Here is the Packers 2023 Practice Squad and Waiver Claims
The Packers 2023 Practice Squad takes shape and they made some waiver claims!
By JerseyAl
Here are the players the Packers are signing to their Practice Squad:
1. RB Patrick Taylor
2. T Kadeem Telfort
3. TE Austin Allen
4. OLB Keyshawn Banks
5. S Benny Sapp III
6. WR Grant DuBose
7. CB Kiondre Thomas
8. CB Corey Ballantine
9. CB/S Innis Gaines
10. C James Empey
11. WR Bo Melton
12. QB Alex McGough
13. FB Henry Pearson
14. DL Chris Slayton
15. OLB Aaron Mosby
16. OLB Kenneth Odumegwu (exemption)
One spot left, expect Ford or Carpenter to be added.
Waiver Claims:
Zayne Anderson, S, from Buffalo
Ben Sims, TE, from Minnesota
Corresponding moves due to waiver claims:
Packers release Tariq Carpenter
Packers release Jonathan Ford
.
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"Jersey Al" Bracco is the Editor-In-Chief, part owner and wearer of many hats for CheeseheadTV.com and PackersTalk.com. He is also a recovering Mason Crosby truther. Follow Al on twitter at @JerseyalGBP.
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Comments (82)
aron_roger
August 30, 2023 at 11:57 am
As a Baylor fan, I'm excited about Ben Sims. He's raw, but has nice athleticism and knows how to sit in soft spots as an outlet. I was hoping we'd get him as a UDFA.
SicSemperTyrannis
August 30, 2023 at 03:44 pm
I don't like seeing the release of Jonathan Ford at all. Surely somebody else was less valuable.
jurp
August 30, 2023 at 05:08 pm
Newman, for sure.
T7Steve
August 31, 2023 at 07:59 am
I think he'll be game day elevations like last season. There's always someone on the 53 that can't play.
jannesbjornson
August 30, 2023 at 04:01 pm
Had Ben Sims mocked to the Pack in rd seven. Glad he's onboard.
greengold
August 31, 2023 at 05:20 am
Nice.
croatpackfan
August 30, 2023 at 12:09 pm
Well, they got Telfort, Allen, Sapp, DuBose, Thomas, Gaines back to PS. And they added TE from Minnesota and S from Buffalo. So far so good!
Coldworld
August 31, 2023 at 11:11 am
We need a PS player who can play the slot, but settling for Gaines is not an adequate solution beyond the temporary.
SicSemperTyrannis
August 31, 2023 at 09:17 pm
I want Moore.
greengold
August 30, 2023 at 12:15 pm
Zayne Anderson is a 6-2 215 4.44 with a 4.22 shuttle. Safety from BYU. He's a former OLB who moved to Safety 3 years ago. He's known for bringing it in RUN D. Played one-high and two high. Can get a jam on TEs without breaking stride in coverage drop.
Good size/speed guy. Sounds like he takes well to coaching, from his BYU coach Preston Hadley:
"“When you identify an area he needs to improve on, he can go all in and get tunnel vision about that skill. He has a great combination of focus and energy that he can use to lock in on a specific skill. From my experience, there’s been multiple times where you give him feedback saying, ‘This ain’t right’ and he comes right back and it’s noticeably better. I think that takes a high level of intrinsic motivation and says a lot about him as a player."
I'm left wanting for more, but we'll see. I don't think we're done.
SicSemperTyrannis
August 30, 2023 at 03:47 pm
Gutey'd BETTER not be done!! Who's he going to get that's better than Jonathan Ford, and a direct replacement? I realize he dropped off at the end, but he showed a LOT, and beyond just being 338#
Coldworld
August 30, 2023 at 05:26 pm
Yes, Sims is a later round Kraft with similar issues with blocking. Anderson is a guy who we either see untapped potential that the Bills and Kansas didn’t or he’s a pure ST DB of some kind.
splitpea1
August 30, 2023 at 12:25 pm
I'm sure Gute was happy to claim Sims, a player who was in for a pre-draft visit. He's a good fit for the Packers' zone blocking, and has logged a fair amount of special teams snaps in college as well.
T7Steve
August 30, 2023 at 12:38 pm
Don't they have to do corresponding moves on the current 53 as they get the waiver guys, or do they have a certain amount of time with physicals and signing technicalities?
LambeauPlain
August 30, 2023 at 12:53 pm
Good question.
