Green Bay, Wisconsin – The Green Bay Packers will have a few new faces on the field when practice begins on Wednesday.
The Packers added receiver Malik Knowles and offensive tackle Spencer Rolland to their practice squad. Rolland replaces centre Lecitus Smith, who was named to the Patriots’ 53-man roster on Tuesday.
Knowles (6’2″, 196 pounds) was a two-time All-American at Kansas State. In 2021, he established himself as a kickoff returner, averaging 33.1 yards per return and ranking second in the country with two kickoff-return touchdowns. In 2022, he established himself as an all-purpose player, catching 48 catches for 725 yards and two scores while averaging 25.7 yards per kickoff return.
He went undrafted in 2023 before signing with the Minnesota Vikings. He spent last season on the reserve/non-football injury list due to a knee ailment and was released at the end of training camp this summer after catching one reception for 1 yard and returning two kickoffs for 43 yards.
Luther replaces first-year player TJ Luther on the practice squad, who was placed on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury.
During high school, he grew from 5-foot-6 to 6-foot-2.
“One day I was like, ‘I guess I have to focus on receiver now,'” Knowles recalls. “Technically, I had to learn a lot of different things. My footwork was very different than it was as a running back.”
Injury and the death of his mother from cancer were setbacks on his path to prominence.
“The grieving process is difficult because so many people tell you, ‘I’m sorry.'” It’s lovely, but your mom is gone, and there’s nothing anyone can say,” said quarterback Skylar Thompson, who now plays for the Miami Dolphins.
“I just assured him, ‘There are brighter days ahead. And even though she is not present, she sees you. That is the connection we have. We know our mothers are up there watching over us. Their hands rest on our shoulders. I always tell him, ‘Let’s go be unique and do something amazing for them.'”
Knowles will see at least one familiar face in the Packers’ locker room. Rolland also attended Vikings training camp.
Rolland played six collegiate seasons, from 2018 to 2021 at Harvard and 2022 to 2023 at North Carolina. Last year, he was named an honourable mention All-ACC right tackle. Pro Football Focus charged him with only one sack last year, a significant improvement from six in 2022.
At North Carolina, he was a semifinalist for the Campbell Trophy, also known as the Academic Heisman.
During the preseason, he played left guard for the Vikings and allowed one pressure in 32 pass-protecting snaps, according to PFF.
“I think I’m a very versatile guy,” he told KSTP-TV ahead of the draft. “Over the last three years, I have learned three different offences and playbooks. I feel like I’m constantly growing, and I’m going to take the next step to the next level.”
At 6-foot-6 and 306 pounds, he had a Relative Athletic Score of 7.15.
Rolland was raised in Minnesota, so playing for the Vikings was a dream come true.
“It’s a childhood dream of mine,” Rolland told The Star-Tribune. “It’s amazing to actually have the purple and gold on.”
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