Tag: Kenyan Drake

Packers re-sign CB David Long Jr. to practice squad, release RB Kenyan Drake

The Green Bay Packers made a swap of veterans on the practice squad on Friday, re-signing cornerback David Long Jr. and releasing running back Kenyan Drake. 

The Green Bay Packers made a swap of veterans on the practice squad on Friday, re-signing cornerback David Long Jr. and releasing running back Kenyan Drake.

Long’s return will provide an opportunity for the Packers to elevate him to the gameday roster for Sunday’s NFC Wild Card Round showdown with the Dallas Cowboys. Additional depth at cornerback might be needed with Jaire Alexander questionable to play because of an ankle injury and Eric Stokes on injured reserve.

The Packers claimed Long off waivers from the Carolina Panthers on Dec. 5. He played in three games (vs. Bucs, at Panthers, at Vikings) and was on the field for 14 special teams snaps as part of the 53-man roster for the Packers. Of his 14 snaps, 13 came covering kickoff returns.

Long previously played 190 defensive snaps while with the Panthers and Las Vegas Raiders this season. A third-round pick in 2019, Long played in 52 games over four seasons with the Los Angeles Rams.

Drake became expendable when Emanuel Wilson returned off injured reserve. A.J. Dillon is doubtful to play Sunday in Dallas, but Wilson and Patrick Taylor are both healthy behind starter Aaron Jones at running back.

Behind Alexander at cornerback, the Packers have Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine, Corey Ballentine and Robert Rochell on the 53-man roster. Zyon Gilbert and Anthony Johnson are first-year cornerbacks on the practice squad. Long is now the most experienced practice squad option.

The Packers will announce practice squad elevations on Saturday. If Long is to be available Sunday, he’ll first be elevated Saturday.

Packers elevate RB Kenyan Drake, WR Bo Melton from practice squad for Week 15 vs. Buccaneers

The Packers elevated RB Kenyan Drake and WR Bo Melton from the practice squad to the gameday roster for Week 15 vs. the Buccaneers.

The Green Bay Packers elevated running back Kenyan Drake and receiver Bo Melton from the practice squad to the gameday roster for Week 15. The move was announced Saturday, making Drake available for Matt LaFleur and the Packers for Sunday’s showdown with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Lambeau Field.

Drake was elevated from the practice squad last week in New York but did not appear in the game. The eighth-year pro signed with the Packers on Dec. 5 and will once again provide a veteran option at running back, where the team is dealing with injuries to both Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon. Jones has missed three straight ga but is planning to return Sunday, while Dillon has a broken thumb. Both are questionable to play.

Drake has 868 career rushes and 218 career catches over 103 regular-season games with four different teams.

While with the Ravens last year, Drake rushed for 62 yards and caught a touchdown pass in a win over the Buccaneers.

Melton, who signed to the active roster before the Packers beat the Lions on Thanksgiving, provides much-needed depth at wide receiver. Dontayvion Wicks is questionable, Christian Watson is doubtful and Jayden Reed is dealing with an ankle injury.

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 Drake has one elevation remaining. Melton has two more. On Monday, Drake and Melton will revert back to the practice squad.

Elevations by week

Week 1: RB Patrick Taylor, DB Innis Gaines
Week 2: RB Patrick Taylor, DB Innis Gaines
Week 3: RB Patrick Taylor, CB Corey Ballentine
Week 4: CB Corey Ballentine, CB Kiondre Thomas
Week 5: CB Corey Ballentine
Week 7: None
Week 8: None
Week 9: DB Innis Gaines
Week 10: None
Week 11: S Benny Sapp III
Week 12: S Benny Sapp III, FB Henry Pearson
Week 13: RB James Robinson, FB Henry Pearson
Week 14: RB Kenyan Drake
Week 15: RB Kenyan Drake, WR Bo Melton

Packers elevate RB Kenyan Drake from practice squad for Week 14 vs. Giants

The Packers elevated RB Kenyan Drake from the practice squad to the gameday roster for Week 14 vs. the Giants.

The Green Bay Packers elevated running back Kenyan Drake from the practice squad to the gameday roster for Week 14. The move was announced Monday, making Drake available for Matt LaFleur and the Packers for Monday night’s showdown with the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium.

Drake, who signed in Green Bay on Dec. 5, will give the Packers a veteran option at running back behind A.J. Dillon and Patrick Taylor. The elevation is an obvious response to the availability of Aaron Jones, who is not expected to play for a third consecutive game due to a knee injury.

Drake, now in his eighth NFL season, has experience as a runner, pass-catcher and kick returner. His presence may allow the Packers to use Taylor on more special teams units.

Earlier this week, coach Matt LaFleur said Drake had done a “nice job” absorbing the offense and handling his duties in walk-through portions of practice.

