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The Green Bay Packers made a trio of roster transactions on Thursday leading into their preseason opener against the Houston Texans, and as a result they will be down a few available players for that first game.
In a surprising move, the Packers cut Corey Grant, the former Jacksonville Jaguars running back whom they signed just two weeks ago. Grant received a $60,000 signing bonus from the team and earned significant praise from offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, who had worked with him in Jacksonville. However, he was coming off a Lisfranc injury last year, and it is possible that the injury removed some of his effectiveness on the field.
Whatever the reason, Grant leaves Green Bay after spending just 14 days on the Packers’ roster. As a vested veteran, Grant is not subject to waivers and becomes a free agent immediately.
Joining Grant in receiving his release is outside linebacker Kendall Donnerson. He appeared on the transaction wire as being waiving with an injury designation, which could grant the Packers the ability to bring him back on injured reserve if he clears waivers. Donnerson, a seventh-round draft pick in 2018, was an athletic project who seemingly struggled to adjust to the NFL after playing Division II football in college. He spent most of 2018 on the practice squad before earning a late-season call-up to the 53; however, he did not dress on the active 46-man roster for any game last year.
Finally, the Packers added one player to the 90-man roster on Thursday, bringing that number back up to 89 before the game. The addition is a familiar name: safety Ibraheim Campbell, who returns after spending the second half of last season with the green and gold. Campbell made a great impression after coming over on waivers from the New York Jets, recording 18 tackles in just three games before tearing his ACL.
Campbell will begin 2019 on the physically unable to perform list as a result of that injury, giving the Packers the ability to keep him there until he is fully healthy following his rehab. If he remains on PUP into the regular season, he will have to miss the Packers’ first six games before being eligible to return. This move adds more depth to the Packers’ safety rotation, even if the team does not need Campbell to start the year.