Packers activate Dominique Dafney, Malik Taylor, Ben Braden and JuWann Winfree ahead of Cardinals game

With multiple roster spots up for grabs going into Thursday, the Green Bay Packers had many potential moves that they could have made in terms of game-day activations today. Leading up to their Thursday Night Football matchup with the Arizona Cardinals, the team announced the following: activating tight end Dominique Dafney off of the injured reserve list, activating receiver Malik Taylor off of the reserve/COVID-19 list, elevating receiver Juwann Winfree from the practice squad, and elevating offensive lineman Ben Braden from the practice squad.

One would assume that you wouldn’t make these game-day activations without planning on playing the players activated, so assume that Taylor and Winfree are going to contribute on offense and special teams, alongside Equanimeous St. Brown and Amari Rodgers, the players who will fill out the wideout unit led by Randall Cobb. Winfree was given a “protected” designation on the practice squad by the team earlier in the week, meaning that this plan has been in motion for multiple days at this point.

The absence of tackle David Bakhtiari (knee) and receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (hamstring) means that they will not play today, despite being eligible to return based on their injury list designations. Valdes-Scantling made the trip to Arizona with the hopes that he could potentially suit up against the Cardinals.

It should also be noted that top wideout Davante Adams is not going to be cleared to play the game. Another receiver, Allen Lazard, attempted to get off of the reserve/COVID-19 list with a “close contact” designation through an appeal based around the idea that Lazard’s five-day testing window should have started on Saturday instead of Sunday, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The appeal failed, as the Packers were told on Wednesday, and Lazard, like Adams, will not play against the Cardinals.