Packers Add 2 WRs to Practice Squad w/ Adams & Lazard Injuries

With some potential key injuries lingering into Week 4, the Green Bay Packers add depth at the WR position by making two signings this week.

Last Sunday against New Orleans, the Green Bay Packers were without Davante Adams, who was nursing a hamstring injury. However, despite his absence, the offense still put up 37 points behind a 146-yard performance from Allen Lazard.

But at practice on Thursday, we found ourselves in a little good news-bad news situation as Adams was back, while Lazard was nowhere to be found. Why Lazard was missing or what the extent of the injury may be is unknown at this time, but there are potential roster spots that may need to be filled.

Prior to the Saints game, the Packers would promote Darrius Shepherd from the practice squad, giving them four active receivers. And without knowing whether or not Adams or Lazard will play on Monday, they may have to bring up another player from the practice squad once again.

So with a need for some depth at the receiver position along with some available spots on the practice squad, this week, the Green Bay Packers have signed Caleb Scott and Juwann Winfree to the practice squad after each of these players attended a recent workout.

Scott was an undrafted free agent out of Vanderbilt in 2018, where he totaled 72 receptions for 1,061 yards at 14.7 yards per catch with four touchdowns. Up to this point in his short NFL career, he had spent some time in Seattle but has yet to take a regular-season snap.

At 6’2″ – 203 pounds, Scott is the prototypical big-bodied receiver that the Packers love. He’s also an excellent athlete, posting a Relative Atheltic Score of 9.44 out of 10, including a 4.46 – 40 yard dash and a 37″ vertical jump.

Winfree was the latest addition and is a former sixth-round pick by the Denver Broncos in the 2019 draft out of Colorado. Winfree was a former 4-star recruit who began his collegiate career at Maryland before making a detour to Coffeyville Community College and then ultimately ending up at Colorado.

In two seasons with the Buffaloes, he would appear in 15 games, hauling in 649 receiving yards at 13.6 yards per catch with four touchdowns. Winfree was on the field for 10 offensive snaps in 2019 as a rookie with Denver, but had no targets and hasn’t seen any action in 2020.

Another big body, Winfree, is listed at 6’2″ – 210 pounds and posted a 7.16 Relative Athletic Score. For a closer look at what Winfree can offer, here is what Travis Wakeman of Broncos Wire had to say about him after he was selected:

"“Winfree can make tough, contested catches and he is a technical route runner. Perhaps above all is his willingness and ability to be a blocker in the running game.”"

A willing run-blocker, you say? This sounds just like the type of receiver that Matt LaFleur covets.

Early on, the expectations for these two receivers should be that they will get their feet under them while on the practice squad, and maybe they become special teams contributors at some point. But for the time being, they add some needed depth at the receiver position, and when it comes to who the Packers could promote this week, keep your eyes on either Robert Foster or Reggie Begelton.