Packers make final Saturday roster moves ahead of NFC showdown

The Green Bay Packers have announced two more roster moves ahead of their match-up this Sunday against NFC North rival the Minnesota Vikings. The Packers are elevating linebacker La’Darius Hamilton and wide receiver Juwann Winfree to the active roster for Sunday’s game.

Hamilton is an undrafted free agent from the 2020 draft out of North Texas. He spent the 2020 season as a member of the Dallas Cowboys practice squad. This year he’s split time between Tampa Bay and Green Bay’s practice squads. He was activated once before by the Green Bay Packers for their week-5 victory against the Cincinnati Bengals but did not appear in the stat column.

Winfree is a sixth-round pick by the Denver Broncos back in the 2019 NFL Draft. He played in three games for the Broncos in his rookie season but was placed on injured reserve in December after sustaining a hamstring injury in practice. In the following season, 2020, he was released by the Broncos and picked up by the Green Bay Packers later in the year. So far this season, Winfree has played in four games for the Packers and has four catches for 30 yards; two of those catches offer first downs.

Final Packers injury report vs. Vikings

Out: Offensive tackle David Bakhtiari (knee), wide receiver Malik Taylor (abdomen), running back Aaron Jones (knee).

The Packers will again be without offensive tackle David Bakhtiari, who is still working his way back from a torn ACL. Running back Aaron Jones suffered a knee injury in last week’s game. He will likely miss multiple weeks with the injury, paving the way for more involvement for young running back AJ Dillon. Malik Taylor was also ruled out with an abdomen injury.

Doubtful: Wide receiver Allen Lazard (shoulder).

Allen Lazard did not practice all week due to a shoulder injury. He is unlikely to play on Sunday, meaning that the Packers will be without two key offensive weapons against the Vikings.

Questionable: Linebacker Rashan Gary (elbow), Kingsley Keke (concussion).

Rashan Gary suffered an elbow injury last week against the Seahawks. He was able to practice all week, although in limited fashion. Gary currently leads the team with 19 quarterback hits and 5.5 sacks. His inclusion on the injury report is concerning for the Packers on defense. Kingsley Keke’s status is also uncertain as he works his way back from a concussion. He was limited on Wednesday and Thursday but was a full participant on Friday.

Quite a few players enter the weekend without an injury designation despite dealing with issues. Among those names is quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers, who just returned after a positive test for COVID-19, returned to practice in a limited capacity on Friday. That was his first on-field work in 18 days. Rodgers has been dealing with a toe injury. Packers head coach Matt LaFleur expects Rodgers to play against the Vikings.

“He looked good throwing the football,” LaFleur said Friday. “I’m confident he’ll be in a good place on Sunday.”

Davante Adams, Dominique Dafney, Equanimeous St. Brown, Eric Stokes, Mercedes Lewis, Darnell Savage, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling were all listed on the injury report but enter the weekend with no injury designation for the Packers.