No practice squad elevations for Packers despite long injury list

NFL teams can elevate up to two players each week from the practice squad to the active gameday roster. However, despite the Packers having a long list of injuries, which includes nine players listed as questionable and one doubtful, they chose not to make any elevations for the first time this season.

Here is a look at what that could mean for Green Bay in their matchup with Denver, with the caveat that this is all speculation on my part as I try to read the tea leaves prior to Sunday’s game.

In each game this season, the Packers have had three running backs active. So the fact that they did not elevate James Robinson from the practice squad could be a good sign that Aaron Jones is going to be available. Jones missed the Las Vegas game with a hamstring injury and was limited in all three practices this week.

Also, in each game this season, the Packers have elevated at least one cornerback, most often Corey Ballentine or Innis Gaines. The primary responsibility of these players has been to contribute on special teams, although when Jaire Alexander was out against Detroit, we saw Ballentine take the place of Carrington Valentine.

If the Packers wanted Ballentine available, he would have to be signed to the 53-man roster, which would result in a corresponding cut to make room for him. Gaines has one elevation remaining.

Without Ballentine or Gaines available on Sunday, if Alexander is unable to play, that would leave the Packers with only Rasul Douglas, Keisean Nixon, Valentine, and Eric Stokes available. Could the Packers choose to have only four available cornerbacks for a game? Sure. However, that seems less likely, given that this is Stokes’ first game back, and he is going to be on a snap count.

From a pure numbers standpoint, if the Packers were going to be without either Quay Walker or Devonte Wyatt, both of whom are listed as questionable, that would leave Green Bay with only three linebackers for Sunday’s game with De’Vondre Campbell already doubtful and four interior defensive linemen. Without Wyatt and no elevations, that’s just four interior linemen at a heavily rotated position.

Again, could the Packers make that work at either of these positions if they had to? Probably. But if you have the elevations available to bolster your depth, why not take them?

Lastly, both Elgton Jenkins and Yosh Nijman are questionable as well. If the Packers were without both players, that would leave them with just seven active offensive linemen. I really doubt they would go into the game with only that many–so on the conservative side, at least one of Jenkins or Nijman will be available. For what it’s worth, Matt LaFleur did say that Jenkins being held out of Friday’s practice was “precautionary.”

The other players on the injury report who haven’t been mentioned include are Darnell Savage and Zayne Anderson. Both are questionable. Healthy safety options on the 53-man roster include Rudy Ford, Jonathan Owens, Anthony Johnson, and Dallin Leavitt.

If needed, Green Bay could get by with four safeties available, but presumably, if Savage was out, Owens would start next to Ford, which could reduce the number of special teams snaps he plays. For depth purposes, elevating Gaines to help on teams would make sense.

I’ll again reiterate that this is all guesswork on my part. There are reasons why no practice squad elevations could mean many of the Packers on the injury report are going to be available, but I also tried to share why that might not be the case either. But the fact that the Packers chose not to make any elevations when they have two available does tend to be a positive sign from an injury perspective.