Green Bay Packers re-sign Bo Melton to practice squad, elevate him and 1 other for Minnesota Vikings matchup
· Yahoo Sports
The Green Bay Packers are preparing to take on the Minnesota Vikings in Week One of the 2026 NFL season. The biggest news of the eve of the matchup, of course, was the historic contract extension agreed to by star tight end Tucker Kraft. This ensures that he will not only be a viable weapon in the Packers offense this season, but also in years to come.
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That being said, having Kraft healthy and under contract were two major goals for the Packers this offseason, and they accomplished them both. Now, they can turn their full attention to the daily and weekly roster moves that they will need in order to be competitive this year.
The Green Bay Packers re-sign Bo Melton, elevate him and Kristian Welch
Dec 7, 2025; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers cornerback Bo Melton (16) celebrates scoring a touchdown in the second quarter against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Earlier this week, the Packers made some serious waves among their fanbase and beat writers when they released wide receiver Bo Melton. While no one views Melton as a top receiving threat, he is invaluable on special teams and provides vital pass catching depth.
On Saturday, it was reported that Melton was re-signed by Green Bay and added to their practice squad. However, they also elevated him to the active roster for Sunday along with linebacker Kristian Welch:
The Packers elevated WR Bo Melton and LB Kristian Welch for Week 1 against the Vikings.
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) September 12, 2026
This was the outcome that many expected when the news of Melton’s release first broke. Green Bay kept him on the 53-man roster for a reason. He is one of the best special teams players in the NFL and provides incredible leadership in the locker room.
Releasing him and then bringing him back to the practice squad ensures that the Packers do not need to guarantee his salary for 2026. It may not be the best look for the organization, but it is good business.
Welch has been a popular depth piece among fans for a couple of years. He played in eight games for Green Bay last season and recorded three total tackles. Like Melton, he saw most of his playing time come on special teams.
Due to the nature of both players’ roles on the team in the past, it has to be assumed that these elevations were made to support the special teams unit. This means that Green Bay is going to go into Week One with Marshawn Lloyd as their running back, newly acquired Kaleb Johnson as the backup, and Chris Brooks as the third back. Pierre Strong, who many thought would be elevated to backup Lloyd as Johnson continues to learn the offense, remains on the practice squad.
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