Anderson probably replaces Carpenter. The Ugly Purple paid him $110 K bonus to sign. Packers usually pay 10% of that in UDFA bonus money. Stupid vikings.
Wildcomet
August 30, 2023 at 01:09 pm
Not to sound like I'm defending the Vikings, lol, but I think it helps that the Packers have a strong reputation for being a place where a UDFA gets a real shot to make the team. Some UDFAs at least are probably willing to take less guaranteed money to come to Green Bay gambling that they'll make the team and get the whole value of the contract. But either way, yes, stupid Vikings.
LLCHESTY
August 30, 2023 at 02:18 pm
The Packers also never get the "name" UDFAs either but I'm not sure it really means much in the big picture. The Vikings and Browns are known to pay out quite a bit for the UDFAs they want but other teams are getting into the mix too, not just by handing out bonuses but by guaranteeing part of their 1st year salaries.
JerseyAl
August 30, 2023 at 12:59 pm
They do. first one was just reported - Tariq Carpenter released.
LambeauPlain
August 30, 2023 at 01:06 pm
I can only say "never mind" to my comment now. Thank you Al.
GregC
August 30, 2023 at 01:30 pm
So much for all of the 2022 draft picks making the team.
Wildcomet
August 30, 2023 at 01:05 pm
I think they get another 24 hours to make a corresponding move to allow for that stuff, but I am not certain.
packer132
August 30, 2023 at 01:32 pm
Packers need to get down to 53 by the end of the day, so 3 roster moves to go. That is in addition to finishing the practice squad out to 16 guys. Anderson (S) replaces Carpenter, who was released today. Sims had $110,000 guaranteed by the Vikings as a signing bonus. The most the Packers have given an UDFA for a bonus is $9,000. Vikings must have liked him. Green Bay had the TE in for a pre-draft visit.
SicSemperTyrannis
August 30, 2023 at 03:54 pm
I thought it looked like Carpenter was on his way out. I would have liked to have him work out. I'm sure MLF & Gutey would have, too.
Thegreatreynoldo
August 31, 2023 at 03:12 am
This year.
The Packers guaranteed $60K for Greg Roberts a couple of years ago.
T7Steve
August 31, 2023 at 02:21 pm
With the exemption, why didn't they have 17 on the list already? Just taking their time? Or do they leave one for emergencies? I know they have to add the 2 released if they can. Who will they bump or IR? Can they IR PS without it being for the whole season now that they have their first 53?
RobinsonDavis
August 30, 2023 at 06:56 pm
Any additions to the 53 player roster prior to 3 pm today CST, require a corresponding roster deletion if the the roster is complete with 53 players, such as what the Packers have. In season Injured Reserve players (those that can be added back to the 53 roster later this year) can be assigned AFTER that 3 CST time, opening up a roster spot. Non-vested players cut today, have to go through the waiver process tomorrow, prior to being eligible to for the original team's practice squad or roster. Vested veterans are considered free agents and thus eligible to sign with anybody, as I understand it. Carpenter and J. Ford are non-vested.
Packers had players such as Bakhtiari, Wicks, Doubs, Tenuta, and Campbell ALL missing practice today, so it will be interesting to see who gets placed on IR beyond Tenuta.
Hope this helps.
SicSemperTyrannis
August 30, 2023 at 03:49 pm
He's also a height / weight combo we do not have at the position. Could be a very nice add?
RobinsonDavis
August 30, 2023 at 06:44 pm
Exactly, splitpea1! Look at Zierlein's pre-draft write-up for more.
LambeauPlain
August 30, 2023 at 12:38 pm
Sims over Allen? Sims probably better as a blocker so probably tipped the scales. Replacement for Davis on STs.
Andersen has good speed and size. Gutey thinks he's better than Moore or Sapp. Huh. Should be on kick and coverage STs.
Coldworld
August 30, 2023 at 01:18 pm
Sims was not impressive as a blocker for the Vikings this summer. He does look like a capable pass catcher and route runner. They wanted him for their PS for his passing upside. He might actually have out performed Kraft in Krafts role this summer though.
Anderson was a primarily practice squad player who played in 7 games with Kansas over 2 seasons, entirely on STs. He was seemingly thought of as a pure STer there and with the Bills. He was a hybrid in college, but a DB in Kansas. He’s not huge for a S, undersized as a ILB unless he’s put in a lot of weight. 210 in college, 205 with Kansas initially, 6’2”.
T7Steve
August 30, 2023 at 01:57 pm
Do you know how long they have to keep these guys elevated to the 53 before they can shuffle again?
