Packers elevate 2 from practice squad for Week 1 vs. Vikings

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JANUARY 4: Bo Melton #16 of the Green Bay Packers lines up for a play against the Minnesota Vikings in the second quarter of the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on January 4, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Green Bay Packers have announced that they've elevated two players, receiver Bo Melton and linebacker Kristian Welch, from the practice squad going into their Week 1 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. The Melton move was expected, but the addition of Welch from the practice squad also means that it's likely that linebacker Ty'Ron Hopper, who is on the injury report with an Achilles injury, is probably going to miss Week 1. Hopper is listed as questionable, as the only player ruled out for the Packers is defensive lineman Warren Brinson (calf).

Green Bay now has a pool of 54 players, rather than just the 53-man roster (the team has not backfilled after moving Melton down to the practice squad yesterday), to make up their 48-man gameday roster. They'll have to scratch six of the following players, including Brinson.

Quarterback

• Jordan Love
• Tyrod Taylor

Running Back

• MarShawn Lloyd
• Kaleb Johnson
• Chris Brooks

Receiver

• Christian Watson
• Matthew Golden
• Jayden Reed
• Bo Melton (PS call up)
• Sky Moore
• J. Michael Sturdivant

Tight End

• Tucker Kraft
• Jonnu Smith
• Mark Redman
• Josh Whyle

Offensive Line

• Jordan Morgan
• Aaron Banks (questionable)
• Sean Rhyan
• Jacob Monk
• Zach Bako-Bewele (questionable)
• Jager Burton
• Anthony Belton
• John Williams
• Donovan Jennings
• Travis Glover

Defensive Line

• Devonte Wyatt
• Javon Hargrave
• Karl Brooks
• Warren Brinson (out)
• Jonathan Ford
• Chris McClellan
• Anthony Campbell

Edge Defender

• Lukas Van Ness
• Barryn Sorrell
• Brenton Cox Jr.
• Dani Dennis-Sutton

Linebacker

• Zaire Franklin
• Edgerrin Cooper
• Ty'Ron Hopper (questionable)
• Isaiah McDuffie
• Nick Niemann
• Kristian Welch (PS call-up)

Cornerback

• Keisean Nixon
• Brandon Cisse
• Carrington Valentine
• Benjamin St-Juste
• Kamal Hadden

Safety

• Xavier McKinney
• Evan Williams
• Javon Bullard
• Kitan Oladapo

Specialists

• K Trey Smack
• P Daniel Whelan
• LS Matt Orzech

-

My guess for the six?

• DL Warren Brinson (already ruled out)
• LB Ty'Ron Hopper (presumably out with the Welch promotion)
• Two offensive linemen (who they will be will depend on who is healthy)
• One tight end (Smith and Whyle overlap as move tight ends, so I'm assuming Whyle)
• Probably another defensive lineman (likely to be Anthony Campbell)

Who would you keep active? Let us know in the comments section.

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