups and minor moves heading into Sunday:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed to active roster: WR Dan Chisena
- Elevated: DT Phil Hoskins, CB Divaad Wilson
Atlanta Falcons
- Elevated: LB Milo Eifler, TE Parker Hesse
Cleveland Browns
- Elevated: QB Joe Flacco (story), CB A.J. Green
Denver Broncos
- Activated from IR: WR Brandon Johnson
- Elevated: QB Ben DiNucci, TE Lucas Krull
Detroit Lions
- Elevated: DT Quinton Bohanna, LB Bruce Irvin
Houston Texans
- Elevated: K Matt Ammendola
Indianapolis Colts
- Elevated: RB Tyler Goodson, WR D.J. Montgomery
Kansas City Chiefs
- Elevated: RB Deneric Prince
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed to active roster: WR Alex Erickson
- Elevated: TE Stephen Anderson
- Waived: RB Elijah Dotson
Miami Dolphins
- Elevated: TE Tanner Conner
New England Patriots
- Elevated: QB Malik Cunningham
New Orleans Saints
- Elevated: WR Marquez Callaway, FB Adam Prentice
New York Jets
- Activated from IR: CB Justin Hardee, G Wes Schweitzer
- Elevated: OL Jake Hanson, DT Perrion Winfrey
- Waived: OL Xavier Newman
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Elevated: LB Kyron Johnson
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: WR Chris Conley, S Erik Harris
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Elevated: WR Ryan Miller, WR David Moore
Tennessee Titans
- Signed to active roster: LB Joe Jones
Washington Commanders
- Elevated: DE Joshua Pryor
The Chiefs have ruled out running back Jerick McKinnon for tomorrow’s game against the Packers, necessitating some extra depth at the position. The team will turn to Prince, an undrafted free agent who has spent the entire season on Kansas City’s practice squad. Prince had a breakout season at Tulsa in 2022, finishing with 813 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns.
Winfrey, a 2022 fourth-round pick, was cut by the Browns last July after being investigated for pulling a gun on a woman. He joined the Jets practice squad in early November and will finally earn his first promotion of the season. Winfrey got into 13 games for Cleveland last year, collecting 22 tackles and 0.5 sacks.
At age 36, Irvin will be making his debut for a sixth NFL team. The veteran pass rusher signed with Detroit midway through November and will finally have a chance to extend his streak of regular season appearances to 12 straight years. The only absence on the Lions’ front-seven will be linebacker Alex Anzalone, so Detroit may be looking to stand Irvin up to help the team’s depth at linebacker.
Updated 2024 NFL Draft Order
With Week 13 underway, the picture at the top of the NFL draft board continues to become clearer. Plenty is yet to be determined with respect to the top of the order, however.
The Panthers’ ongoing struggles led to Frank Reich‘s firing, but the Bears own Carolina’s top pick this year due to the 2023 swap which landed Bryce Young via the No. 1 selection. Chicago being able to have the top pick once again – coupled with their own selection landing in the top-10 – would make the Bears a team to watch closely come April. The race for the top two or three slots (and, as such, the ability to draft QBs Caleb Williams and Drake Maye, along with wideout Marvin Harrison Jr.) will also be a key late-season storyline for the Cardinals and Patriots.
The Commanders have lost three straight games, overshadowing a promising season from first-year starter Sam Howell. After deciding to move on from defensive ends Chase Young and Montez Sweat at the trade deadline, the team’s defense has continued to struggle. DC Jack Del Rio is out as a result, and head coach Ron Rivera‘s position is not believed to be on strong footing. A top-five pick could make the job in Washington more attractive presuming a opening arises this offseason.
