Packers activate Kamal Martin from IR, promote Winn/Braden from practice squad

With the team’s roster dealing with injuries up and down the depth chart, the Green Bay Packers are getting some reinforcements at several positions. On Saturday, the team made a slew of roster moves, adding three players to the active roster and elevating two more from the practice squad to be eligible to play on Sunday against the Houston Texans.

First, the Packers activated rookie linebacker Kamal Martin off injured reserve, adding him to the 53 in time for Sunday’s game. He should make his NFL debut after missing the first five games with a knee injury he suffered late in training camp. The fifth-round pick appeared to be on track to earn significant snaps early in his rookie year prior to the injury, as he was reportedly one of the team’s best linebackers in the early part of camp.

With Christian Kirksey on injured reserve, Martin will likely earn some snaps as he competes with the likes of Ty Summers, Oren Burks, and Krys Barnes.

The Packers also officially processed the signing of linebacker James Burgess from the Atlanta Falcons’ practice squad. Burgess has been placed on the commissioner’s exempt list for this week, however, as the team evidently has received special dispensation to add him to the organization without needing to use a roster spot on him for this weekend’s game.

The Martin activation and Burgess’ addition to the exempt list kept the Packers’ roster at 51 players, and they filled up the 53 by signing a pair of linemen from the practice squad. Offensive guard Ben Braden just signed to the practice squad this week, but on Saturday the team promoted him to the 53 with the roster in need of healthy offensive linemen. The Packers also promoted defensive lineman Billy Winn, who was a gameday elevation twice previously. Both players project to be active with David Bakhtiari out and Montravius Adams questionable for the game.

With the 53 full, the Packers still had the opportunity to elevate another two practice squad players to be eligible for gameday, and they have done so with players at two other positions with injury questions. 2019 sixth-round draft pick Dexter Williams will be eligible to play on Sunday, as the team elevated him to provide potential insurance if Aaron Jones is unable to suit up. The same goes for safety Henry Black, who will likely play if starting free safety Darnell Savage — who is listed as doubtful — cannot take the field.

Keep it here at Acme Packing Company 90 minutes before game time on Sunday to see which players will be in uniform and which will sit against the Texans.