Packers place Dean Lowry on IR and sign WR Bo Melton: What to Know
By Paul Bretl
The Green Bay Packers made a trio of roster moves on Tuesday following several injuries against Miami.
On Monday, Matt LaFleur said that Keisean Nixon, Christian Watson, and Yosh Nijman were all “day-to-day,” but Dean Lowry’s season has, unfortunately, come to an end with him being placed on IR. With an open roster spot then available, the Packers signed rookie wide receiver Bo Melton off the Seattle practice squad.
Lowry has been a steady presence on Green Bay’s defensive front for several years, with Sunday being his 101st consecutive game; however, he may have just played his final snap with the Packers. This season was the final of his current deal.
Lowry didn’t fill a glamours role, but was more than willing to do the dirty work that is required as a run defender. In Lowry’s place against the Dolphins, we saw more of rookie Devonte Wyatt, who played a career-high 24 snaps and was disruptive, creating two pressures in the second half. You don’t have to watch much of Wyatt to notice his athleticism and relentlessness jumping off the screen. Wyatt has been making the most of his opportunities in recent weeks.
In addition to Wyatt getting more snaps, TJ Slaton likely will as well. About two-thirds of Lowry’s snaps this season came against the run this season, according to PFF, while the Packers have primarily used Wyatt in passing situations–so someone will have to replace those run defense snaps. Without Lowry, the Packers have five interior defensive linemen on the roster, but rookie Jonathan Ford has been inactive each week. So I still wouldn’t be surprised to see Green Bay elevate Chris Slayton from the practice squad during the next two games for added depth. He has all three game day elevations available.
Melton, meanwhile, was a seventh-round pick out of Rutgers by Seattle in this past draft. He is a speedster, running a 4.34-second 40-yard dash and posting an overall Relative Athletic Score of 9.24. During his career at Rutgers, Melton caught 58% of his 282 targets at 12.4 yards per catch with 11 touchdowns. Most of his snaps came on the boundary, and he provides some gadget-like abilities with his skill set. Melton also has kick and punt return experience in college.
Without Sammy Watkins, the Packers had just five receivers on the active roster with Christian Watson’s status for Sunday’s game up in the air currently.
Along with placing Lowry on IR and signing Melton, the Packers also waived Tipa Galeai, who had been placed on a season-ending IR a few weeks ago.