Packers release FB Andrew Beck
The Green Bay Packers announced on Tuesday that they have released fullback Andrew Beck, who was activated for the Packers’ last three games, from their practice squad. Practice squad players are allowed to play up to three games before their elevations are exhausted for the season. This means that if we see Beck on the field for the green and gold again in 2024, he’ll have to be a member of the 53-man roster.
There’s precedent for this, as running back Patrick Taylor was let go from the Packers’ practice squad last season after exhausting his call-ups with the team. Taylor then signed with the New England Patriots’ practice squad before Green Bay poached him onto their 53-man roster following some injuries at the position.
Fullback, at least for the Packers, has a lot of carryover with tight end. Green Bay’s current tight end room is comprised of Tucker Kraft, Ben Sims and John FitzPatrick, who was picked up off of the Atlanta Falcons’ practice squad two weeks ago. Per NFL rules, a practice squad poach must remain on the 53-man roster for at least three weeks, so FitzPatrick — who has yet to be activated — will be on the active roster for at least one more week.
Mind you, Luke Musgrave, the team’s second-round pick from last year, is currently on the injured reserve but is designated to return. The Packers also lost another tight end, Tyler Davis, this summer. Messiah Swinson, who was poached off the team’s practice squad for three weeks at the start of the 2024 season by the Carolina Panthers, remains on the Packers’ practice squad.
On Monday, the Packers released long snapper Matt Orzech to make room for defensive tackle Jonathan Ford, who was at the end of his 21-day call-up window from the injured reserve, to sign with the 53-man roster. The most likely scenario here is that Beck was released so that Ford, now eligible for the practice squad since he was activated to the 53-man roster, can sign with the practice squad post-waivers and Orzech, a veteran who isn’t subject to waivers, can re-sign with the 53-man roster.
