Packers signing TE Isaac Nauta to the practice squad, per source. Lions drafted him in the seventh round out of Georgia last year and released him a couple days ago.
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) December 8, 2020
The Green Bay Packers are adding a recent draft pick of the Detroit Lions and a capable blocker to the practice squad.
According to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic, the Packers are signing tight end Isaac Nauta to the team’s practice squad.
Nauta is a 2019 seventh-round pick of the Lions, who released him last Saturday.
Over 13 regular-season games and 101 offensive snaps with the Lions, Nauta caught three passes for 16 yards. Used mostly as a blocker, he received solid grades at Pro Football Focus as both a pass-blocker and run-blocker the last two seasons.
Of his 101 snaps on offense since entering the NFL, 74 have been blocking snaps.
The Packers could see Nauta as insurance against an injury to Marcedes Lewis, the team’s top blocking tight end, or even a young player they could groom to eventually take over Lewis’ role in Matt LaFleur’s offense.
Nauta was the 224th overall pick in 2019. Kyle Crabbs of The Draft Network described him as an “ace blocker” coming out of Georgia.
The Packers have 16 players on the practice squad, so a move to make room for Nauta is required. It’s possible the team could elevate a player from the practice squad to the active roster to clear a spot.
The Packers play the Lions on Sunday.
