Packers reactivate Jamaal Williams & Kamal Martin from reserve/COVID-19 list

As the Green Bay Packers begin preparations for next Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the team will get two notable players back and available for that contest. On Monday afternoon, the Packers announced that they have activated running back Jamaal Williams and linebacker Kamal Martin from the reserve/COVID-19 list, placing them back on the active roster.

Williams and Martin went on the COVID list last week after contact tracing deemed them to be high-risk close contacts with running back AJ Dillon. Dillon reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 last week and remains on the reserve list.

All three of these players were inactive when the Packers defeated the San Francisco 49ers 34-17 on Thursday night. With a long week to prepare for the Jaguars, the Packers returned to the practice field on Monday, and Williams and Martin participated normally in that practice session. They should be ready to play on Sunday barring any further positive tests on the team.

Williams played in each of the Packers’ first seven games in 2020, starting three of them. He has carried the football 68 times for 294 yards and one touchdown and has added 23 receptions for 183 yards. That puts him on pace for career highs in receiving production this season. Martin made his NFL debut in the Packers’ week 7 victory over the Houston Texans. In two games (both starts), he has accrued nine total tackles (seven solo) in 71 snaps on defense.

The Packers are now down to three players on reserve/COVID: Dillon; linebacker Krys Barnes, who tested positive late last week; and quarterback Jordan Love, who is a close contact of Barnes due to the two players living together.