The Packers got busy on Saturday, activating three players and setting themselves up for a few inevitable cuts before facing the Lions.
Green Bay announced that running back Josh Jacobs is back on the active roster, along with defensive lineman Jordon Riley, who had been on the physically unable to perform list, and receiver Coleman Owen, who was on the practice squad. The team also elevated edge defender Arron Mosby from the practice squad for game day against Detroit.
That gives the Packers 54 players available as they work toward their 48-man game-day roster. Six will have to sit, and several of those decisions already look pretty clear.
Zaire Franklin has already been ruled out with a shin injury, which takes care of one scratch right away. Green Bay is also expected to dress only eight offensive linemen, even though it has 11 on the roster, which trims that group by three more.
And with Jacobs back in the mix, the Packers are unlikely to carry all four running backs. If one back gets squeezed out, Kaleb Johnson appears to be the most likely name, as he has fallen behind MarShawn Lloyd and Pierre Strong Jr. down the stretch.
That leaves one final scratch still up in the air. Aaron Banks, Bo Melton and Benjamin St-Juste were all listed as questionable on Friday, but Banks’ knee/toe situation doesn’t really change the roster math because Green Bay is already expected to keep just eight linemen. Melton or St-Juste, though, could wind up as the last player left off the active list.
The running back room now includes Jacobs, Pierre Strong Jr., MarShawn Lloyd and Kaleb Johnson. At receiver, the Packers have Christian Watson, Matthew Golden, Savion Williams, Bo Melton, J.
Michael Sturdivant and Coleman Owen. Tight end options are Tucker Kraft, Mark Redman, Jonnu Smith and Josh Whyle.
Up front, Green Bay’s offensive line group features Jordan Morgan, Aaron Banks, Sean Rhyan, Kevin Zeitler, Anthony Belton, Laken Tomlinson, Travis Glover, Jacob Monk, John Williams, Donovan Jennings and Jager Burton.
The defensive front includes Karl Brooks, Devonte Wyatt, Chris McClellan, Jordon Riley and Anthony Campbell, while the edge group has Lukas Van Ness, Barryn Sorrell, Brenton Cox Jr., Dani Dennis-Sutton and Mosby.
At off-ball linebacker, the Packers list Isaiah McDuffie, Ty’Ron Hopper, Nick Niemann and Kristian Welch, with Franklin out. The cornerback group is Keisean Nixon, Brandon Cisse, Carrington Valentine, Benjamin St-Juste and Kamal Hadden. Safeties are Xavier McKinney, Evan Williams, Javon Bullard and Kitan Oladapo.
Trey Smack is the kicker, Daniel Whelan the punter and Matt Orzech the long snapper.
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