The Green Bay Packers elevated linebacker Michael Barrett and safety Omar Brown from the practice squad to the gameday roster for Week 18. The move was announced Saturday, making Barrett and Brown available for Matt LaFleur and the Packers for Sunday’s regular season finale against the Chicago Bears.
Brown has been elevated for the third straight week. The Packers will be without safeties Evan Williams (quad) and Zayne Anderson (concussion), necessitating the need for additional depth at the position behind expected starters Xavier McKinney and Javon Bullard. Brown played eight defensive snaps and six special teams snaps in the Packers’ win over the New Orleans Saints but was inactive last week in Minnesota.
Barrett, a rookie from Michigan, is up for the first time. The Packers won’t have Quay Walker again on Sunday, and it’s possible the team will want to protect Edgerrin Cooper, Isaiah McDuffie or Eric Wilson late in the game against the Bears.
The Packers signed Brown to the practice squad in late August. Barrett, a seventh-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks, was added to the practice squad in late November.
All teams are allowed to elevate up to two players from the practice squad each week. An individual player can only be elevated from the practice squad three times per season, so Brown is out of elevations. Barrett has two left. On Monday, Barrett and Brown will revert to the practice squad.
The Packers elevated at least one player during each of the first nine weeks. This is the fourth time in as many weeks that the Packers elevated at least one player.
Elevations by week
Week 1: RB Ellis Merriweather
Week 2: QB Sean Clifford
Week 3: QB Sean Clifford, CB Robert Rochell
Week 4: CB Robert Rochell, CB Kamal Hadden
Week 5: FB Andrew Beck
Week 6: FB Andrew Beck
Week 7: FB Andrew Beck
Week 8: CB Robert Rochell
Week 9: CB Kamal Hadden
Week 14: CB Kalen King
Week 16: S Omar Brown
Week 17: S Omar Brown
Week 18: LB Michael Barrett, S Omar Brown