LLCHESTY
August 30, 2023 at 02:39 pm
Three weeks.
Thegreatreynoldo
August 31, 2023 at 03:25 am
GB has to pay Sims and Anderson three weeks pay, roughly $150K each. The players automatically are placed on the 53-man roster when the NFL officially recognizes the waiver claim and awards the player to the new team. The Packers can trade or release them at any time, IIRC.
One thing to remember is that we only know that the Packers were awarded two players on waivers. We don't know how many claims they made. The Giants, for example, per reports, made 7 waiver claims last year and were awarded 4 players.
SicSemperTyrannis
August 31, 2023 at 09:28 pm
The difference between making a claim and being awarded the player is as simple as pecking order, or is it more complicated?
KKB
August 30, 2023 at 03:58 pm
Maybe Sims replaces Duguara?
If our safety room sucked so badly, why did we keep so many - and let good players at other positions go? God forbid Lavitt ever has to play defense.
Bure9620
August 30, 2023 at 07:14 pm
Different players. Deguara is TE in name only. "F-Back"
RobinsonDavis
August 30, 2023 at 07:30 pm
Its a good question, but I think the Packers were looking for someone at safety that they could work with beyond this year. All of our safeties, besides Anthony Johnson, Jr,. are Unrestricted FAs next year. I also don't believe Carpenter or J. Ford would have been on the roster if the Packers were not interested in keeping them in the system. There obviously was a plan to explore more safety help, as well as a need for another TE. But, the plan does have risks.
Wildcomet
August 30, 2023 at 01:16 pm
I'm excited to see what they can do with Sims at TE. He is another high RAS guy (8.40), his size is average and agility wasn't great, but his speed and explosion grades were elite. He'll need a year or two of NFL training and lifting and time to learn the playbook, but he's a solid long term prospect in my mind.
Also kind of crazy that, including Deguara who is arguably more of a Fullback, the Packers are likely going into Week 1 with 5 total years of experience between the 5 players in the TE room (4 of them belonging to Deguara). So much youth and potential should definitely make for an interesting year, but hopefully will be a fun one.
stockholder
August 30, 2023 at 01:40 pm
Sorry- but the guy was a Viking.
Conversing with the enemy was
never in Lombardi's book
HarryHodag
August 30, 2023 at 02:39 pm
Lombardi hired Zeke Bratkowski, a former Bear and Rams quarterback, to be Bart Starr's backup. He got him from the Rams off the waiver wire.
LeotisHarris
August 30, 2023 at 02:46 pm
You know, sh, from time to time you make some nice points in your own unique way, but this is just plain ignorant. Had Curly Lambeau and George Halas not had a relationship that moved Halas to go to Green Bay and advocate for the Packers at a time when the franchise was in danger of leaving, Lombardi would have been kicking around the east coast in the 1960s in search of a team. Conversing with the enemy kept the Packers in Green Bay. Conversing with the enemy keeps the NFL afloat.
Oppy
August 30, 2023 at 08:34 pm
He's so eager to shit on Gutekunst, he'll stick his foot in his mouth from time to time.
This would be one of those times.
jannesbjornson
August 30, 2023 at 04:06 pm
Gilbert Brown.
stockholder
August 30, 2023 at 04:15 pm
Gilbert was after Lombardi.
Zeke was a military guy.
Who played for the Rams after Chicago.
He did back -up star.
Halas = $$$
?- thats No different than a owners meeting.
Oppy
August 30, 2023 at 08:32 pm
twwwaaaaaaaaaaatttt
Oppy
August 31, 2023 at 03:30 pm
Vince Lombardi has been dead for almost 55 years, and the NFL of today is not the same as the NFL of the 1960s.
For christ's sake, free agency didn't even exist in the 60's, so explain to me who the hell you think you are to speak on how Vince Lombardi would deal with the roster in 2023?
GTFOWTS.
Packers0808
August 30, 2023 at 02:20 pm
Anyone surprised at the Carpenter release?
HarryHodag
August 30, 2023 at 02:40 pm
A bit, but I suspect he might come back at some point if he isn't claimed elsewhere. His problem was the classic 'tweener' build: too big for one job, too small for another.
LLCHESTY
August 30, 2023 at 02:42 pm
No. He'll probably be on the PS tomorrow. Which means someone who is put on there today is cut. Whirlwind couple of days for that player.
dobber
August 30, 2023 at 02:48 pm
Jonathan Ford released in their other move.
https://www.profootballrumors.com/2023/08/wednesday-nfl-transactions-nfc...
