NFL reporter Aaron Wilson shared that the Green Bay Packers made several moves on Friday, fully completing their 17-man practice squad for the first time this season. The team placed running back Nate McCrary on the practice squad injured list, which functions similarly to injured reserve, meaning McCrary no longer counts towards the 17-player limit. The specifics of McCrary’s injury haven’t been disclosed yet.
With McCrary’s spot open, the Packers had three practice squad slots available, which they promptly filled by signing running back La’Mical Perine, fullback Andrew Beck, and cornerback Kamal Hadden on Friday.
Perine, a former fourth-round pick by the New York Jets, has now been signed by six different teams over five seasons. Despite recording 64 carries for 232 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie, Perine has only participated in seven regular-season games since the 2020 season. With AJ Dillon on season-ending injured reserve and rookie MarShawn Lloyd still out with a hamstring injury, the Packers are in need of additional running back support.
On the more experienced side, fullback/tight end Andrew Beck has played in 66 regular-season games, including 22 starts, with 12 of those starts coming last year with the Houston Texans. Beck is a potential candidate for promotion from the practice squad, having played 994 special teams snaps throughout his NFL career. The Packers under coach Matt LaFleur often keep four tight end-type players on the active roster, and currently, the team only has three.
Kamal Hadden, a 2024 rookie drafted in the sixth round by the Kansas City Chiefs, was waived during roster cuts. Now the third cornerback on the Packers’ practice squad, Hadden adds depth to a somewhat crowded group but could compete for the sixth cornerback spot this season.
A nod goes to general manager Brian Gutekunst for securing a draft pick essentially for free in August, which helps offset the value lost when the Packers traded their 2025 seventh-round pick to the Tennessee Titans for quarterback Malik Willis.
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