For non-playoff teams, the draft order will be determined by the inverted 2024 standings — plus a series of tiebreakers, starting with strength of schedule — with playoff squads being slotted by their postseason outcome and regular-season record. Here is an updated look at the current draft order:
- Chicago Bears (via Panthers)
- Arizona Cardinals: 2-10
- New England Patriots: 2-9
- Chicago Bears: 4-8
- Washington Commanders: 4-8
- New York Giants: 4-8
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 4-7
- New York Jets: 4-7
- Los Angeles Chargers: 4-7
- Tennessee Titans: 4-7
- Las Vegas Raiders: 5-7
- New Orleans Saints: 5-6
- Green Bay Packers: 5-6
- Los Angeles Rams: 5-6
- Cincinnati Bengals: 5-6
- Buffalo Bills: 6-6
- Arizona Cardinals (via Texans)
- Denver Broncos: 6-5
- Atlanta Falcons: 5-6
- Minnesota Vikings: 6-6
- Seattle Seahawks: 6-6
- Indianapolis Colts: 6-5
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 7-4
- Houston Texans (via Browns)
- Miami Dolphins: 8-3
- Detroit Lions: 8-3
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 8-3
- Dallas Cowboys: 9-3
- Kansas City Chiefs: 8-3
- San Francisco 49ers: 8-3
- Baltimore Ravens: 9-3
- Philadelphia Eagles: 10-1
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/29/23
Here are Wednesday’s practice squad moves:
Detroit Lions
- Signed: WR Tom Kennedy
- Released: WR Dylan Drummond
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: WR Bo Melton, RB James Robinson
Houston Texans
- Signed: K Matt Ammendola
New England Patriots
- Signed: WR Mathew Sexton, K Matthew Wright
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: CB Shemar Jean-Charles
Rumored to be eyeing kickers after rookie Chad Ryland‘s game-tying miss in Week 12, the Patriots will give Wright another opportunity. The Jaguars’ primary 2021 kicker, Wright has not kicked in a game this season. He logged six as a replacement leg — for the Steelers and Chiefs — last season. The Pats drafted Ryland in the fourth round and jettisoned Nick Folk on roster-cutdown day, trading the veteran to the Titans. Ryland has missed 35-yard field goals in back-to-back games; the Patriots will now give him competition.
Waived to make room for Monday claim Derek Barnett, Ammendola remains in place as the Texans’ Ka’imi Fairbairn fill-in. Ammendola, who also worked as a Harrison Butker replacement last season in Kansas City, will be elevated to Houston’s active roster once again, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes. Ammendola missed two 50-plus-yard field goals, including a game-tying 58-yard try, last week. Fairbairn, who is recovering from a strained quad, can be activated from IR next week.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/28/23
Today’s practice squad moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: LB Frank Ginda
- Released: K Matthew Wright
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: S Matthias Farley
- Released: DT Rashard Lawrence
Denver Broncos
- Signed: S Dallin Leavitt
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: TE Joel Wilson
- Released: CB Anthony Johnson
Houston Texans
- Signed: LB Garret Wallow
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: CB Cameron McCutcheon
- Released: OL Grant Miller
Minnesota Vikings
- Released: QB Sean Mannion
New England Patriots
- Signed: QB Will Grier
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: K Austin Seibert
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: WR Jacob Copeland
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: CB Kemon Hall
- Released: OL Henry Byrd
After getting cut by the Patriots this past weekend, Will Grier is back with the organization. Considering the uncertainty surrounding New England’s QB situation, there was some speculation that Grier could get a look before the end of the season, and his addition to the taxi squad leaves that door open. The former Cowboys backup started two games for the Panthers back in 2019, going winless while tossing zero touchdowns vs. four interceptions.
Packers Designate Eric Stokes For Return
Injuries have now sidetracked two Eric Stokes seasons. After a Lisfranc injury sidelined Stokes midway through last season, and after he rehabbed this year, multiple hamstring ailments led him to the reserve/PUP list. Stokes returned for one game but exited with more hamstring trouble.
The former first-round pick logged just four special teams snaps against the Broncos in Week 7, leaving with his latest hamstring malady. The Packers still have the former starter in their plans, however. The team designated Stokes for return from IR on Monday, starting his activation clock.
Stokes could soon be the rare player to come off the reserve/PUP list and IR in the same season. The Packers also designated Darnell Savage for return last week. Green Bay has not used an IR activation this season, putting the 5-6 team in good shape as it guns for a wild-card spot.
The Packers’ cornerback equation has also changed since Stokes was activated from the PUP list. Sitting 2-5 at the trade deadline, the Pack dealt starter Rasul Douglas to the Bills in a pick-swap transaction that brought back a 2024 third-round pick. Douglas was in place as a starter in front of Stokes, who had been a boundary starter in 2021 and ’22. The Packers had slid Douglas to the slot in 2022, attempting to accommodate Stokes and Jaire Alexander, but moved him back to his best position this season. With Douglas out of the picture, Green Bay has seen its cornerback equation change since the deadline.
