Sports Illustrated’s Bill Huber is reporting that the Green Bay Packers have signed rookie running back Damon Bankston, filling their final vacancy on the team’s practice squad. Bankston was brought into Green Bay initially as a pre-draft visitor, but he ended up signing with the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent for $115,000 guaranteed, while the Packers opted to add Jaden Nixon — who was not kept on the practice squad after cuts — for $15,000 guaranteed.
The New Mexico product is an interesting prospect, as he posted a 4.43-second 40-yard dash during the pre-draft process but was overlooked by the major all-star games because he was a member of a committee backfield. At the college level, Bankston contributed not only as a one-cut runner, but also as a pass-catcher and a returner. Before transferring up to the FBS level, he was an all-conference player at Weber State in the FCS.
It appears that the Packers are transitioning to an outside zone-based offense, similar to what head coach Matt LaFleur ran earlier in his tenure in Green Bay. For what it’s worth, Bankston is a very good fit for that scheme.
Bankston had a workout with the Packers on Tuesday, and the following players were also brought in:
- QB Jack Plummer
- RB Phil Mafah
- RB Ian Wheeler
- TE Cody Hardy
- DB Sanoussi Kane
- DB Ambry Thomas
It’s possible that Green Bay is still looking for answers to practice squad bodies at quarterback, where they signed Kedon Slovis from the Arizona Cardinals, and tight end, where the team retained Drake Dabney, but it also makes a lot of sense that they’re keeping an eye on defensive backs, too. The team only has 11 total defensive backs available between the 53-man roster and the practice squad, barely enough to make a two-deep at the position once you include nickel defenders. Eventually, the Packers will probably want to add numbers somewhere on the team in the secondary.
With Bankston signed, here’s Green Bay’s full practice squad:
- QB Kedon Slovis (outside signing)
- RB Pierre Strong Jr.
- RB Damon Bankston (outside signing)
- WR Isaiah Neyor
- WR Chris Hilton Jr.
- TE Drake Dabney
- OL Dalton Cooper
- OL Josh Gesky
- OL Dillon Wade
- DL Jaden Crumedy
- ED Nyjalik Kelly
- ED/SPT Arron Mosby
- LB/SPT Kristian Welch
- CB Domani Jackson
- S Murvin Keninion III
- K Lenny Krieg (outside signing, international exemption)
- LS Scott Daly (outside signing)
