Packers elevate former Colorado WR as COVID-19 replacement

The Green Bay Packers elevated wide reciever Juwann Winfree from the practice squad for Thursday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals.

Winfree will serve as a COVID-19 replacement for a Packers wide reciever corps that is severely depleted as Davante Adams and Allen Lazard are both officially ruled out due to COVID-19.

Adams entered COVID-19 safety protocol this week on the reserve/COVID-19 list, following a positive test within the organization.

Despite missing practice and failing to travel with the team, there was lingered hope, as recently as Wednesday, that the All-Pro wide receiver could clear health and safety protocols in time to join his teammates. That opportunity has not come, leaving Aaron Rodgers without his top weapon.

In addition to the absence of Adams and Lazard, the Packers are not expected to activate Marquez Valdez-Scantling off injured reserve before tonight’s game.

On Wednesday, multiple reports stated that Valdes-Scantling, who went on injured reserve Oct. 2 after hurting an ankle against the 49ers, traveled with the team to Arizona, wants to play and was likely to suit up on a night where Rodgers and company needed him the most. Unfortunately for the Packers and Valdes-Scantling, that will not be the case.

The remaining targets for Aaron Rodgers include Randall Cobb, Equanimeous St. Brown, Amari Rodgers and the recently elevated Juwann Winfree. Tight ends Robert Tonyan and Mercedes Lewis could also take on an increased role.

Juwann Winfree, 25, is in his third season in the NFL. The Colorado product was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He played three games as a rookie before being placed on injured reserve. Winfree was waived by the Broncos in Sept. 2020, and was signed to the Packers practice squad a month later. He was elevated to the active roster on Nov. 14 and Dec. 12 for the team’s Week 10 and 14 games. This season, Juwann Winfree has largely been on the practice squad, but was elevated to the active roster for the Packers’ Week 6 game against the Bears.

Prior to his NFL career, Juwann Winfree began his college career at Maryland, finishing his freshman season with 158 receiving yards on six receptions. He was dismissed from the team due to an undisclosed code of conduct violation and spent one season at Coffeyville Community College. After a year at Coffeyville, Winfree transferred to Colorado. 

Winfree sat out the 2016 season with a torn ACL. In 2017 he finished the year with 325 receiving yards. Winfree struggled with injuries in 2018, but still finished with 324 receiving yards.