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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Zach Kruse

Tracking Packers practice squad additions to start 2023

The Green Bay Packers can start signing players to the practice squad after the waiver period ends on Wednesday. All NFL teams can carry 16 players on the practice squad during the 2023 season.

The Packers released 32 players on Tuesday, but many will return to Green Bay on the practice squad to start 2023. Once the practice squad is filled, a 53-man initial roster will turn into a complete 69-player team for Brian Gutekunst and Matt LaFleur.

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Follow along as Packers Wire tracks all the additions made to the practice squad on Wednesday:

Signings by position

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur walks onto the field between possession during a Week 1 NFL preseason game between the Green Bay Packers and the Cincinnati Bengals,Friday, Aug. 11, 2023, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati.

QB: Alex McGough
RB: Patrick Taylor
WR: Grant DuBose, Bo Melton
TE: Austin Allen, Henry Pearson (FB)
OL: Kadeem Telfort, James Empey
DL: Chris Slayton
OLB: Keshawn Banks, Arron Mosby, Kenneth Odumegwu (IPP)
ILB:
CB: Kiondre Thomas, Innis Gaines, Corey Ballentine
S: Benny Sapp
K:
P:
LS:

OLB Keshawn Banks

Green Bay Packers linebacker Keshawn Banks (51) practices during the team’s second day of training camp on July 27, 2023, at Ray Nitschke Field in Ashwaubenon, Wis.

The Packers are signing edge rusher Keshawn Banks to the team’s practice squad, per Bill Huber of SI.com.

Banks, an undrafted free agent out of San Diego State, delivered two pressures and five stops over 70 snaps this preseason. His overall defense grade was the Packers’ fifth-best over the three preseason games, and his five stops ranked second on the team, per PFF.

TE Austin Allen

Jul 29, 2023; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers tight end Austin Allen (49) at Ray Nitschke Field. Mandatory Credit: Tork Mason-USA TODAY Sports

The Packers are signing tight end Austin Allen to the practice squad, per Ryan Wood of PackersNews.com.

Allen (6-8) impressed as a run blocker during the preseason and will give the Packers an inline tight end type to develop. It’s possible he’ll be needed early in the season considering the Packers have only three tight ends on the roster currently.

OT Kadeem Telfort

Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Rasheed Walker (63) and offensive tackle Kadeem Telfort (77) during the first day of practice of theGreen Bay Packers’ 2023 training camp on Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at Ray NitschkeField in Green Bay, Wis. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

The Packers are signing offensive tackle Kadeem Telfort to the practice squad, per Tom Silverstein of PackersNews.com.

Telfort is a massive (6-8, 322) rookie tackle who played 48 snaps at left tackle this preseason. The Packers have gravitated towards big, long-armed tackles recently, and Telfort is another one to develop on the practice squad.

S Benny Sapp

Aug 26, 2023; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers safety Benny Sapp III (pointing) and linebacker Tariq Carpenter (24) celebrate after Sapp’s interception against the Seattle Seahawks during their preseason football game at Lambeau Field. Green Bay defeated Seattle 19-15. Mandatory Credit: Tork Mason-USA TODAY Sports

The Packers are signing safety Benny Sapp to the practice squad, per Tom Silverstein of PackersNews.com.

Sapp, an undrafted rookie out of Northern Iowa, finished as the team’s third-highest graded defensive player during the preseason, per PFF, and had the game-clinching interception in the preseason finale. Sapp is the son of Benny Sapp II, who played eight seasons in the NFL from 2004-11.

S Innis Gaines

Green Bay Packers safety Innis Gaines (38) practices during the second day of the team’s 2023 training camp on Thursday, July 27, 2023, at Ray Nitschke Field in Green Bay, Wis. Seeger Gray/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

The Packers are expected to sign defensive back Innis Gaines to the practice squad, per Bill Huber of SI.com.

Gaines, who was on the field for four games last season, can play in the slot or at safety and is an experienced special teams player.

CB Kiondre Thomas

Green Bay Packers cornerback Kiondre Thomas (43) gets set on defense during an NFL pre-season football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Peter Aiken)

The Packers are signing cornerback Kiondre Thomas to the practice squad, per Bill Huber of SI.com.

Thomas allowed only three total catches over the last two preseasons in Green Bay and will give the Packers more depth at cornerback, where only four players are currently on the 53-man roster. He spent all of last season on the practice squad.

WR Grant DuBose

Aug 11, 2023; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Grant DuBose (86) runs with the ball during warmups prior to the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports

The Packers are expected to sign receiver Grant DuBose to the practice squad, per Bill Huber of SI.com.

DuBose was a seventh-round pick out of Charlotte and one of only two 2023 draft picks cut by the Packers on Tuesday. His return gives the Packers seven quality wide receivers entering the regular season.

C James Empey

Green Bay Packers center James Empey (left) blocks center Josh Myers during practice on Monday, July 31, 2023, at Ray Nitschke Field in Green Bay, Wis.

The Packers are signing center James Empey to the practice squad, per Ryan Wood of PackersNews.com.

Empey arrived off waivers from the Titans on July 31. He will provide depth at center behind assumed starter Josh Myers and assumed top backup Zach Tom. During the preseason, Empey played 39 snaps at center and 17 at left or right guard.

QB Alex McGough

Green Bay Packers quarterback Alex McGough (17) during the first day of practice of theGreen Bay Packers’ 2023 training camp on Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at Ray NitschkeField in Green Bay, Wis. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

The Packers are signing quarterback Alex McGough to the practice squad, per Aaron Wilson.

McGough, the USFL’s MVP in 2023, arrived in Green Bay in July. He led a game-winning drive featuring a 52-yard completion to Jadakis Bonds during the Packers’ preseason finale. He’ll be the No. 3 quarterback behind Jordan Love and Sean Clifford.

DL Chris Slayton

Aug 1, 2023; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Chris Slayton (98) runs through a pass rush drill during practice on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, at Ray Nitschke Field in Green Bay, Wis. Mandatory Credit: Tork Mason-USA TODAY Sports

The Packers signed defensive lineman Chris Slayton to the practice squad, per Matt Schneidman of The Athletic.

Slayton spent the entire 2022 season on the Packers practice squad. He was a seventh-round pick of the Giants in 2019. During the 2023 preseason, Slayton produced two hurries and a tackle over 53 snaps.

OLB Arron Mosby

Green Bay Packers linebacker Arron Mosby (53) practices tackles during a joint practice between the Green Bay Packers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023, at the practice fields next to Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati.

The Packers signed outside linebacker Arron Mosby to the practice squad, per Matt Schneidman of The Athletic.

Mosby was a waiver claim from the Panthers. He played 45 snaps at outside linebacker and 31 special teams snaps over three preseason games.

Officially announced

GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – AUGUST 19: Patrick Taylor #27 of the Green Bay Packers runs for an 8-yard touchdown in the second quarter against the New England Patriots during a preseason game at Lambeau Field on August 19, 2023 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

The Packers announced the signings of Patrick Taylor, Corey Ballentine, Bo Melton and Kenneth Odumegwu to the practice squad on Wednesday.

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