Packers To Sign Blake Bortles To Practice Squad
The Packers are adding reinforcements in the wake of Aaron Rodgers‘ positive COVID-19 test. Quarterback Blake Bortles is en route to Green Bay, where he’ll sign a deal to join the practice squad (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com). 
[RELATED: Aaron Rodgers Out With COVID]
From there, Bortles could earn a quick promotion to backstop Jordan Love on Sunday. Love has attempted just seven passes as a pro; Bortles can relate, even though he offers significantly more experience. The former No. 3 overall pick has played in just three games since the 2019 season. He jockeyed between the Broncos’ active roster and practice squad throughout 2020, ending the campaign on the Rams practice squad.
Bortles signed with the Packers in the offseason, but didn’t make it to the final cut. Now, he’s back to provide the Packers with some extra insurance against the Chiefs.
Bortles, 29, disappointed during his five seasons with the Jaguars, where he completed only 59.4% of his throws for 92 touchdowns and 58 interceptions. All in all, he has a 24-49 regular season record as a starter.
Aaron Rodgers Ruled Out After Positive COVID Test
Aaron Rodgers will miss Sunday’s game against the Chiefs after testing positive for COVID-19 (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). With Rodgers sidelined, Jordan Love is now set to start under center. 
The Packers have been rolling ever since their brutal season opener against the Saints. They’re riding a seven-game winning streak, thanks in large part to the reigning MVP. Rodgers has completed 67.1% of his passes thus far for 1,894 yards and 17 touchdowns with only three interceptions. While the Packers are standing tall at 7-1, the Chiefs are treading water at 4-4. A Rodgers-less matchup could very well provide a boost to Patrick Mahomes & Co.
This will mark Love’s first start as a pro and his first significant NFL action. Love didn’t play as a rookie and he’s attempted just seven throws in total, completing five of them for 68 yards.
Rodgers, 38 in December, led the league in completion percentage (70.7%) and passing touchdowns (48) last year. Father Time didn’t slow him down, nor did his offseason of drama with Packers management. He will, however, miss at least one game as he goes through the league’s COVID-19 protocols.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/3/21
Today’s taxi squad moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: DT Treyvon Hester
- Released: OL Aaron Monteiro
Chicago Bears
- Signed: LB Cassius Marsh
- Released: RB Chris Thompson
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: DE Bradlee Anae
Denver Broncos
- Signed: TE Caleb Wilson
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: DL Auzoyah Alufohai, RB Ryquell Armstead
Houston Texans
- Signed: DL Chris Smith
Los Angeles Rams.
- Signed: WR Warren Jackson
New York Giants
- Signed: WR Pharoh Cooper
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/2/21
We’ll keep track of today’s taxi squad moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: DL Matt Dickerson, LB Tahir Whitehead
- Released: OL Koda Martin, TE Ross Travis
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: WR Marvin Hall
Buffalo Bills
- Placed on practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: QB Jake Fromm, WR Tanner Gentry
- Signed: OL Jacob Capra, WR Austin Proehl
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: QB Josh Love
- Released: WR Devin Smith
Chicago Bears
- Signed: DL LaCale London
- Released: G Dareuan Parker
Denver Broncos
- Released: CB Rojesterman Farris
Green Bay Packers
- Placed on practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: QB Kurt Benkert
- Signed: DL Abdullah Anderson
- Released: LB Aaron Adeoye
Los Angeles Chargers
- Released: LB Paddy Fisher
New York Jets
- Signed: S Natrell Jamerson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: K Josh Lambo, DT Khalil Davis
- Released: DL Chris Slayton
Washington Football Team
- Signed: G Zack Bailey, RB Wendell Smallwood
- Released: RB Jonathan Williams
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/2/21
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Promoted: LB Daren Bates, LB James Vaughters
- Waived: LB Dorian Etheridge
Baltimore Ravens
- Released via injury settlement: T Andre Smith
Cleveland Browns
- Waived: FB Johnny Stanton
Dallas Cowboys
- Placed on IR: LB Jabril Cox (story)
- Waived: DE Bradlee Anae
Detroit Lions
- Designated for return: T Taylor Decker, DL Devin Strong
Green Bay Packers
- Promoted: LS Steven Wirtel
- Waived: LS Hunter Bradley
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed off Chiefs’ practice squad: LB Christian Rozeboom
- Placed on IR: WR Tutu Atwell (story), LB Travin Howard
- Waived: LB Jonah Williams
New York Jets
- Designated to return: LB Hamsah Nasirildeen
- Promoted: S Jarrod Wilson
- Waived: LB Noah Dawkins
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Promoted: LB Taco Charlton
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived: LB Tyrell Adams, K Joey Slye
Washington Football Team
- Designated for return: TE Logan Thomas
- Waived: TE Jace Sternberger
Packers Release LB Jaylon Smith
The Packers are cutting linebacker Jaylon Smith, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Smith joined the Packers just a few weeks ago, but he’s back on the market and free to sign with any club. 
