Earlier this offseason, the Green Bay Packers picked up former Houston Texans tight end Luke Lachey on waivers when he became available. Upon reporting to Green Bay , though, the Packers failed Lachey’s physical , even though the Texans didn’t waive him with an injured designation. Now, Lachey’s injury issues seem to be in the past, as Green Bay has brought him back the week after the team’s mandatory minicamp. As the Packers’ roster was at its 91-man limit, Green Bay had to make a corresponding roster move to make room for the addition of Lachey. General manager Brian Gutekunst decided to waive receiver Jakobie Keeney-James. Keeney-James was getting work as a returner, a job that might just end up going to free agent signing Skyy Moore in 2025. Keeney-James got playing time in one regular-season game as a rookie, his two-reception, two-kick return effort in the Packers’ JV game against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 18. A week later, in the playoffs, Keeney-James was displaced on the depth chart by fellow practice squad receiver Isaiah Neyor , who has drawn praise from head coach Matt LaFleur during spring practices. Lachey, a 2025 seventh-round pick, was picked out of Iowa by the Texans. He didn’t get into a regular season as a rookie, but was projected to be more of a Y-tight end than a pass-catcher. Considering Tucker Kraft ’s backups right now are more pass-catchers than in-line blockers ( Luke Musgrave and Josh Whyle ), it will be interesting to see if Lachey gains any momentum leading up to roster cutdowns later this summer
Minicamp is underway, and today marked Day 2 of the three-day snapshot of the team for Green Bay Packers fans. No one completely took over practice on Wednesday, like pass-rusher Lukas Van Ness did on Tuesday , but there was some news broken before, during and after practice. 17 players remain out for the Packers, including three of their tight ends. Because of their limited numbers at the position, both Josh Whyle and Messiah Swinson have been thrown into the lineup with the starting unit. There’s been little information given on the injury status of these players, as Green Bay doesn’t have to officially file an injury report until Week 1 of the regular season. As we mentioned yesterday, I’m hard-pressed to remember the last time a fifth-round (or later) rookie was getting opportunities to be thrown in the starting lineup like Jager Burton has. Generally, the Packers slow-play playing time, but with left guard Aaron Banks and right tackle Zach Tom out, Burton has been getting looks with the 1s. Interestingly, the Packers seem to be keeping Darian Kinnard as a tackle-only player, a role he played in 2025, rather than a combo guard-tackle, like Anthony Belton . For reference, Kinnard has played guard in the past in preseasons with other NFL teams. Here’s the big one: Tucker Kraft believes that he’s going to play in Week 1. This makes sense, based on his recovery timeline. As we’ve explained in the past, Kraft should be in game-ready shape by around mid-Augus t, even if he opens up training camp on the physically unable to perform list. Going into the regular season, the only injuries (we know of) that should impact participation should be Micah Parsons’ ACL tear and Jordon Riley ’s Achilles tendon tear. With Benjamin St-Juste out, Carrington Valentine has been consistently “starting” opposite Keisean Nixon , though he’s been rotated with second-round rookie Brandon Cisse. It will be interesting to see if anything changes whenever St-Juste can return to the field. For the second straight day, Nazir Stackhouse has been the team’s “starting” nose tackle. Keep in mind, Devonte Wyatt , Javon Hargrave (who could play nose) and Warren Brinson (who could play nose) have been out for all of minicamp. Truly, this is closer to the second-string defensive line than the first-string unit. Barryn Sorrell continues to hold down the edge rusher job opposite Lukas Van Ness, at least as long as Micah Parsons is out. Go ahead and pencil him over Dani Dennis Sutton and Brenton Cox Jr. as the early Parsons replacement. Speaking of LVN, head coach Matt LaFleur praised him after his performance on Tuesday, when he was the star of the show. Rookie draft pick Trey Smack didn’t kick today, but he did go 7 of 8 outside on Tuesday after going 5 of 9 in practice last week. Lukas Havrisik, who signed a reserve-future deal with the Packers after ending last season on the team’s practice squad, went a perfect 8 of 8 indoors on Wednesday. If you’re on kick returner watch, it doesn’t look like Keisean Nixon is really involved this offseason. Last year, Nixon and Josh Jacobs, who both got opportunities to be kick returners in the playoffs, worked with the unit throughout the summer. This time, only Jacobs is hanging around the group. Receiver Skyy Moore should be in the mix for the starting kick return job when he’s healthy, but today it was Savion Williams, the incumbent returner from 2025, and Bo Melton, a do-it-all special teamer, who were first up
The Packers have already extended WRs Jayden Reed and Christian Watson. The article discusses which other players on expiring contracts, particularly starters like TE Tucker Kraft and DE Devonte Wyatt, might receive extensions before the 2027 offseason, while noting that CB Keisean Nixon may be unlikely to be extended due to age and position
Tight end Luke Lachey, whom the Green Bay Packers picked up off waivers on Tuesday , had his physical failed by the team on Thursday and is now a free agent. Lachey, a Y tight end, was the type of tight end that the Packers’ room was missing. After the draft, general manager Brian Gutekunst admitted that the team was looking for an inline tight end, but that value didn’t present itself. Lachey didn’t have a failed physical designation when he was waived by the Houston Texans, who drafted him in the seventh round of the 2025 draft. This is the second tight end for whom the Packers have failed a physical this offseason, after undrafted rookie Eni Falayi failed a physical upon reporting with the team. Currently, Green Bay ’s tight end room is comprised of Tucker Kraft , Luke Musgrave , Josh Whyle , Drake Dabney, Messiah Swinson and RJ Maryland . The Packers have an open roster spot moving forward. In other news, rookie second-round pick cornerback Brandon Cisse has signed his contract, meaning all of the team’s draft picks are now signed. Former Green Bay defensive tackle James Ester, who was waived yesterday to make room for the waiver claim of receiver Brenden Rice — Jerry Rice’s son — was claimed by the Miami Dolphins
