Today’s practice squad moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: S Benny Sapp III
- Released: S Dane Cruikshank
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: OL Michael Jordan
- Released: OT Spencer Rolland
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: S Travion Fluellen
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.
The 2023 season is going to be one to forget for Packers cornerback Eric Stokes. Two weeks after being activated from injured reserve, the 24-year-old out of Georgia will be headed back to IR for the remainder of the season. His 2023 season ends now after only three games played. 
Stokes, a first-round pick out of Georgia two seasons ago, started out his career on a strong note. As a rookie, he missed only one game while starting 14. He put up strong numbers in pass defense, as well, recording an interception and 14 passes defensed. His sophomore season started off in a similar fashion. He started the first nine games of the season and recorded fewer stats, with quarterbacks targeting him at a much lower rate.
Unfortunately, this is when his injury troubles started. After structural damage was discovered in testing on ankle and knee injuries, Stokes was shut down for the second half of 2022. He was forced to undergo surgeries to his knee and foot in the offseason and faced a tough road back to a starting role with the emergence of Rasul Douglas across from Jaire Alexander and primary kick returner Keisean Nixon excelling in the slot.
Stokes started the 2023 season on the reserve/physically unable to perform list and was finally activated in mid-October, days before the team completed a trade that sent Douglas to Buffalo. Perhaps expecting Stokes to slide back into the starting role, Green Bay was surely disappointed when, after only four special teams snaps, Stokes was placed back on IR with a hamstring injury.
In part of his long road to recovery, Stokes finally was activated once again in time to start the Packers’ last two games. Unfortunately for both parties, Stokes’ hamstring issue has lingered, forcing the young corner back onto IR in a solemn continuation of hardship. Assuming his absences cease in next year’s season opener, Stokes will have missed 22 of a possible 25 games dating back to the ankle injury that started it all last season.
With Alexander serving a team-enforced suspension for crashing an official coin toss despite not being named a captain for the game, Green Bay’s stores are looking fairly bare. Robert Rochell is currently questionable with a neck injury, leaving Nixon to start alongside the likes of rookie seventh-round pick Carrington Valentine, Corey Ballentine, and David Long.
They will be joined by practice squad safety Benny Sapp III, who will serve as one of the team’s two standard gameday elevations tomorrow. In addition to Sapp, the Packers will also call up wide receiver Bo Melton.
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.
This week’s callups and minor moves heading into Sunday:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed to active roster: WR Andre Baccellia
- Elevated: DT Phil Hoskins, RB Tony Jones
- Waived: S Qwuantrezz Knight
Carolina Panthers:
- Elevated: WR Mike Strachan
Cleveland Browns
- Activated from IR: G Michael Dunn
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed to active roster: LB Rashaan Evans
- Placed on IR: DL Viliami Fehoko
Denver Broncos
- Elevated: WR David Sills
Detroit Lions
- Elevated: DT Quinton Bohanna, T Connor Galvin
Green Bay Packers
- Elevated: S Benny Sapp III
Houston Texans
- Signed to active roster: K Matt Ammendola, LB Garret Wallow
- Elevated: S Brandon Hill, WR Steven Sims
- Placed on IR: CB Grayland Arnold
Kansas City Chiefs
- Activated from IR: WR Richie James
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed to active roster: WR DJ Turner
- Elevated: C Hroniss Grasu, T Brandon Parker
Los Angeles Chargers
- Elevated: WR Terrell Bynum, WR Alex Erickson
Los Angeles Rams
- Activated from IR: DT Bobby Brown (story)
New York Giants
- Elevated: K Randy Bullock, TE Tyree Jackson
New York Jets
- Signed to active roster: DT Tanzel Smart
- Elevated: OL Jake Hanson, LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball
San Francisco 49ers
- Activated from PUP: CB Darrell Luter Jr.
- Elevated: OL Corey Luciano
Seattle Seahawks
- Elevated: S Ty Okada
- Waived: T Jake Curhan
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Elevated: S Richard LeCounte
Tennessee Titans
- Activated from IR: S Mike Brown
- Signed to active roster: DE TK McLendon
- Elevated: LB Joe Jones, OL Andrew Rupcich
- Waived: S Matt Jackson, RB Jonathan Ward
Washington Commanders
- Elevated: RB Derrick Gore, DE Joshua Pryor
Evans had been called up from the practice squad three times by the Cowboys, meaning he needed to be added to the 53-man roster this week to continue suiting up. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports “several teams” attempted to poach the veteran off the taxi squad, but his decision to remain with Dallas has culminated in today’s move. Evans has logged 74 combined defensive and special teams snaps with the Cowboys so far, recording three tackles.
James was out of the lineup for one game after being designated for return, but he will be eligible to suit up for the upcoming Super Bowl rematch against the Eagles. Mentioned as a trade candidate earlier this year, he will be able to add depth to a WR corps which has underperformed to date, and add to his single catch recorded in his two Kansas City games at the start of the campaign.
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
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.
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.