After losing to the New York Giants on Monday Night Football, the Green Bay Packers made some roster changes,
including cutting one of their rookie cornerbacks and adding a former rookie wide out from a rival team.
The rookie cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly, a fifth-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens this year, was released by the
Packers on Tuesday after he was a healthy scratch in their Week 14 loss to the Giants, per the team’s official
transaction wire for December 12.
Kelly was added to the Packers’ 53-man roster in an attempt to bolster their limited cornerback depth, but he only
saw action on two defensive snaps and three special teams snaps during the team’s victory against the Detroit Lions
in Week 12. Since then, he has not been used in a game.
In addition, the Packers dismissed rookie linebacker Austin Ajiake and added former Chicago Bears undrafted rookie
receiver Thryick Pitts to their practice squad.
Packers’ Roster Reorganization Makes Room for Stokes’ Activation
In spite of the fact that the Packers chose not to activate Stokes from injured reserve in time for Monday Night
Football, all indications are that the 2021 first-round pick will return in Week 15.
Stokes worked as a full participant in all three of Week 14’s practices, making a compelling case for activation ahead
of the Packers’ game against the Giants. Prior to choosing to keep him out of action, the Packers even included a note
labeling him as “questionable” in their final injury report.
For Stokes, the path to recovery has not been easy. As he continued to heal from the foot injury that ended the
previous season, he was placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list at the start of the 2023 campaign. He
only played four special teams snaps when the Packers reinstated him in Week 7, though, as he then sustained
another hamstring injury that prompted him to be placed on injured reserve and miss the minimum of the following
four weeks.
But as Stokes approaches the last week of his 21-day activation window, the Packers will have to decide whether to
activate him off injured reserve or to commit to keeping him on IR through the 2023 season. It seems sense that the
Packers would take the activation route with him and welcome him back into the mix in Week 15, especially since his
standing in practice has improved over the last two weeks.
Christian Watson’s Injury May Let Others in
Given Christian Watson’s most recent hamstring ailment, the Packers made sense in adding a third wide receiver to
their practice squad. Only five other receivers, including rookies like Jayden Reed and Dontavyion, are on the 53-
man roster except him.
But as Stokes approaches the last week of his 21-day activation window, the Packers will have to decide whether to
activate him off injured reserve or to commit to keeping him on IR through the 2023 season. It seems sense that the
Packers would take the activation route with him and welcome him back into the mix in Week 15, especially since his
standing in practice has improved over the last two weeks.
Christian Watson’s Injury May Let Others in
Given Christian Watson’s most recent hamstring ailment, the Packers made sense in adding a third wide receiver to
their practice squad. Only five other receivers, including rookies like Jayden Reed and Dontavyion, are on the 53-
man roster except him.
Melton was signed by the Packers earlier in the season, but he was sent back to the practice squad after playing just
two offensive snaps and drawing little attention. Melton is a 2022 seventh-round pick for Seattle. If the Packers
choose to promote him again, it’s probable he would get first dibs, but DuBose is also one of their own draft picks
(seventh round in 2023) and is a valuable addition.
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