Callahan, Clark join practice squad
GREEN BAY - Although they lost Taysom Hill to New Orleans, the Green Bay Packers were able to bring back another No. 3 quarterback to their 10man practice squad Sunday. They also brought back two of their young wide receivers.
Here’s a look at how the practice squad shapes up: Joe Callahan, QB
The Packers weren’t sure if either of the two quarterbacks they waived would get claimed, but if one did they planned on signing the other to the practice squad.
That’s exactly what happened.
The Saints claimed Hill off waivers and the Packers convinced Callahan to sign to their practice squad despite offers from two other NFL teams.
Callahan had a rough summer, completing 13 of 21 passes for 112 yards (75.9 rating) and fell behind Hill in the race for the No. 3 spot. DeAngelo Yancey, WR
Yancey, a 6-foot-2, 205-pound receiver who had a four-year career at Purdue in which he caught 141 passes for 2,344 yards and 20 touchdowns, was the Packers’ fifth-round draft selection in April.
His lack of major contributions on special teams most likely cost him a roster spot, but his impressive combination of size and athletic ability is undoubtedly a big reason he’s back on the practice squad. Michael Clark, WR
In terms of overall growth, Clark may have progressed more than any player on the 90man roster since the beginning of training camp.
The former Division I basketball player arrived in Green Bay with minimal knowledge of the receiver position and relied only on his athletic gifts. By the end of camp, Clark had worked his way into the discussion for a spot on the 53-man roster.
At 6-5 1⁄2 and 215 pounds, Clark proved to be the kind of weapon that was unguardable in certain situations. He made highlight-reel catches in almost every practice and dominated the best cornerbacks. Reggie Gilbert, OLB
It was a roller-coaster weekend for Gilbert, who might have been the first player left off the 53-man roster. Gilbert finished the exhibition season with possibly his best performance of training camp Thursday against the Los Angeles Rams.
He generated consistent pressure on the quarterback, including three hits in a quarter and a half, and was stout against the run as well. He wound up with four practice squad offers, one of which was from the Packers and had his choice of destinations.
But Gilbert enjoys living in Green Bay and recognizes the potential for playing time. Kofi Amichia, OL
The Packers drafted Amichia in the sixth round due in large part to the athleticism flashed at his pro day.
He posted a vertical leap of 331⁄2 inches, a broad jump of 9-6 and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.98 seconds. At 6-31⁄2 and 308 pounds, Amichia was, essentially, a height/weight/speed prospect.
The Packers shuffled Amichia through a number of positions during the early weeks of training camp, including center and both guard spots. He settled in at left guard on the secondstring offensive line but struggled against the level of competition. Donatello Brown, CB
Brown, who signed with Green Bay in April after three years as a starter for Division II Valdosta State, made a strong bid for the 53-man roster. In the final preseason game against the Rams, Brown read a throw by Dan Orlovsky perfectly in the second quarter for an impressive interception.
Three years ago, Brown was toiling at dead-end jobs, flipping burgers and working on cars. Now, he has a chance to practice with the team every week. Adam Pankey, OL
It seems the Packers made up their minds about Pankey fairly quickly because they stashed him in the third exhibition game.
Pankey, who was healthy throughout training camp, did not play a single snap against the Denver Broncos and then returned to the field for all 68 snaps against the Los Angeles Rams.
Pankey played left guard and left tackle during his career at West Virginia and was slotted everywhere except center during the course of training camp. He looked his best at left guard. Derrick Mathews, ILB
Mathews, a second-year player who stands 5-111⁄2 and weighs 232 pounds, was one of the biggest hitters in camp for the Packers this summer.
He spent 2016 on the Packers practice squad, after entering the league as an undrafted free agent and signing with the Washington Redskins. He played collegiately at Houston, where he finished fifth in school history with 400 career tackles. Izaah Lunsford, DL
Lunsford signed with the Packers one week after the draft. The 6-3, 310-pound defensive lineman finished his college career at Bowling Green State with 5.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss. Jermaine Whitehead, S
Originally signed as a free agent in May of last year, Whitehead spent time with the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers before landing with the Packers.
The 5-11, 195-pound Whitehead played at Auburn. He entered the league as an undrafted free agent after a college career that saw him start 33 of 48 games, finishing with 218 tackles, a sack, 15 pass breakups, nine interceptions and two fumble recoveries.
Whitehead dealt with a hip injury early in camp and couldn’t make up the ground necessary to compete for a roster spot.