SicSemperTyrannis
August 30, 2023 at 03:58 pm
I hate this.
Gutey had better have somebody better in mind as a direct replacement!!
Coldworld
August 30, 2023 at 07:01 pm
I too hate the idea that we might not have Ford as a second DT.
I frankly do not see what Gute sees in Anderson—he’s a Carpenter clone - 20 pounds. Hopeless on D, good on STs, at least in the eyes of Kansas and Buffalo. A younger Leavitt. I would infinitely rather have Ford. He was thought an obvious cut by Bills commentators.
Sims is interesting. His blocking was much less impressive than Allen’s in preseason. His route running and receiving skills however stood out. As an alternative to Kraft he makes some sense—more polished offensively, about the same as a blocker. He’s a guy with offensive upside that the Vikings would have liked to keep per reports, just at the back of a deep room. However, they don’t even really talk about his blocking. But potential as a catching weapon.
Maybe Gute knows better or maybe we are seeing this grab in the wrong light and they want a more ready Kraft. Alternatively they really weren’t bothered about a blocking specialist, just wanted to play up Davis.
I suppose we will see, but I don’t see us having got any better at S. We now have 3 potential weapons at TE, but I don’t think our blocking changed. We still have Newman, no obvious depth behind Nixon and now we are back to one NT type in a D where run stopping has to get better, not merely penetration.
RobinsonDavis
August 30, 2023 at 07:15 pm
Sims also provides you more special teams upside than Allen, I'm told. Though I thought Allen played well this preseason, the ST upside would explain a lot, and be a differentiator, especially after losing Davis and Carpenter.
4thand10
August 30, 2023 at 09:54 pm
Coldworld, I don’t want to say it but I will….The ghost of Dom Capers haunting GB against with not enough DL:-j
Coldworld
August 30, 2023 at 11:33 pm
It does seem like a lesson we just refuse to learn. Let’s hope Ford is brought onto the PS and elevated at least for Chicago.
WestCoastPackerBacker
August 31, 2023 at 02:14 pm
I don't think Dom Capers was ever responsible for roster building, so it's hard to lay that at his feet.
Thegreatreynoldo
August 31, 2023 at 03:30 am
I meant to ask you if Allen was working in-line or as a move tight end while he earned that nice PFF blocking grade in game 3?
I think Kraft is doing both but they look to him now that Tyler Davis is gone (and he was only okay inline) for the inline blocking.
Coldworld
August 31, 2023 at 07:58 am
In line. He really did not get many move type opportunities. That made sense as it was his blocking that needed rating (run and pass).
WestCoastPackerBacker
August 31, 2023 at 02:12 pm
Carpenter wasn't even a safety any longer. They had switched him to ILB. If you're not expecting there to be a weakness on the squad, then your expectations may be too high. For a cap-strapped "rebuilding" year, they can't afford great, or maybe even good, talent at every position. The good guys are either already on a squad or not affordable for GB.
Packers0808
August 30, 2023 at 07:46 pm
Thumbs down for a question? Weird people out there I guess.
LLCHESTY
August 30, 2023 at 02:54 pm
Jonathan Ford was the other player cut today, hope he makes it to the PS tomorrow and wouldn't be surprised if he's back on the active roster by the time they play the Bears or at least brought up for that game.
Odumegwu has an exemption for the PS so at this point they are at 15 and have one more spot. Ford and Carpenter probably both go to the PS if they clear waivers so they'll have another move to make tomorrow.
GregC
August 30, 2023 at 03:03 pm
The release of Ford is a little surprising because he was on the roster all of last season, and most observers thought he looked improved in training camp this year. I thought they might have a plan to actually use him in games this season. But maybe they just let him hang around in case one of the other big D-linemen (Clark or Slaton) suffers a major injury. I expect them to at least put him on the practice squad if he is eligible for it. But it will be a step backward for him.
fireball
August 30, 2023 at 03:02 pm
Okay! I'm all happy because the Packers were able to sign McGough to the practice squad as the third string quarterback.
4thand10
August 30, 2023 at 07:51 pm
Yes fireball, we can all rest easy now :-)
KKB
August 30, 2023 at 04:01 pm
There still must be 2 OL moves coming......
Tenuta to IR, and a tackle trade.
Personally, I would keep all the OT and dump Newman.
