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The Green Bay Packers signed rookie running back Brandon Saine from the practice squad to the 53-man roster after placing fellow rookie back Alex Green on IR, GM Ted Thompson announced Monday. The Packers also signed safety Anthony Levine and offensive lineman Paul Fenaroll to the practice squad and Cecil Newton was released.

The need for promoting Saine arose when Green tore his ACL in the first quarter of the Packers 33-27 win over the Minnesota Vikings in Week 7. The injury occured when Randall Cobb tripped into the back of Green’s legs during a kick return. Mike McCarthy announced last Monday that Green would be lost for the season.

A third-round pick from Hawaii, Green had just three carries for 11 yards and one catch for six yards in limited snaps this season. Depending on when surgery for the injury occurs, Green should be a full-go for 2012.

Saine (5-11, 220) was signed as an undrafted free agent on July 28 and won himself a spot on the Packers practice squad by rushing for 51 yards during the preseason. He was a second-team All-Big Ten selection at Ohio State his senior year. He will wear No. 33.  Read more... (455 words + 1 image, estimated 1:49 mins reading time)

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In week 2, starting safety Nick Collins was lost for the year with a neck injury, and yesterday it was announced that Collins underwent neck surgery. Head coach Mike McCarthy was completely devastated when announcing the news to the media and insisted that there is a 0% chance that Collins will play another down in 2011.  And yet, nearly two weeks later, Collins remains on the team and is still listed on the team’s weekly injury report.

This is especially odd when you consider how precious a roster spot truly is.  Here at AllGreenBayPackers.com, the staff each predicted the 53 “starting” opening day roster, and each of us had to cut players who we felt deserved a spot on the roster.  Obviously, none of us were really remotely close (I think we all had 6 wide receivers on the roster for one), but the fact remains, I think we all wish that we had 54 roster spots to work with.

The Packers, however, seem to be going about it from a completely opposite approach.  The Packers are essentially playing with 50 players at the moment; Collins is out for the year, defensive end Mike Neal looks to be out at least until after the bye week if not entirely with a knee injury and outside linebacker Frank Zombo is out with another long injury with a broken shoulder blade.  Read more... (1349 words + 1 image, estimated 5:24 mins reading time)

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Chastin West

According to his Twitter Feed,  wide receiver Chastin West has been signed off of the Packers Practice Squad by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Stats: Attended Fresno State, (6’1”, 216lbs) WR.  Combine Stats: 4.59 40yd time, 2.64 20yd.,  1.61 10yd time, 4.42 20yd shuttle, 7.12 3-cone,  33.5” vertical, 15 reps@225lbs, and a 9’1” broad jump. Ranked 64 out of 276  Wide receivers by NFLDraftScout.com.

West had five catches for 134 yards in the preseason game against the Cardinals, but only managed three catches for 18 yards in the other three preseason games. West flashed some potential at times during camp, but never stood out. West was then signed to the Packers practice squad for the second straight year.

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The Packers signed QB Graham Harrell to the practice squad on Sunday.

The Green Bay Packers signed eight players to their practice squad on Sunday, including QB Graham Harrell and three WRs.

Signed to the practice squad were WR Diondre Borel, T/G Ray Dominguez, C Sampson Genus, WR Tori Gurley, QB Graham Harrell, CB Brandian Ross, RB Brandon Saine and WR Chastin West.

All eight signees to the practice squad were with the Packers during training camp.

Harrell: In 18 series during the preseason, Harrell generated two touchdowns and three field goals and a passer rating of 75.7. Packers coach Mike McCarthy appeared to be high on Harrell early in the preseason, but the former Texas Tech standout never caught fire to solidify a permanent roster spot. Perhaps Harrell was doomed to be cut anyway. No. 2 QB Matt Flynn had a firm hold on the backup slot and McCarthy said he wasn’t going touse a spot on the active gameday roster for a third QB.  Read more... (536 words + 1 image, estimated 2:09 mins reading time)

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Now that we know about the Packers Roster Cuts and the current composition of the 2011 Packers 53-man Roster, the next order of business is putting together the practice squad. Below are my thoughts on how this might shake out.

Author’s Note: The practice squad has since been formed. You can find the actual Packers Practice Squad here.

This isn’t really a prediction, because there is no way to account for players possibly being claimed outright or signed by other teams after they clear waivers. We are simply taking a look at the positions where the Packers would like to have an emergency player “on-call” and some players the Packers might want to keep.

Quarterback (1): The Packers are crossing their fingers that Graham Harrell’s uneven performances in preseason games will make other teams look elsewhere for practice squad quarterbacks who are a bit more NFL-ready at this time. If Harrell is claimed or signs with another team, the Packers will surely bring in another quarterback for the practice squad.  Read more... (802 words + 1 image, estimated 3:12 mins reading time)

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The Green Bay Packers continue to make cuts in a day-long effort to get their roster to the league-mandated 53-man limit.

Quarterback Graham Harrell and guard/center Nick McDonald headline the most recent cuts the Packers have made.

Harrell was holding down the Packers third quarterback job, but it looks like the team will keep just two on the active roster again in 2011. The Packers will likely attempt to bring Harrell back for a second stint on the practice squad, but he could be claimed by another franchise. Harrell showed flashes this preseason and many thought he had the potential of sticking on the Packers roster. If he is claimed, the Packers will have no alternatives for a No. 3 quarterback, and backup Matt Flynn could leave after 2011 in free agency.

McDonald was an undrafted free agent in 2010 who impressed coaches during his first professional season. A year later, however, it was clear McDonald hadn’t made the necessary improvements and was struggling to grasp the center position. His play Thursday against the Chiefs, in which he airmailed a snap that resulted in a safety and had a false start penalty, was likely his last straw. McDonald still has practice squad eligibility, despite sticking on the Packers 53-man roster for the entire 2010 season. He wasn’t active for a single game and the limit is nine. He could still stick.  Read more... (368 words + 1 image, estimated 1:28 mins reading time)

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According to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Green Bay Packers have informed rookie receiver Tori Gurley that he has been released. After cutting fellow roster hopeful Chastin West earlier this morning, the Packers will almost certainly keep just five receivers to open the 2011 season.

Many believed that the Packers could keep as many as six receivers, especially after the emergence of both West and Gurley this preseason.

West was praised on several occasions by quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and his 134-yard performance against the Cardinals helped put his name on the 53-man radar. While unlikely, he could clear waivers and wind up back on the Packers practice squad for the second straight season.

Gurley (6-4, 230 lbs.) continued to get better through training camp. He blocked a handful of punts on special teams and has the kind of big frame that you can’t teach in a receiver. He might get claimed on waivers, too, but the Packers would love to have him back on the practice squad.

Here are some other recent releases:

NT Jay Ross: Spent time on the Packers practice squad in the past but was never really a challenger for a roster spot in camp. Ross would have needed to beat out Howard Green to make the 53.  Read more... (361 words + 1 image, estimated 1:27 mins reading time)

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