Packers activate Vince Biegel, send Kentrell Brice to injured reserve, swap long-snappers

The Green Bay Packers announced a flurry of roster transactions on Friday afternoon, three days prior to their week nine game against the Detroit Lions.

First up is the decision to activate outside linebacker Vince Biegel to the 53-man roster. Biegel had been on the reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list, which kept him out of action for at least the first six weeks of the season. He began practicing immediately upon being eligible, which was prior to the week seven game against the Saints. He now is eligible to suit up on Sundays and takes the roster spot vacated when the Packers released Ricky Jean Francois.

However, the team also made four more roster transactions, sending two players to injured reserve while signing a free agent and promoting a player from the practice squad.

The players going on IR are safety Kentrell Brice and long-snapper Taybor Pepper. Brice has an ankle injury that has kept him out this week, but has started at strong safety in Morgan Burnett’s absence. Burnett will likely come back in that role, with rookie Josh Jones continuing to play the Nitro linebacker spot. Pepper, meanwhile, broke his foot in practice and will be out for the season.

To fill those empty roster spots, the Packers promoted cornerback Donatello Brown from the practice squad and signed long-snapper Derek Hart as a free agent.

Brown will likely provide some insurance for the Packers in the slot. Both Brice and Burnett had contributed in the slot at times this season — Burnett more so — but with the veteran likely playing more conventional safety moving forward they will need more help at corner.

Hart, of course, was the Packers’ long-snapper at the start of training camp but was replaced by Brett Goode towards the end of the summer. Both Goode and Pepper are now on injured reserve, necessitating Hart’s signing.

The Packers’ roster now sits back at 53 players after these moves.