RobinsonDavis
August 30, 2023 at 06:07 pm
Agree with your point about our offensive tackles. Something is being planned for by Gute. Tenuta will likely go to the IR. Packers are currently carrying 6 offensive tackles, not including 2 interior linemen that can sub at tackle in case of an emergency. More to come...
croatpackfan
August 30, 2023 at 04:11 pm
So, Al, what is the next initial roster after all this cuts?
I'm surprised with Johnatan Ford cut, but who knows. Also, there is no news about Luke Tenuta...
stockholder
August 30, 2023 at 04:45 pm
Id rather have Ford.
And the Versatility of Carpenter.
But neither would do us any good sitting the bench.
By signing another Te. DeGuara was a mistake to draft.
And it's obvious that they're not happy at safety.
Oppy
August 30, 2023 at 08:36 pm
Say it with me: Deguara was never intended to play a traditional TE role.
Pay attention to the packers, they tell you everything.
Like, "We see DeGuara as more of a H-back type."
13TimeChamps
August 30, 2023 at 08:59 pm
I actually liked...not loved...the pick. He seemed liked a "football player" to me, regardless of position.
At what point does 2 TD's in 3 years make you question what they envision an H-back, whatever the hell that actually is, is supposed to realistically contribute to the offense? It seems when his rushing ability is questioned..."well, he's not a FB/RB", and when his receiving ability is questioned..."well, he's not a TE".
What exactly has he excelled at? Rushing/Receiving/Blocking? Help me out here.
barutanseijin
August 30, 2023 at 11:26 pm
Nothing. He’s just a guy.
croatpackfan
August 31, 2023 at 02:47 am
He played very small number pf games. He was injured in first half of the rookie season, after he caught beatiful pass for TD in the end zone, but he never achieve the level of trust from at that time acting OC/HC/GM/CEO. After he came back from injury in the second year he was covered deep down the roster. So, if you talk about the player, try first to check the facts...
Oppy
August 31, 2023 at 06:32 am
When Deguara was drafted, it was assumed the Packers would be running MLF's offense. Unfortunately, that guy who is now elsewhere didn't like all the motion and general concepts involved with coach's offense, so they didn't really run it.
Between Josiah's injury and that other guy's dislike for the offense that called for liberal use of an H-back, Deguara has been effectively moth-balled. I think you're going to see him get more use in 2023 than he has so far, due to the unfiltered execution of the offense.
By the way.. H-back, it's a thing, you should probably check it out sometime. To answer your question, in this offense, he would be lining up off the LOS and generally blocking, but also leaking out on occasion as an outlet receiver. Think of the position as compromise between full back and tight end.
Packman60
August 30, 2023 at 07:09 pm
I would expect Ford to replace Slayton on the practice squad and Carpenter to fill the remaining slot, so both players will go to the practice squad unless claimed by another team. Tenuta will go on IR, so they can bring back the long snapper and unless they make a trade I would expect Newman to get cut when Tenuta is healthy enough to come off IR.
SicSemperTyrannis
August 31, 2023 at 09:59 pm
I want both Ford and Slayton, at least on the PS.
I'm a greedy bastard who likes to WIN!
NoNonsense
August 30, 2023 at 07:19 pm
I assume like Nichols, Tyler Goodson was waived injured so does he revert to IR? Assume he will have to arrange an injury settlement so he's not stuck on IR all year. Would love to have him back on the PS if they can find room for him whenever he's eligible to be resigned by GB. Feel really bad for the guy getting injured in the first preseason game. His main goal was to make the 53 this year and the shoulder robbed him of that chance. Still think he has a bright future here or elsewhere.
RobinsonDavis
August 30, 2023 at 07:37 pm
You are correct NoNonsense!
Tundraboy
August 30, 2023 at 08:14 pm
I was very pleased to see Ballantine,Dubose,Sapp and Magoo!
Disappointed about Ford of course, but things will change. Just have to see what shakes out in the next few days and weeks.
therealcause
August 30, 2023 at 09:00 pm
I know Heath was the camp darling at WR, but I'm a little disappointed to see that Bonds, Jadakis Bonds didn't make the practice squad. I would have kept him over Bo Melton!
Coldworld
August 30, 2023 at 11:37 pm
I was a little surprised at that too. However, Melton plays STs and is the only depth speed threat option.
.
SicSemperTyrannis
August 31, 2023 at 10:03 pm
Melton is the fastest WR on the team. Bonds runs a 4.63 40, .01 slower than Musgrave.
4thand10
September 03, 2023 at 11:57 am
Johnathan Ford is on PS amd Empey the C was released 9/2