The Green Bay Packers elevated receiver Grant DuBose from the practice squad to the gameday roster for Week 18. The move was announced Saturday, making DuBose available for Matt LaFleur and the Packers for Sunday’s showdown with the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field.
This is the first elevation for DuBose, a seventh-round pick of the Packers in the 2023 draft.
The big question entering Sunday: Does elevating DuBose mean the Packers simply want an extra layer of protection at a position that has been consistently affected by injury, or is a currently injured player in danger of missing the contest? Christian Watson (hamstring), Jayden Reed (chest) and Dontayvion Wicks (chest) all practiced this week but are questionable to play Sunday. DuBose’s elevation might mean one is trending toward being inactive against the Bears.
With Watson, Reed, Wicks, Romeo Doubs, Malik Heath and the recently signed Bo Melton, the Packers have six receivers on the 53-man roster. DuBose is the seventh on the gameday roster.
While elevated, DuBose doesn’t necessarily have to be active Sunday. He could be a safeguard against any kind of setback — especially for Watson — leading into the game against the Bears.
The Packers listed 11 players with playing status designations on the final injury, but only one elevation from the practice squad suggests the team isn’t overly concerned about the injury situation entering Sunday.
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 DuBose has two elevations remaining. On Monday, DuBose will revert back to the practice squad.
The Packers elevated at least one player during 14 of their 17 games this season. DuBose represents the 22nd time a player has been elevated from the practice squad by the Packers this season.
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
Week 17: WR Bo Melton
Week 18: WR Grant DuBose
