Packers Cut Jeremy Ross: Kick Returner Released After Key Fumble

On Sunday, Green Bay Packers kick returner Jeremy Ross fumbled his first kickoff return attempt as he tried to run under the ball and get his momentum moving forward before receiving the kick. This led directly to a touchdown on the next play by the Cincinnati Bengals, and a 14-0 lead for Cincinnati before the Packers offense ever touched the ball.

In the Packers' playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers in January, Ross fumbled a key punt at a critical point in the game, eventually leading to a Niners score. That fumble was one of the turning points in that game, which knocked the Packers out of the playoffs.

Evidently, the Packers have had enough of Ross' struggles holding onto the ball, and in a press release Monday afternoon Ted Thompson announced that Ross has been released from the team.

No corresponding roster move has been made to take his place, but this presumably means that the Packers will either promote Charles Johnson or Myles White from the practice squad to the active roster or they will be signing a free agent sometime in the near future. The return jobs now appear to be up for grabs as well, as candidates on the current roster include Johnathan Franklin for kickoffs, Micah Hyde for punts, and Randall Cobb for both.

More from Acme Packing Company:

• Packers vs. Bengals Reaction: Five Observations from Cincinnati's Win
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