With injuries to both linebacker and running back, the Green Bay Packers needed to add depth at both positions before traveling to Denver for a joint practice and preseason game against the Broncos. What additions? Rookie linebacker Chris Russell and former Packers running back Nate McCrary, who are on the field and practicing Wednesday.
With a full 90-man roster, moves had to be made. On Wednesday, the Packers released safety Tyler Coyle and rookie long snapper Peter Bowden, according to Pete Dougherty of PackersNews.com.
Russell is a free agent from Texas A&M, where he was a teammate of Packers rookie Edgerrin Cooper. McCrary spent part of training camp and played in two games with the Packers last summer. He most recently played in the UFL.
Coyle, who signed with Green Bay in January, made some plays in training camp but was stuck in a newborn, deep group. He went undrafted out of Purdue in 2023 but spent time with the Dallas Cowboys last season.
Bowden, a rookie out of Wisconsin, was released for the second time during training camp. The Packers released him on July 23 but signed him back a week later, on July 30. Bowden, a highly rated college long snapper, competed with veteran Matt Orzech. It’s possible the Packers could bring him back at some point when the depth chart isn’t as plagued by injuries.
