Packers Announce 53-Man Roster
The Packers featured the youngest roster in the NFL last season, and they’re set to return most of that young core in 2024. Still, the team had to move on from a long list of inexperienced players as they pared their roster down to 53 players. The organization announced the following roster moves today:
Released:
Waived:
- DL Deslin Alexandre
- DL Brevin Allen
- DL Keshawn Banks
- K Anders Carlson (story)
- QB Sean Clifford (story)
- WR Grant DuBose
- DL James Ester
- CB Gemon Green
- K Alex Hale
- WR Julian Hicks
- OL Donovan Jennings
- S Anthony Johnson Jr.
- OT Caleb Jones
- CB Kalen King
- RB Nate McCrary
- RB Ellis Merriweather
- DL Zach Morton
- OL Royce Newman (story)
- TE Henry Pearson
- QB Michael Pratt (story)
- CB Robert Rochell
- LB Chris Russell
- S Benny Sapp III
- DL Keonte Schad
- OL Lecitus Smith
- WR Dimitri Stanley
- TE Messiah Swinson
- OT Luke Tenuta
- WR Samori Toure
- DL Spencer Waege
- WR Jalen Wayne
- TE Joel Wilson
- LB Christian Young
Waived/injured:
- CB LJ Davis
- LB Ralen Goforth
Placed on IR:
- TE Tyler Davis
- RB AJ Dillon (story)
- DL Jonathan Ford (designated for return)
Linebacker Kristian Welch brings the most experience of the bunch, with the former UDFA appearing in 57 career games in time with the Ravens and Packers. He spent the 2023 campaign in Green Bay, where he played all 210 of his snaps on special teams. Considering his limited experience on defense, there’s a chance the Packers are tinkering with their roster and intend to bring the veteran back via the practice squad.
NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/16/24
Here are today’s reserve/futures contracts:
Chicago Bears
- C Doug Kramer, DE Khalid Kareem
Cleveland Browns
- DT Jayden Peevy
Dallas Cowboys
Green Bay Packers
- LB Deslin Alexandre, LB Deandre Johnson, LB Christian Young
Las Vegas Raiders
- OL Ben Brown, S Tyreque Jones, RB Tyreik McAllister
Los Angeles Rams
- TE Miller Forristall, TE Nikola Kalinic, G Grant Miller, WR Xavier Smith
Minnesota Vikings
New Orleans Saints
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/1/24
Here are the New Year’s Day practice squad decisions from around the league:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: OL Ben Brown
Chicago Bears
- Signed: OL Jerome Carvin
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: S Tyler Coyle
New York Giants
- Signed: OLB Jeremiah Martin
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: NT Matthew Gotel, DE Hamilcar Rashed, LB Christian Young
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/20/23
Today’s practice squad moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Activated from IR: TE Parker Hesse
- Placed on IR: RB Jacob Saylors
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: TE Scotty Washington
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: QB Drew Plitt
- Placed on IR: G Jaxson Kirkland
Cleveland Browns
- Released: WR Trinity Benson
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: RB James Robinson
- Released: S Christian Young
Houston Texans
- Signed: LB Marcell Harris
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: WR Marquez Callaway
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: LB Myles Jack, S Eric Rowe
- Placed on IR: S Elijah Riley
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: OT Jake Curhan
With Mark Andrews sidelined for the foreseeable future, the Ravens have added some tight end depth. The team ended up opting for Scotty Washington, who got into one game with the Patriots as a rookie in 2022. The Wake Forest product was one of several tight ends to work out for Baltimore today, with the group also featuring O.J. Howard, Connor Davis, and Chris Myarick (per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston).
While Michael Thomas recovers from a knee injury, the Saints are turning to a familiar face. Marquez Callaway is back with the Saints after bouncing around the NFL in 2023. The wideout wasn’t re-signed by the Saints following the 2022 campaign, and he’s since spent time with the Broncos and Raiders. The former UDFA spent the first three seasons of his career in New Orleans, hauling in 83 catches for 1,069 yards and seven touchdowns.
Eric Rowe has found a new home after getting cut by the Panthers practice squad back in September. Rowe earned a pair of Super Bowl rings during his three-year stint in New England, and he followed that up with a three-year stint in Miami. Rowe got into 14 games (six starts) for the Dolphins in 2022, finishing with 56 tackles and two sacks.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/3/23
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: DT Phil Hoskins
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: WR Frank Darby
- Placed on IR: TE Parker Hesse
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: DB DeAndre Houston-Carson, CB Tre Swilling, TE Eric Tomlinson
- Released: WRDontay Demus Jr.
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: CB Herb Miller
- Released: WR Marcell Ateman
Chicago Bears
- Signed: CB Christian Matthew
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: WR Kendric Pryor
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: LB Mikel Jones
Denver Broncos
- Released: WR Michael Bandy
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: S Christian Young
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: CB Darren Hall
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: CB Mark Milton, WR Freddie Swain
New York Giants
- Released: RB Taiwan Jones
New York Jets
- Signed: CB Kalon Barnes, CB Tae Hayes, DB Craig James
- Released: OL Chris Glaser, OT Cedric Ogbuehi, CB Nehemiah Shelton
Philadelphia Eagles
- Released: LB Kyron Johnson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: OT Obinna Eze
- Released: RB Greg Bell, WR Jalen Camp
Taiwan Jones will now look to catch on elsewhere after getting let go by the Giants. The veteran joined New York’s practice squad back in August and was elevated for the first two games of the season, with Jones returning one kick and one punt. It’s been a bit since Jones last contributed on offense, but the veteran was a reliable special teams player for the Bills for half a decade (two stints).
