In keeping with the league transaction report acquired by Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 in Houston, the Inexperienced Bay Packers formally designated inside linebacker Krys Barnes for return on Wednesday. Barnes has been on the injured reserve since Week 2 after he was carted off the sphere within the season-opener towards the Minnesota Vikings with a excessive ankle sprain.
Primarily based on the NFL’s guidelines, every workforce is allowed to activate eight gamers per season off the injured reserve. The Packers have used up a type of slots with receiver Sammy Watkins already and Barnes seems to be on the right track to take the second alternative off the board. Inexperienced Bay additionally has 4 different gamers, exterior linebacker Tipa Galeai, security Vernon Scott, offensive lineman Jake Hanson and receiver Randall Cobb, at present on the injured reserve.
In keeping with Ryan Wooden of the Inexperienced Bay Press-Gazette, Barnes started practising with the workforce on Wednesday which begins his three-week window to return to the workforce. If Barnes shouldn’t be activated by the tip of those three weeks, he’ll revert again to the injured reserve with out a return designation and won’t be able to apply with the workforce any longer.
This protocol was not too long ago used with working again Kylin Hill, who’s recovering from a 2021 ACL and commenced the season on the bodily unable to carry out listing. Hill began practising with the workforce on October twelfth and was activated right now as his three-week window was closing.
On Monday, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said that Barnes’ return might occur as quickly as this week. Inexperienced Bay is in want of some linebacker assist as starter, captain and All-Professional De’Vondre Campbell left final week’s recreation with a knee harm and was a non-participant in apply on Wednesday.
Barnes has began 23 video games for the Packers in his NFL profession. The 24-year-old was solely not too long ago changed by first-round rookie Quay Walker as a defensive starter. Barnes additionally performed on the workforce’s punt safety, which has continued to wrestle this season. With the discharge of working again Patrick Taylor, who performed in punt safety, the workforce is getting thinner in that unit this week.
Packers punter Pat O’Donnell has been pressured on 23.5% of his punts this season, the best fee confronted by a punter during the last 5 seasons.
O’Donnell additionally has the bottom common cling time (4.11 seconds) on punts this season.#StatThat pic.twitter.com/trIeO8XYjR
— Subsequent Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) November 2, 2022
To activate Barnes to the 53-man roster, the workforce wouldn’t must make a corresponding roster transfer. Even after the activation of Hill, the workforce is at 52 gamers, that means they’ve an open spot on the workforce. The apply squad additionally has an open spot, which is anticipated to be crammed by Taylor on Thursday. Taylor formally handed via waivers on Wednesday, which clears his return to the apply squad.