The Green Bay Packers elevated cornerbacks Corey Ballentine and Kiondre Thomas from the practice squad to the gameday roster for Week 4. The move was announced Thursday, making Ballentine and Thomas available for Matt LaFleur and the Packers for Thursday night’s showdown with the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field.
The elevation is the second for Ballentine and first for Thomas. Ballentine was elevated for Week 3 against the Saints.
Buy Packers TicketsThe elevations reflect the team’s injury situation at cornerback, where Jaire Alexander is nursing a back injury and likely won’t play against the Lions and rookie Carrington Valentine has a biceps injury and is questionable to play.
Last week, Ballentine was on the field for 18 special teams snaps across five phases (he played over 100 special teams snaps for the Packers last season) and 30 snaps on defense. He was forced onto the field for Joe Barry’s defense after Valentine hurt his biceps in the first half. Ballentine gave up four catches but also had a key pass breakup on third down in the second half vs. the Saints.
Thomas could make his Packers regular season debut. He played in four games for the Chargers in 2021 but has not been on the field for the Packers in a regular season game despite spending most of the last two seasons on the team’s practice squad.
No roster move was made for running back Patrick Taylor, who was elevated each of the first three weeks. He’s out of elevations and would need to be signed to the 53-man roster to play for the Packers again this season.
All teams are allowed to elevate up to two players from the practice squad each week. An individual player can only be elevated from the practice squad three times per season, so Ballentine has only one more elevation available this season. Thomas has two. On Friday, both will revert back to the practice squad.
Elevations by week
Week 1: RB Patrick Taylor, DB Innis Gaines
Week 2: RB Patrick Taylor, DB Innis Gaines
Week 3: RB Patrick Taylor, CB Corey Ballentine
Week 4: CB Corey Ballentine, CB Kiondre Thomas