Alexander has missed the past three games with a shoulder injury, moving Corey Ballentine into the starting lineup. In the only post-Douglas game with Alexander healthy, the Packers had he, Carrington Valentine and Keisean Nixon in place at corner. Pro Football Focus ranks Valentine, a seventh-round rookie, 65th overall among corners. The Packers have withstood Douglas’ departure, however, and are 2-1 without Alexander. Their CB group could again have some depth soon, with Stokes likely to give it another go.
Chosen 29th overall in 2021, Stokes impressed as a rookie but did not fare as well last season. The Georgia product allowed a completion percentage of 80% when in coverage, leading to an opposing passer rating of 123.5. Stokes needed foot and knee surgeries this offseason. While his career has not gone as the Packers envisioned, the 6-foot defender should soon have another chance to contribute.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/27/23
Here are Monday’s minor moves:
Chicago Bears
- Elevated: LB DeMarquis Gates, DB Christian Matthew
Green Bay Packers
- Waived: WR Bo Melton, RB James Robinson
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed from practice squad: OL Chandler Brewer
Kansas City Chiefs
- Waived from reserve/retired list: WR John Ross
Los Angeles Rams
- Placed on IR: CB Duke Shelley
- Signed from practice squad: CB Shaun Jolly
Minnesota Vikings
- Elevated: LB Anthony Barr
San Francisco 49ers
- Activated from IR: DL Robert Beal Jr.
- Placed on IR: S George Odum (story)
Ross signed a reserve/futures deal with the Chiefs in January but retired before training camp. The Combine 40-yard dash record holder now intends to resume his career, according to NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo. Ross, who turned 28 today, has not played in a regular-season game since 2021 with the Giants.
A Raiders spring signee, Shelley did not make Las Vegas’ 53-man roster. The Rams picked him up before the season and have used him mostly on special teams. Shelley, who Bears and Vikings prior to this two-team 2023, has logged 76 defensive snaps this season. But the veteran cornerback has been on the field for 65% of Los Angeles’ special teams plays.
Packers Place TE Luke Musgrave On IR, Sign RB James Robinson From Practice Squad
In a skill-position group flooded with first- and second-year performers, Luke Musgrave has operated as one of the cadre’s starters. The Packers will not be able to continue the rookie tight end’s development for a while, however.
The team moved Musgrave to IR on Wednesday, shutting him down until at least Week 16. This comes after Musgrave needed to be hospitalized for an abdominal injury sustained during the Packers’ win over the Chargers.
Released from the hospital, Musgrave will still need extensive recovery time. He did not leave the game due to the injury, but Matt LaFleur called the issue a “scary situation.” This adds to Musgrave’s run of injuries this season. After suffering a concussion in October, the second-round pick left a Week 7 game due to an ankle injury.
Avoiding moves for veteran pass catchers post-Aaron Rodgers, the Packers drafted two tight ends and three wide receivers. The team paired its batch of rookie weapons with NFL sophomores Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs and Samori Toure. Chosen with the pick obtained from the Jets in the Rodgers trade (No. 42 overall), Musgrave has started nine games. He has caught 33 passes for 341 yards and a touchdown, playing 71% of Green Bay’s offensive snaps. Third-round pick Tucker Kraft stands to see more work now. A South Dakota State alum, Kraft has five receptions for 43 yards this season.
In addition to the Musgrave move, the Packers placed running back Emanuel Wilson on IR. A rookie UDFA, Wilson had resided as Green Bay’s third-stringer behind Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon. The Pack will enter their Thanksgiving game without Jones as well. The standout back suffered an MCL sprain. This will leave Dillon atop the depth chart, with the recently reacquired (via the Patriots’ practice squad) Patrick Taylor in place as a backup.
The Packers will add James Robinson as more insurance. Rather than being a mere gameday elevation, the former Jaguars 1,000-yard rusher is now on the Packers’ 53-man roster. The former UDFA sensation’s career has not been the same since he suffered an Achilles tear late in his second season. Robinson has been with three teams — the Patriots, Giants and Packers — this year. The Jets nontendered Robinson as an RFA in March; he caught on with the Packers last month.
Green Bay also signed wideout Bo Melton from their P-squad and used gameday elevations on fullback Henry Pearson and safety Benny Sapp III ahead of their Lions tilt.