Each NFL team can use eight activations from the injured reserve in the regular season, with two more in the postseason if teams qualify, per league rules. How the Green Bay Packers manage these returns could define their season down the stretch, as they may have to pick and choose who comes back if they have more options than return designations by the end of the season.
Let’s walk through the Packers’ options.
Brought back
- WR Savion Williams
The Packers have already used two of their eight potential activations this season on receiver
Savion Williams and edge defender Collin Oliver, who were both placed on IR at the cutdown deadline with return designations. Williams has already been activated, and he’s currently the team’s starting slot receiver after both Jayden Reed and Skyy Moore went down with injuries.
Potentially can bring back
- ED Collin Oliver (already designated to return – can return now)
- DL Warren Brinson (can return now)
- RB Chris Brooks (can return now)
- WR Skyy Moore (Week 10)
- DL Jonathan Ford (Week 10)
- OL Jacob Monk (Week 13)
Oliver (calf) has not been brought back yet, but the team has pre-paid his return against the team’s return count with his designation at the cutdown deadline. He’s able to come back to the team immediately, and has been since Week 5.
Defensive linemen Warren Brinson (calf) and running back Chris Brooks (ankle) also have missed four games of action, which means they can also return to the active roster this week, if that’s what the Packers choose.
The players yet to miss four games, the minimum for players who are placed on the injured reserve, are receiver Skyy Moore (ankle), defensive lineman Jonathan Ford (calf) and offensive lineman Jacob Monk (quadriceps). Moore and Ford have windows that open for their return to the active roster next week, while Monk must wait until at least Week 13.
So if you’re counting at home, the Packers have used two of their eight return options (Williams and Oliver) and have five options left for their last six return spots — and the calendar just turned to November.
Out for the year
- WR Jayden Reed
- TE Thomas Yassmin (reverted to IR after being unclaimed with injured designation)
- OL Zach Bako-Bewele
- DL Javon Hargrave
- LB Edgerrin Cooper
- S Johnathan Baldwin II (reverted to IR after being unclaimed with injured designation)
The players above have either been reported to have season-ending injuries or are players who were waived with injury designations, went unclaimed, reverted to the Packers’ injured reserve and the team has not paid them an injury settlement. That’s a really wordy way to say that Green Bay appears to be squatting on the rights to tight end Thomas Yassmin and safety Johnathan Baldwin II, as they likely want those players to be members of the 2027 roster.
PUP List
- TE Luke Musgrave
- ED Micah Parsons
For the sake of avoiding the “Where’s Micah Parsons?” questions, these are the Packers’ players who began the season on the physically unable to perform list. These players do not count against Green Bay’s injured reserve count. They are allowed to return whenever the Packers wish, at this point in the season.
Green Bay has hinted at Micah Parsons opening his 21-day practice window this week, while there has been no timeline provided on the Luke Musgrave front.
