The Green Bay Packers have an open roster spot after releasing receiver Darrius Shepherd and tight end Evan Baylis and promoting returner Tremon Smith from the practice squad on Tuesday.
GM Brian Gutekunst could use that open roster spot to add either rookie tight end Jace Sternberger or safety Ibraheim Campbell this week.
Sternberger was designated for return from injured reserve. Considering the Packers released Baylis, who operated as the team’s fourth tight end, re-adding Sternberger to the 53-man roster might be most likely.
Sternberger, a third-round pick, could provide the Packers offense with another athlete at tight end and a potential situational weapon in the passing game.
The Packers could also bring back Campbell, who began practicing last week and is eligible to return from the PUP list. He tore his ACL last December but returned to Green Bay in August. Campbell’s ability to play in the box could help Mike Pettine’s defense, which has struggled to adjust at times to the loss of versatile safety Raven Greene.
The Packers could even clear another roster spot and bring back both players, although Gutekunst would still have another week to make a decision on the status of both Sternberger and Campbell.
The Packers didn’t make a move at the trade deadline, but the roster will still get help in the coming weeks. Can Sternberger can add another spark in the passing game? Will Campbell help shore up some of the defense’s issues in the middle of the field? The Packers may soon find out.
