According to the team’s transaction wire for October 21, the Packers removed Orzech from the active roster and activated defensive tackle Jonathan Ford from injured reserve on Tuesday, in a pair of corresponding roster moves ahead of Week 8.
Orzech had delivered a low snap to punter/holder Dan Whelan as new Packers kicker Brandon McManus attempted to convert a 45-yard field goal in the waning seconds of their 24-22 victory over the Texans. While Whelan caught the low snap and pulled the ball down in time for McManus to save the day, Orzech was left with an awful memory.
According to Bill Huber of Sports Illustrated, the Packers released Orzech as a procedural step linked to Ford’s return to the 53-man roster, not in retaliation to his poor snap against the Texans. The Packers had reached the end of Ford’s 21-day practice window, which had officially begun on October 2, and needed to either activate him to the 53-man roster or place him on the injured reserve list for the remainder of 2024
Accoding to Huber, the Packers would “presumably” follow up on Monday’s roster adjustments by adding Orzech back to the 53-man roster and waiving Ford, with plans to re-sign him on the practice squad once/if he clears waivers. However, the Packers had not made any such moves as of Tuesday, October 22.
In Week 8, the Packers (5-2) will play the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-5) at Lambeau Field on Sunday, October 27 at 1 p.m. Eastern time.
Jonathan Ford might help boost the Packers’ defensive line rotation.
Ford, a 2022 seventh-round pick, had a good 2024 training camp with the Packers and would have likely made the team’s initial 53-man roster if he hadn’t injured his calf in their preseason finale against the Baltimore Ravens on August 24. Instead, the Packers placed him on injured reserve with a return designation, which was the only one given to the three players who went on IR before the regular season began.
Ford, who has returned, may immediately contribute to the Packers’ defensive line rotation against the Jaguars in Week 8. Devonte Wyatt, the team’s starting defensive tackle and 2022 first-round pick, has been sidelined for three games due to a foot ailment. He hasn’t practiced since September 27.
Without Wyatt, the Packers have relied more on Colby Wooden and Karl Brooks in the rotation behind Kenny Clark and T.J. Slaton, but Ford may also get action against the Jaguars if the Packers believe he can recover the spark he showed in the preseason.
Packers Make Another PraBctice Squad Roster Move.
The Packers did not re-sign their long snapper on Tuesday, but they did clear another spot on their 16-man practice squad by releasing fullback Andrew Beck.
The Packers had promoted Beck from their practice squad to their game-day roster for each of their last three games after signing him on August 30 after roster cuts, but they would have needed to sign him to an active-roster contract to play him again during the 2024 season, as Beck had used up all three of his allotted opportunities.
Beck played 15 offensive snaps and 22 special teams snaps in his three games, but he did not contribute enough to earn a permanent berth on the roster.
The Packers will now begin their first day of practice for Week 8 on Wednesday with an open spot on their practice squad. It is possible that the Packers are examining Ford to fill the position, as Huber mentioned, but it is unclear whether that is their goal at this time.
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