While the football world was hitting refresh for trade deadline news, the Packers made their headlines on Tuesday through releases and practice squad updates.
For that reason alone, teams are more likely to lean on practice squad movement in the second half of the season than the first half of the season, not including the benefits of not having to teach a new playbook to new faces weekly.
Practice squad long snapper Steve Wirtel was activated from the practice squad on Tuesday when Bradley’s release was announced.
Anderson was in Green Bay’s camp and was on the team’s initial practice squad for a few weeks before his release and his month-long stint with the Tennessee Titans on their practice squad.
There’s your two-for-two move on the practice squad, but quarterback Kurt Benkert was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list, which means that 1 of the 16 practice squad spots in the short term is up for grabs.
Two players on the Packers’ current practice squad have already been called up to the game day roster this season, both due to injury.
Braden was also an injury sub when both Elgton Jenkins, who at the time was the starting left tackle, and Dennis Kelly, the backup right tackle, were out.
Up to this point in the season, the Packers’ thought process was to use three of their four practice squad protections Benkert, Molson, and Writel.
Assuming the Packers have Adams, Lazard, and Valdes-Scantling this week, Winfree should be the team’s sixth option at receiver, but will likely be passed on the game day roster for Amari Rodgers and Taylor who contribute on special teams. Galeai and McIntosh have not played a snap this season, unlike 11 line of scrimmage defenders on the Packers’ 53 man roster.
9 of the 11 players who were not protected on the Packers’ practice squad this week were in Green Bay’s training camp, including Braden.
Taylor is important because he is one of three running backs on the Packers’ roster at the moment, a recent issue after Hill’s injury.
Davis, who has recorded five offensive snaps this season, was previously on the Indianapolis Colts’ practice squad and may, like Abdullah has recently, return to his original practice squad following a stint with another team.
They also all play two of the three positions where Green Bay is rostering multiple practice squaders, signifying the staff adding competition to positions where the players know the playbook.