Seahawks Set 53-Man Roster
A new-look running backs room and the continuation of one of the best stories of the preseason underline today’s announcements. The Seahawks had made some cuts in the days leading up to the deadline, but here are the remaining moves the team made to get down to 53 players:
Released:
- LB Ben Burr-Kirven
- C Joey Hunt
Waived:
- QB Holton Ahlers
- LB Levi Bell
- CB Lance Boykin
- OT Greg Eiland
- NT Matthew Gotel
- WR John Hall
- WR Cade Johnson
- WR Matt Landers
- TE Tyler Mabry
- LB Patrick O’Connell
- S Ty Okada
- DE Roderick Perry
- G Kendall Randolph
- DE Jacob Sykes
- RB SaRodorick Thompson
- WR Easop Winston
- LB Christian Young
Waived/injured:
- S Joey Blount
- LB Vi Jones
- S Jonathan Sutherland
While not a shock, the established running backs group looks a bit different from last year. The sole returners, Kenneth Walker III and DeeJay Dallas, will be joined on the 53-roster by rookie draft picks Zach Charbonnet and Kenny McIntosh.
Undrafted rookie wide receiver Jake Bobo gets rewarded for his outstanding preseason performance and will be suiting up in Week 1 of the regular season. The UCLA standout could even earn some significant playing time early as rookie first-round pick Jaxon Smith-Njigba deals with a fractured wrist and Dareke Young and Cody Thompson also deal with injuries.
Veteran former first-round pick Artie Burns survives the final round of roster cuts. Finally healthy, Burns played well in the slot, moving inside as rookie first-round pick Devon Witherspoon dealt with injuries and Coby Bryant played a bit at safety.
Seahawks Add 25 UDFAs
Much like their division rivals in LA, the Seahawks signed a gigantic undrafted free agent class about two weeks after drafting 10 rookies in Kansas City. Here is the group of rookies looking to earn a roster spot this summer:
- QB Holton Ahlers (East Carolina)
- DE MJ Anderson (Iowa State)
- LB Michael Ayers (Ashland)
- WR Jake Bobo (UCLA)
- CB Lance Boykin (Coastal Carolina)
- LB Cam Bright (Washington)
- CB Arquon Bush (Cincinnati)
- CB James Campbell (Montana State)
- NT Robert Cooper (Florida State)
- TE Noah Gindorff (North Dakota State)
- WR John Hall (Northwood)
- TE Griffin Hebert (Louisiana Tech)
- WR C.J. Johnson (East Carolina)
- WR Matt Landers (Arkansas)
- WR Tyjon Lindsey (Oregon State)
- LB Patrick O’Connell (Montana)
- S Ty Okada (Montana State)
- S Morrell Osling III (UCLA)
- G Kendall Randolph (Alabama)
- RB Chris Smith (Louisiana-Lafayette)
- LS Chris Stoll (Penn State)
- S Jonathan Sutherland (Penn State)
- DE Jacob Sykes (UCLA)
- NT Jonah Tavai (San Diego State)
- S Christian Young (Arizona)
Adding Ahlers gives Seattle three quarterbacks on the roster. He started five games for the Pirates as a true freshman before starting every game for his hometown school for the next four years. The lefty left an indelible mark on Greenville, setting 10 school records and six conference records. He gives the Seahawks a strong third-string option behind Geno Smith and Drew Lock.
First-round pick Jaxon Smith-Njigba is likely to start alongside D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, but behind them, the Seahawks felt the need to bolster the receiving corps with some undrafted talent. Bobo had a standout year for the Bruins as a grad transfer from Duke. Landers also had a breakout year as a transfer after bouncing from Georgia to Toledo to Arkansas. He brings elite size at six-foot-5, 200 pounds. Johnson was one of Ahlers favorite targets at ECU, especially in the redzone, as evidenced by the 10 touchdowns between them last year.
The Seahawks have three strong contributors at safety after seeing Julian Love deliver a strong performance in relief of Jamal Adams last year. Still, Seattle felt the need to draft New Mexico safety Jerrick Reed II in the sixth round and sign four more safeties after the draft. All four bring some sort of versatility. Osling III covered a variety of roles over his six years in Los Angeles. Young and Sutherland can both shadow Adams as players who can split the difference in the hybrid role between safety and linebacker. Okada on the other hand can double in a nickel role, if needed.
With Carson Tinker and Tyler Ott‘s contracts expiring, the Seahawks didn’t have a long snapper on the roster. Stoll comes in as the de facto starter with about four months to show he can handle the job. He’s one of 35 rookies on the Seahawk’s 90-man roster (which currently holds 89 players). They should all have strong opportunities to find a roster spot with the chance they’ve been given this summer.
