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.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/20/24
Here are today’s minor transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: DT T.J. Carter, LB Chris Garrett
- Waived: LS Joe Shimko
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived (with injury settlement): TE Scotty Washington
Buffalo Bills
- Waived (with injury designation): WR Lawrence Keys
Carolina Panthers
- Reverted to IR: CB Lamar Jackson, WR Tayvion Robinson
Dallas Cowboys
- Released: CB Sheldrick Redwine
Detroit Lions
- Placed on IR: LB Malik Jefferson, WR Tre’Quan Smith
- Waived (with injury settlement): LB DaRon Gilbert, S Morice Norris Jr.
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: FB Henry Pearson
- Waived (with injury designation): RB Jarveon Howard
Houston Texans
- Signed: FB Nick Bawden
Indianapolis Colts
- Reverted to IR: G Josh Sills
- Waived (with injury settlement): WR Ethan Fernea
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: QB E.J. Perry
- Waived: WR Brevin Easton
Kansas City Chiefs
- Reverted to IR: G McKade Mettauer
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: LB DaShaun White
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived (with injury settlement): CB Jerry Jacobs
Miami Dolphins
- Reverted to IR: LB Zeke Vandenburgh
New England Patriots
- Signed: LB Kobe Jones, LB Christian McCarroll
- Claimed off waivers (from Browns): WR Matt Landers
- Placed on IR: WR JaQuae Jackson
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: CB Joejuan Williams
- Activated from active/PUP: TE Juwan Johnson
- Waived (with injury designation): C Sincere Haynesworth
New York Giants
- Signed: S Clayton Isbell
- Reverted to IR: DT Ryder Anderson
- Waived (with injury designation): WR Dennis Houston
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived (with injury settlement): WR Frank Darby
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: LB Mikel Jones
- Placed on IR: LB Garret Wallow (story)
Washington Commanders
- Signed: S Kendell Brooks, LB Chapelle Russell
- Waived (with injury designation): S Ben Nikkel
- Released (with injury designation): LB Keandre Jones
Free Agent
- Suspended: DT Kevin Strong
Strong was a surprising release by the Cardinals during the regular season last year. At the time, Strong was coming off of his strongest NFL campaign, but head coach Jonathan Gannon claimed that the release was what was “best for the team.” While we still don’t know the nature of the suspension, or whether or not it’s even related to his January release, we are aware that he will miss three games.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/30/24
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Waived: WR Isaiah Wooden
- Placed on reserve/retired list: OT Tyler Vrabel
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: LB Quincy Roche
- Placed on IR: DE Malik Hamm
Buffalo Bills
- Waived: LB Shayne Simon
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: WR Tayvion Robinson
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: LS Peter Bowden, CB Don Callis, CB LJ Davis
- Waived: CB Zyon Gilbert, FB Henry Pearson, K James Turner
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: DE Levi Bell
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: DE Raymond Johnson, LB Tanner Muse
- Waived: DE Andre Carter, LB Trey Kiser
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: DB Kyler McMichael, TE Matt Sokol
- Released: WR Marquez Callaway, DB Josiah Scott
Marquez Callaway will once again hit free agency after having bounced around the NFL last season. The wideout spent time with the Broncos, Raiders, Saints (second stint) during the 2023 campaign. He caught on with the Steelers via a reserve/futures contract in January but ultimately lasted only a few days into training camp.
The former UDFA had a breakout campaign as a sophomore in New Orleans, finishing the 2021 season with 46 catches for 698 yards and six touchdowns. He saw a reduced role in 2022 before hitting the free agency carousel in 2023.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/22/24
Today’s reserve/futures contracts:
Buffalo Bills
- CB Kyron Brown, DE Kameron Cline, OL Richard Gouraige, CB Ja’Marcus Ingram, WR Andy Isabella, OL Kevin Jarvis, TE Tre’ McKitty, WR Tyrell Shavers, WR Bryan Thompson, S Kendall Williamson
Denver Broncos
Green Bay Packers
- LB Keshawn Banks, S Tyler Coyle, WR Grant DuBose, DL Jonathan Ford, CB Zyon Gilbert, CB Anthony Johnson, QB Alex McGough, RB Ellis Merriweather, LB Arron Mosby, LB Kenneth Odumegwu, FB Henry Pearson, WR Thyrick Pitts, T Kadeem Telfort, TE Joel Wilson
Houston Texans
- DT McTelvin Agim, WR Alex Bachman, QB Tim Boyle, RB Gerrid Doaks, DE Ali Gaye, S Brandon Hill, WR Johnny Johnson III, TE Dalton Keene, CB Troy Pride, RB J.J. Taylor, OT Jaylon Thomas, WR Jared Wayne
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- OT Silas Dzansi, CB Keenan Isaac, RB Patrick Laird, CB Quandre Moseley, TE Tanner Taula, WR Raleigh Webb
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.
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.
Wednesday NFL Transactions: NFC North
Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These Bears, Lions, Packers and Vikings moves are noted below.
