Packers start two players on the field against the Panthers.
It appears that Sunday will mark the first time in more than a month that both Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon will play for the Green Bay Packers.
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 elevated. 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 doubtful to play against Carolina. Melton caught 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 issue. In the event that Ford and Savage are both sidelined, 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 up.
Running back Emanuel Wilson, tight end Luke Musgrave, and offensive tackle Luke Tenuta are all on the injured reserve; however, they all began their 21-day practice window this week with the intention of eventually rejoining the 53-man roster. The Packers did not elevate any of these players.
Kenyan Drake, a running back on the practice squad, was not promoted by the team, which may indicate that the running back group is now “healthy.” Due to recent injuries to AJ Dillon (thumb) and Aaron Jones (knee), Drake has been filling in at the position. Jones made a comeback to the field last week, but Dillon was forced to miss the Buccaneers game two weeks ago due to a broken thumb sustained late in the game.
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Two starters for the Packers are ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Panthers.