Smith, 26, earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2019 with 154 tackles, good for the second-highest total in the NFL. He was still productive for the Cowboys this year too — the advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus pegged him as a top-15 linebacker through four weeks. Still, the Cowboys opted to cut him and eat the remainder of his $7.2MM base salary.
Smith’s Packers tenure will end after just two games and a single tackle with Green Bay. The Panthers and the Washington Football Team were both said to be in on him in early October, so either one of those clubs could circle back. Smith may also make sense for the Steelers, who have just traded Melvin Ingram to the Chiefs for a Day 3 draft pick. The Steelers are reportedly eyeing defensive line help, but it couldn’t hurt to beef up elsewhere in the front seven.
The Packers, sans Smith, will ride a seven-game winning streak into this week’s game against the Chiefs.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/1/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Baltimore Ravens
- Placed on reserve/NFI list: LB Malik Harrison
Green Bay Packers
- Designated for return: WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted: RB Deon Jackson, S Josh Jones
- Released: QB Brett Hundley
- Released from IR: WR JJ Nelson
Las Vegas Raiders
- Released: LB Javin White
Los Angeles Rams
- Placed on IR: WR Tutu Atwell
New York Giants
- Placed on IR: LB Carter Coughlin
San Francisco 49ers
- Designated for return: RB Jeff Wilson Jr.
Tennessee Titans
- Activated from IR: C Daniel Munyer
Packers’ Robert Tonyan Tears ACL
Robert Tonyan‘s season is over. The Packers tight end has been officially diagnosed with an ACL tear, according to his agent (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). 
[RELATED: Packers’ Hill Done For Year]
Tonyan was forced out in the third quarter of last night’s game against the Cardinals and did not return. His limp indicated that he was dealing with a serious injury and doctors confirmed his worst fears on Friday afternoon.
“I’m sick for Bobby,” head coach Matt LaFleur said after the game (via NFL.com). “He means so much to this team. It’s so cool, and I just told him to watch a guy when you first hit your… see the amount of progress that he’s made as a player and just the work that he puts in on a daily basis. It’s really cool when you see that progress, when you see a guy reach their potential and I still think there’s more out there for him…I am sick for him, I’m sick for us. My heart goes out to him.”
Tonyan reeled in three catches before his early exit, giving him 18 grabs for 204 yards and two touchdowns on the year. The Packers went on to defeat the league’s last undefeated team, but they’ll have to go the rest of the way without Tonyan and running back Kylin Hill.
Packers’ Kylin Hill Done For Year
Packers rookie running back Kylin Hill suffered a season-ending knee injury on Thursday night (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). Hill will be placed on injured reserve, opening up a spot on the 53-man roster. 
Hill suffered the injury on a third quarter kick return, when he was tackled by Cardinals running back Jonathan Ward. Both players had to be carted off of the field following the violent collision, with Ward being evaluated for a concussion.
Hill, a seventh-round rookie, has served as the Packers’ No. 3 RB behind Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon. The bulk of his work has come on special teams, with 26 snaps on offense vs. 76 ST plays. He’ll finish his season with 10 carries for 24 yards, one reception for five yards, and ten kickoff returns for 199 yards.
The Packers could use Malik Taylor as their KR going forward, but they’ll need to add a new RB. Practice squader Patrick Taylor would be next in line, but they could also audition free agents between now and their Nov. 7 game against the Chiefs.
The Packers advanced to 7-1 after beating the league’s last undefeated team. Now the owners of the NFL’s longest active winning streak, they hold a comfortable divisional lead over the 3-3 Vikings.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/28/21
Here are Thursday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Promoted: OL Danny Isidora, OL Zack Johnson, DL Josh Mauro, LB Joe Walker
Carolina Panthers
- Placed on IR: DT Daviyon Nixon
Chicago Bears
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Caleb Johnson
Cleveland Browns
- Waived: OL Alex Taylor
Detroit Lions
- Waived: DL Eric Banks
Green Bay Packers
- Activated from IR: TE Dominique Dafney
- Promoted: OL Ben Braden
Minnesota Vikings
- Placed on IR: TE Ben Ellefson