The Green Bay Packers are shutting down one of their rookie wide receivers for at least the next month ahead of Week 18’s game with the Minnesota Vikings.
According to the team’s transaction wire, the Packers placed third-round rookie wide receiver Savion Williams — who has been on the injury report with a foot injury since Week 10 — on the injured reserve list in a series of roster moves on Saturday, January 3.
Williams’ rookie season is now likely over; however, he would be eligible for activation to the 53-man roster after the conference championship round of the 2025 NFL playoffs if the Packers advance to the Super Bowl. Either way, he finishes his first regular season with 10 catches for 78 yards and a touchdown and 11 rushes for 37 yards in 12 games.
The Packers also placed offensive lineman Donovan Jennings on injured reserve and signed undrafted rookie wide receiver Jakobie Keeley-James and guard Lecitus Smith from the practice squad to the active roster to fill their respective roles in the rotation.
The Packers (9-6-1) will face the Vikings (8-8) on the road at 1 p.m. ET on January 4.
Matthew Golden Not Expected to Have ‘Premier’ Role
The Packers will still have one of their drafted rookie wide receivers — first-round pick Matthew Golden — available for the 2025 NFL playoffs, but the team is already trying to taper expectations for the type of role he will have for their offense in the postseason.
During his weekly press conference on New Year’s Day, Packers offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich told reporters not to expect Golden to have a “premier role” for them in the playoffs, largely because they have more “established” guys at their disposal.
“I think Golden’s got a really bright future,” Stenavich said on January 1 . “He’s very talented and his time will come, but I think, right now, with the room the way it is, he’s not gonna be in that premier role when the playoffs come around. But, again, if you told me that he’s the No. 1 receiver on a play, I’d be very excited about it, too. We have a lot of really good options when it comes to wide receiver right now, which is a blessing.”
Considering that stance, the Packers are not losing much with Williams’ IR placement.
Packers Also Hint at QB Decision With Roster Elevations
The Packers also made a pair of elevations from their practice squad during Saturday’s final window for roster moves before Week 18’s matchup with the Vikings, calling up tight end Drake Dabney and linebacker Jamon Johnson — both undrafted rookies.
What’s more telling about those roster moves, though, is that the Packers did not feel the need to elevate recently signed quarterback Desmond Ridder against the Vikings, indicating backup Malik Willis — who is questionable — will be available in the game.
Willis spent the week limited in practice with right shoulder and hamstring injuries, prompting the Packers to sign Clayton Tune from the practice squad to the 53-man roster and add Ridder off the free-agent market to take Tune’s practice-squad spot.
The Packers have already said they will start Tune at quarterback in the final game of the regular season, with no stakes at play that can impact their playoff seeding (No. 7). If Willis is cleared to play, it could be either him or starter Jordan Love — according to head coach Matt LaFleur — backing up Tune against the Vikings.
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