Packers appear to have signed running back Mike Weber, likely to practice squad

With two of the team’s running backs unavailable for the immediate future, the Green Bay Packers have brought in a new player to help the depth at tailback for the time being. AJ Dillon remains on the reserve/COVID-19 list and Dexter Williams appears headed to injured reserve with an MCL sprain, so the Packers have evidently signed Mike Weber to serve as an emergency option.

Weber was present and practicing with the Packers on Wednesday as the team continued its preparations for Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. With the team now having three running backs available, it is unlikely that Weber will need to be elevated for the upcoming game, but with Williams likely out for a few weeks, he could see emergency duty should one of Aaron Jones, Jamaal Williams, or Tyler Ervin need to miss time.

The Dallas Cowboys drafted Weber in the seventh round of the 2019 NFL Draft, but he did not make the team out of training camp and spent the entirety of his rookie season on Dallas’ practice squad. He spent a portion of the 2020 offseason with the Kansas City Chiefs, but was released in early May and has been a free agent since.

At Ohio State, Weber had a solid three-year playing career before leaving for the draft after his redshirt junior season. In 2016, Weber gained 1,096 rushing yards on 182 carries — a six-yard average — as the team’s primary running back. He then split time with JK Dobbins as a sophomore and a junior, seeing his workload decrease a bit. Weber was often used as a receiver out of the backfield, catching 54 passes in three seasons. However, Weber was primarily used as a check-down option. At the 2019 NFL Combine, Weber measured in just under 5-foot-10 and at 211 pounds and posted a very solid time in the 40-yard dash at 4.47 seconds.

UPDATE: The Packers made the Weber signing official on Wednesday afternoon, indeed signing him to the practice squad. They did move Dexter Williams to the practice squad/injured list as well to open up the spot for Weber.