The Green Bay Packers will have two offensive reinforcements available against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. On Saturday, the Packers activated wide receiver and kick returner Skyy Moore and running back Chris Brooks from injured reserve. The corresponding moves were placing tight end Josh Whyle (concussion) on injured reserve and waiving wide receiver Coleman Owen. Green Bay also elevated tight end Drake Dabney from the practice squad for gameday.

Brooks and Moore spent the past few weeks on IR while recovering from ankle injuries. Green Bay activated them on the eve of the game, which indicates both will be available against Minnesota. The timing matters for two reasons: the backfield is short-handed, and the Vikings bring one of the best special teams units in the league.

Chris Brooks fills a key backfield role

Brooks is a backup running back, but his role is bigger than that label suggests. He has been an important piece in pass protection, and he also handles third downs because he can run effectively and catch passes out of the backfield. Against a blitz-heavy Minnesota defense, that pass protection ability is particularly important.

Brooks actually leads the Packers with 4.9 yards per carry. That’s largely because he tends to be on the field on passing downs. When Green Bay hands him the ball in those situations, it works as a change of pace the defense usually isn’t expecting.

His return also comes at a necessary moment. The Packers won’t have Josh Jacobs, who broke his finger and had surgery on Friday. Green Bay still has running backs Kaleb Johnson, Pierre Strong, and MarShawn Lloyd available, but Brooks is an important part of that rotation and gives the offense a reliable option on passing downs.

Skyy Moore returns to a special teams battle

Moore was a Packers free agent signing this offseason, and his biggest contribution has come on special teams rather than offense. He returns both kickoffs and punts, and he was a key piece for Green Bay early in the season. Moore has averaged 16 yards per punt return and 27.5 yards per kickoff return.

While Moore was out, the Packers turned to Coleman Owen. A former undrafted player, Owen signed to the practice squad right before Moore’s injury. Green Bay first elevated him for one game, then promoted him to the 53-man roster.

The matchup also raises the stakes in the return game. The Vikings rank first in special teams DVOA. Getting production from a more talented returner against that unit is a significant upgrade for the Packers.

NFL practice squad rules

The third addition to the gameday roster is Drake Dabney, who’s been elevated for the second consecutive time. With Whyle out, Dabney complements a tight end room that also has Tucker Kraft, Mark Redman, and Jonnu Smith.

The NFL increased the practice squad size during COVID-19 and kept some of the adjusted rules. Of the 16 players, 10 must have up to two accrued seasons, while the other six have no restrictions. There’s also an extra spot for a player with an International Pathway Program exemption, which Green Bay is using for German kicker Lenny Krieg.

Throughout the season, teams can elevate practice squad players for gameday. Each player can be elevated three times for the same team without being a member of the active 53-man roster. After the game, the player reverts to the PS.

Packers’ practice squad

• David Blay Jr. DT
• Dalton Cooper T
• Elijah Culp CB
• Drake Dabney TE
• Jack Dingle LB
• Kenny Fletcher Jr. TE
• Domani Jackson CB
• D.J. Johnson EDGE
• Nyjalik Kelly EDGE
• Lenny Krieg K (IPP)
• Cam Miller QB
• Arron Mosby EDGE
• Isaiah Neyor WR
• John Saunders Jr. S
• Quincy Skinner Jr. WR
• Mazi Smith DT
• Dillon Wade G