The Packers are making a roster move with Bo Melton, but don’t expect him to be out of the picture for long.
Green Bay has released the wide receiver ahead of the 2026 season, though Melton is still set to stay on the practice squad, get elevated to the 53-man roster and suit up in Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings. The team’s exact motive for the move wasn’t made clear, but it was described as a roster management decision.
Melton has been with the Packers since they picked him in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft, and this latest twist doesn’t erase the body of work he’s put together in Green Bay. In 38 career games, he has 28 catches for 416 yards and two touchdowns, along with 110 rushing yards on 16 carries. When the Packers have put him in position to contribute, he has delivered.
The 27-year-old spent time at wide receiver before Green Bay briefly shifted him to cornerback during the 2025 season. He’s now back at receiver, where he could provide useful depth behind the top names in the room.
That group starts with Christian Watson, Matthew Golden, Jayden Reed and Tucker Kraft. Behind them, the Packers could turn to Melton, Michael Sturdivant and Skyy Moore as pass-catching options.
Sturdivant comes in after a productive college run, catching 150 passes for 2,073 yards and 16 touchdowns over four years. Green Bay brought him in as an undrafted free agent, and he impressed during the preseason.
Moore is another player who could fit into the mix. Across four NFL seasons, he has totaled 48 receptions for 581 yards and a touchdown, and he has flashed enough along the way to keep the Packers interested.
There’s reason to think the passing game could carry a lot of weight for Green Bay. Jordan Love is coming off an efficient 2025 season in which he completed 66.3 percent of his throws for 3,381 yards, 23 touchdowns and six interceptions, and the Packers appear ready to lean on him heavily.
That may be especially true with the run game still uncertain entering Week 1.
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Packers Opener Just Got Much More Unsettling Up Front
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For a team trying to get its footing against Minnesota, the uncertainty on the line stands out because it could affect both protection and the run game before the first snap even arrives. The Vikings, meanwhile, enter the game without any players carrying an injury status, which only adds to the contrast as Green Bay waits to see how much of its front will actually be available. [Read more 🡒]