Packers elevate 2 players for game vs. Panthers

For their game on Christmas Eve against the Carolina Panthers, the Green Bay Packers announced on Saturday that safety Benny Sapp III and receiver Bo Melton, both of whom were on the practice squad, have been raised. Taking into account the team’s injury situation, both decisions make sense.

Melton is anticipated to assist in replacing Christian Watson (hamstring), who was listed on the team’s final injury report of the week on Friday as uncertain to play against Carolina. Melton grabbed one pass for seven yards last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which was his first regular-season reception in his two-year NFL career.

Sapp will provide depth at safety for the Packers, who are already without starting linebacker Darnell Savage due to a shoulder injury this week. Listed as questionable for the upcoming game is fellow safety Rudy Ford, who appeared on the injury report on Friday with a back ailment. In the event that Ford and Savage are both out, Jonathan Owens and rookie Anthony Johnson Jr. are anticipated to start. In that case, Sapp would likely be the “next man up” since he has been called  Panthers…however, they all began their 21-day practice window this week with the intention of eventually returning to the field. The Packers did not upgrade any of these players.

It’s possible that the running back unit is now “healthy” because the team decided not to promote practice squad running back Kenyan Drake. As Aaron Jones (knee) and AJ Dillon (thumb) have been out due to injuries, Drake has been stepping in. Although Dillon broke his thumb late in the game two weeks ago, he was unable to play against the Buccaneers. Jones made his way back to the field last week.

The fact that the team chose not to promote practice squad running back Kenyan Drake could be the reason the running back unit is now considered “healthy”. Drake has been filling in as AJ Dillon (thumb) and Aaron Jones (knee) have been sidelined by injuries. Dillon was unable to play against the Buccaneers two weeks ago despite breaking his thumb late in the game. Last week, Jones returned to the field.