Packers activate wide receiver from Injured Reserve

The Green Bay Packers are activating a receiver off of their practice squad, ahead of Thursday night’s game against the Arizona Cardinals. Malik Taylor will suit up for the Packers who are currently hurting at wide receiver. 

Taylor is an undrafted free agent from Ferris State University, signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fresh from college in 2019. His time with the Buccaneers did not last long as he was waived four days after agreeing to terms with them. Not too long after that, he was picked up by the Packers before the start of training camp. 

Taylor would end up spending the entire 2019 season on Green Bay’s practice squad. In 2020, he was named to the 53-man roster at the start of the season. In his career, he has a total of seven catches for 80 yards and a touchdown. 

Packers getting hit by COVID

The Green Bay Packers are now beyond thin at the wide receiver position. On Monday, Packers wide receiver Davante Adams was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list, as announced by general manager Brian Gutekunst. And just 24 hours after announcing they would be without their best wide receiver, NFL Insider Ian Rappaport reported the Packers will now be without Allen Lazard, who was expected to play a bigger role in the game plan.

The Packers also lost defensive coordinator Joe Barry after he tested positive with COVID-19. Barry and Adams will definitely miss the Packers’ Thursday Night Football game against Arizona. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that given the short week, the Green Bay Packers have entered enhanced mitigation COVID protocols.

“With a short work week and a game Thursday night vs. unbeaten Arizona, the Packers now have entered enhanced mitigation COVID protocols that call for daily testing and masks to be worn at the facility,” Schefter tweeted.

The Packers are coming off a 24-10 win over the Washington Football Team on Sunday. In the win, Adams recorded six receptions for 76 yards and one touchdown. On the season, Davante Adams has 52 receptions for 744 yards and three touchdowns. Adams is third in the league in total receiving yards trailing Rams’ wide receiver Cooper Kupp and Bengals rookie Ja’Marr Chase.

The Packers are firing on all cylinders as they prepared to face off against the NFL’s only unbeaten team. Now they will have to do it without their leading receiver and another wideout who is a key threat. With Adams and Lazard out, Malik Taylor and the other receivers are gifted a chance to step up on Thursday. 

On3’s Sean Labar contributed to this story