BREAKING: Green Bay Packers Bring Back Star From Injured Reserve Before Kansas City Chiefs Game

The Green Bay Packers will get a star defender back for their matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football. The Packers’ defense needs all hands on deck for Sunday night’s game, as they’ll face quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

The 5-6 Packers need a win against the Chiefs to stay in the playoff hunt. Injuries hurt the Packers at the start of the year, but they’re starting to get healthy.

The Green Bay Packers activate their star safety

According to a statement by the Packers, safety Darnell Savage has been activated off the injured reserve Saturday.

Savage aggravated his injured calf in October during the Packers game against the Broncos. He has been out since the Broncos game.

The Packers’ defense already lacked depth at safety before Savage’s injury. Adding Savage to the lineup in December is huge for the Packers, who are hoping to make a late-season run into an NFC Wild Card spot.

Saturday’s Packers Roster Moves: What They Mean for Sunday vs. Chiefs

GREEN BAY, Wis. – As expected, the Green Bay Packers on Saturday activated safety Darnell Savage off injured reserve in time for Sunday night’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

That was the big move among the team’s weekly day-before-the-game transactions. Here’s the breakdown of all the moves that were made and not made.

ACTIVATED FROM INJURED RESERVE: S DARNELL SAVAGE

Savage, who was designated to return from injured reserve two weeks ago, was full participation all week on the practice field, so this was the most predictable transaction imaginable. A first-round pick and all-rookie performer in 2019, Savage was coming off a couple down season but was off to a strong start this year. However, he suffered a calf injury in Week 5 at Las Vegas and, following a bye week, aggravated it at Denver in Week 7. He missed the last five games while on injured reserve. As a team leader, Savage was an ever-present presence. “I think these guys enjoy seeing my silly face around,” he said this week.

The Packers allowed only 18.4 points per game during Savage’s absence, but his return to the lineup will be welcomed against the Patrick Mahomes-led Chiefs offense. “He’s a guy who can make every throw,” Savage said. “The biggest thing is make the game as difficult as possible. We’ve got to focus on that and make sure we’re close to the receivers he’s throwing to and make the windows as tight as possible. He’s going to make some throws; that’s what he does.” With 51 players on the 53-man roster, the Packers did not have to make a corresponding move. “I just think he’s a guy that’s played a lot of football for us,” coach Matt LaFleur said. “Obviously, he’s got a great grasp of what we’re trying to accomplish. He’s a hell of a communicator, and he’s a rangy guy. I think that’s what he’s brought for a long time.”

ELEVATED FROM PRACTICE SQUAD: RB JAMES ROBINSON

This was a predictable transaction, as well. Veteran Aaron Jones will miss a second consecutive game with a knee injury. With Emanuel Wilson on injured reserve, the Packers have only AJ Dillon – who missed the start of the week with a groin injury – and Patrick Taylor in the backfield.

The Packers like their other practice-squad running back, rookie Ellis Merriweather, but the veteran Robinson is much more experienced in pass protection. That’s a big deal considering this week’s matchup. The Chiefs are third in the NFL in sack percentage and are led by blitz-happy coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. Robinson, who allowed zero sacks in 59 pass-protecting snaps in 2021 and 2022, according to Pro Football Focus, was suited up but didn’t play last week at Detroit.

ELEVATED FROM PRACTICE SQUAD: FB HENRY PEARSON

Pearson, an undrafted free agent from Appalachian State, played two snaps on offense and 11 on special teams in his NFL debut at Detroit last week with veteran Josiah Deguara inactive with a hip injury. Deguara was limited participation all week and is questionable on the injury report. However, that Pearson was elevated would indicate Deguara might miss another game. His 147 snaps this season have been split relatively evenly between fullback, in-line tight end and slot receiver. He’s caught eight passes for 65 yards.

NOT ACTIVATED FROM INJURED RESERVE: CB ERIC STOKES

Stokes was designated to return from injured reserve this week and participated in all four practices. He was doubtful on the injury report, so that he’ll remain on IR for another week isn’t a surprise. After missing the first five games of this season with last year’s foot injury, Stokes suffered a hamstring injury during his fourth snap on special teams at Denver and went back on injured reserve. This will mark a sixth consecutive game on the sideline and 11th overall for the 2021 first-round pick, who had a superb rookie year but struggled before the injury last year. “It’s been again incredibly frustrating for us but insanely frustrating for the kid,” defensive coordinator Joe Barry said. “Because a player, they want to be out there. That’s just the way they’re wired. But he hasn’t played football since November of last year. He’s got to bank days and a couple weeks and then, hopefully, we can get him out there, because I think we’d all love to see 21 out on the grass for us.”

NOT ELEVATED FROM PRACTICE SQUAD: S BENNY SAPP

Sapp was elevated the past two weeks but won’t be needed this week with the return of Savage and the potential return of Rudy Ford, who missed the last two games with a biceps injury. Ford was limited participation all week and is questionable.