The Green Bay Packers elevated receiver Bo Melton and safety Benny Sapp III from the practice squad to the gameday roster for Week 16. The move was announced Saturday, making Melton and Sapp available for Matt LaFleur and the Packers for Sunday’s showdown with the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium.
The moves provide depth at two positions dealing with injuries entering Sunday.
Melton gives the Packers another option at receiver, where Christian Watson (hamstring) is doubtful and both Jayden Reed (chest, toe) and Dontayvion Wicks (ankle) are questionable to play. This is the second straight elevation for Melton, who caught one pass on two targets for seven yards while playing 18 offensive snaps last week against the Buccaneers. He could once again factor in on pre-snap motion looks and from the slot if Reed is limited.
The other healthy receivers on the 53-man roster are Romeo Doubs, Malik Heath and Samori Toure.
Sapp was elevated for the third and final time. He can help the Packers fill in the gaps with Darnell Savage (shoulder) out and Rudy Ford now questionable due to a back injury. In his previous two games as a practice squad elevation this season, Sapp played three snaps on defense and 13 on special teams.
The Packers did not elevate a running back, suggesting A.J. Dillon (questionable, thumb) will play. Nor did they elevate a defensive lineman, so expect T.J. Slaton (questionable, knee/foot) to go on Sunday.
Green Bay’s final injury report on Friday featured 13 players with playing status designations, so LaFleur and general manager Brian Gutekunst had to be especially intentional about the practice squad elevations this week.
All teams are allowed to elevate up to two players from the practice squad each week. An individual player can only be elevated from the practice squad three times per season, so Melton has one elevation remaining and Sapp is out of elevations. On Monday, Melton and Sapp will revert back to the practice squad.
Elevations by week
Week 1: RB Patrick Taylor, DB Innis Gaines
Week 2: RB Patrick Taylor, DB Innis Gaines
Week 3: RB Patrick Taylor, CB Corey Ballentine
Week 4: CB Corey Ballentine, CB Kiondre Thomas
Week 5: CB Corey Ballentine
Week 7: None
Week 8: None
Week 9: DB Innis Gaines
Week 10: None
Week 11: S Benny Sapp III
Week 12: S Benny Sapp III, FB Henry Pearson
Week 13: RB James Robinson, FB Henry Pearson
Week 14: RB Kenyan Drake
Week 15: RB Kenyan Drake, WR Bo Melton
Week 16: WR Bo Melton, S Benny Sapp III