Chicago Bears
Placed on IR:
- G Teven Jenkins (story)
Signed:
- WR Trent Taylor
Claimed:
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- LB Micah Baskerville, DL Travis Bell, FB Robert Burns, TE Stephen Carlson, OL Aviante Collins, LB DeMarquis Gates, DL Jalen Harris, OL Roy Mbaeteka, DB Greg Stroman, WR Nsimba Webster, DB Kendall Williamson
Detroit Lions
Claimed:
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- WR Maurice Alexander, G Kayode Awosika, K Michael Badgley (story), WR Dylan Drummond, T Connor Galvin, S Brandon Joseph, RB Zonovan Knight, CB Chase Lucas, LB Trevor Nowaske, T Max Pircher, DL Chris Smith
Green Bay Packers
Claimed:
- DB Zayne Anderson, TE Ben Sims
Released:
- LB Tariq Carpenter, DL Jonathan Ford
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- TE Austin Allen, CB Corey Ballentine, LB Keshawn Banks, WR Grant DuBose, C James Empey, S Innis Gaines, QB Alex McGough, WR Bo Melton, LB Arron Mosby, LB Kenneth Odumegwu, FB Henry Pearson, S Benny Sapp III, DL Chris Slayton, RB Patrick Taylor, T Kadeem Telfort, CB Kiondre Thomas
Minnesota Vikings
Placed on IR:
- RB Kene Nwangwu
Claimed:
Waived:
- WR Jalen Reagor (story)
Signed to practice squad:
-
OL Alan Ali, CB C.J. Coldon, DT Sheldon Day, WR Trishton Jackson, WR Lucky Jackson, RB DeWayne McBride, DL T.J. Smith, WR Thayer Thomas, LB Luiji Vilain, LB Benton Whitley, CB Jaylin Williams, CB Joejuan Williams
Packers Place CB Eric Stokes On PUP, Set 53-Man Roster
The Packers will roll into the 2023 campaign without cornerback Eric Stokes, who was placed on PUP today. The organization made additional moves to get to the 53-man roster limit:
Released:
Waived:
- TE Austin Allen
- LB Keshawn Banks
- WR Jadakis Bonds
- WR Cody Chrest
- T Jean Delance
- WR Grant DuBose
- C James Empey
- CB Tyrell Ford
- S Innis Gaines
- CB Elijah Hamilton
- CB William Hooper
- CB Shemar Jean-Charles
- DL Jason Lewan
- RB Nate McCrary
- QB Alex McGough
- WR Bo Melton
- WR Dre Miller
- LB Arron Mosby
- DL Antonio Moultrie
- LB Kenneth Odumegwu
- LS Matt Orzech
- FB Henry Pearson
- LB Jimmy Phillips Jr.
- LB Marvin Pierre
- S Benny Sapp III
- C Cole Schneider
- DL Chris Slayton
- RB Patrick Taylor
- T Kadeem Telfort
- CB Kiondre Thomas
- WR Duece Watts
Placed on reserve/PUP:
- CB Eric Stokes
Placed on IR:
Waived/injured:
- RB Tyler Goodson
- LS Broughton Hatcher
- RB Lew Nichols
Stokes continues to rehab from foot and knee injuries that limited him to only nine games in 2022. His placement on PUP means he’ll have to sit out at least the first four games before being eligible for activation. The 2021 first-round pick has started 23 of his 25 appearances for the Packers, collecting 81 tackles, 14 passes defended, and one interception.
Meanwhile, Moore won’t be eligible to play for the Packers in 2023 after getting placed on injured reserve with a knee injury. Moore joined the Packers this offseason after spending the first five seasons of his career with the 49ers. He sat out the entire 2021 campaign but otherwise appeared in 61 games across four healthy seasons with San Francisco, collecting 108 tackles.
Packers Sign 12 UDFAs
With the draft in the rearview mirror, teams’ undrafted free agent contingents are surfacing. The Packers announced theirs, a 12-man class. Here is how that group stacks up:
- LB Keshawn Banks (San Diego State)
- LB Brenton Cox Jr. (Florida)
- G Chuck Filiaga (Minnesota)
- WR Malik Heath (Ole Miss)
- DL Jason Lewan (Illinois State)
- TE Camren McDonald (Florida State)
- S Christian Morgan (Baylor)
- FB Henry Pearson (Appalachian State)
- LB Jimmy Phillips Jr. (SMU)
- S Benny Sapp III (Northern Iowa)
- T Kadeem Telfort (UAB)
- WR Duece Watts (Tulane)
As was the case last year, 2023 UDFA groups will come in older than the ones in the 2010s. The NCAA’s extraordinary rule change granting players whose careers were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic an additional season of eligibility continues to impact college rosters and the NFL. While players atop the draft are mostly unaffected, late-rounders and the UDFA tier will produce plenty of mid-20-somethings.
Benny Sapp III is the son of former Chiefs, Vikings and Dolphins defensive back Benny Sapp Jr. The Division I-FCS product participated in 19 games in 2021, with the pandemic moving FCS and Division II to the spring, and finished his 2022 senior season as an All-American. A Minnesota transfer, Sapp intercepted four passes and forced two fumbles last season. Filiaga spent five seasons at Michigan before joining the Golden Gophers; he worked as Minnesota’s full-time right guard last season.
Heath also made an intraconference transfer, changing Egg Bowl sides by moving from Mississippi State to Ole Miss. The 6-foot-2, 213-pound wideout produced his best season with the Rebels, catching 60 passes for 971 yards and five touchdowns. Watts joins Heath in following a three-wideout Packers draft class. Watts caught eight touchdown passes for the Green Wave last season, averaging 19.9 yards per catch. Pearson
A Florida transfer, Telfort earned first-team All-Conference USA acclaim as the Blazers’ left tackle. Telfort blocked for UAB running back DeWayne McBride; a Vikings fifth-round pick, McBride led Division I-FBS in rushing yards per game last season. Cox totaled eight sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss for the Gators in 2021 but saw his 2022 season come to an end early due to a dismissal from the team.