Drake played in two games with the Baltimore Ravens this season, rushing once for no gain and catching two passes for 31 yards. Between 2020 and 2022, Drake produced 2,208 yards and 18 total touchdowns across 39 games with three different teams.

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 Drake has two elevations remaining. On Tuesday, Drake will revert back to the practice squad.

Elevations by week

Week 1: RB Patrick Taylor, DB Innis Gaines
Week 2: RB Patrick Taylor, DB Innis Gaines
Week 3: RB Patrick Taylor, CB Corey Ballentine
Week 4: CB Corey Ballentine, CB Kiondre Thomas
Week 5: CB Corey Ballentine
Week 7: None
Week 8: None
Week 9: DB Innis Gaines
Week 10: None
Week 11: S Benny Sapp III
Week 12: S Benny Sapp III, FB Henry Pearson
Week 13: RB James Robinson, FB Henry Pearson
Week 14: RB Kenyan Drake

Former Alabama RB Kenyan Drake signs with Packers practice squad

Former Alabama running back Kenyan Drake will join the Green Bay Packers practice squad.

On Tuesday, the Green Bay Packers signed former Alabama running back Kenyan Drake to their practice squad. In correspondence with the move, the Packers released running back James Robinson from the practice squad.

Drake joined the league in 2016 when he was drafted in the third round by the Miami Dolphins. The Georgia native spent four seasons with the Dolphins before being traded to the Arizona Cardinals.

He would go on to spend two seasons with the Cardinals organization. Since then, Drake has been a member of five different organizations. He has spent time with the Las Vegas Raiders, Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts, Cleveland Browns, and now the Green Bay Packers.

Drake has had to overcome a lot in his college and professional career. It will be intriguing to see if he can earn a spot on the Packers’ active roster in due time.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Drake’s professional career as well as other former Alabama players in the NFL.

Packers sign RB Kenyan Drake to practice squad, release RB James Robinson

The Green Bay Packers swapped one veteran running back on the practice squad for another on Tuesday

The Green Bay Packers swapped one veteran running back on the practice squad for another on Tuesday. The team announced the release of running back James Robinson from the practice squad and the signing of running back Kenyan Drake.

Robinson, a practice squad elevation in Week 13, played four snaps during the Packers’ 27-19 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. He carried once for two yards and caught one pass for -2 yards.

Taking his place will be Drake, a 2016 third-round pick who has played in 103 career NFL games. He was recently released from the practice squad of the Cleveland Browns. The Packers will be Drake’s fourth team in 2023; he previously spent time with the Browns, Baltimore Ravens and Indianapolis Colts.

Drake appeared in two games for the Ravens this season. He carried once for no gain and caught two passes for 31 yards (long of 24). Last season, Drake played in 12 games for the Ravens, producing 571 total yards and five scores.

The Packers are getting experience and versatility from Drake, who has 868 career carries, 218 career catches and 41 career kickoff returns over 3,016 snaps on offense and 457 on special teams.

It’s possible Drake will be an immediate practice squad elevation candidate and a valuable insurance option at running back should the team want to move on from Patrick Taylor when Aaron Jones (knee) is healthy enough to play again. Taylor was claimed off the Patriots practice squad and is required to be on the roster for at least one more game.

The Packers also made official the addition of cornerback David Long, who was claimed off waivers from the Panthers on Monday.

Browns swap out Kenyan Drake to bring back John Kelly Jr. to the practice squad

The Browns have made a couple of practice squad moves…

The Cleveland Browns continue to churn their practice squad. This time, they bring back a familiar face to the running back room by signing John Kelly Jr. to their reserve unit. To make room for Kelly, the Browns have parted ways with another practice squad running back, releasing Kenyan Drake.

Kelly Jr. has been a member of the Browns’ practice squad off and on for the last three seasons. He was on the training camp 90-man roster as well and was allowed to win the third running back job. He did not perform in the preseason as expected, leading to the decision to acquire Pierre Strong Jr. from the New England Patriots.

This move is relatively non-consequential as the addition of Kelly will not add or subtract any wins from the remainder of their schedule. Do not expect any gameday elevations for Kelly unless we see a significant injury to one of Jerome Ford, Kareem Hunt, or Strong.

The Browns have also waived cornerback Thomas Graham Jr. with an injury settlement.

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Cardinals, Browns have 1 small player connection

While no players on either team’s active roster played for the other team, RB Kenyan Drake, a former Cardinal, is on Cleveland’s practice squad

The Arizona Cardinals and Cleveland Browns face one another in Cleveland this weekend in Week 9. On their 53-man rosters, there are no player connections.

No Cardinals players played for the Browns and no Browns players on the active roster played for the Cardinals.

There is, though, one new connection between the two teams.

On the Browns’ practice squad is running back Kenyan Drake, whom they added this week.

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Drake played for the Cardinals in the second half of the 2019 season and all of 2020. He had a career game for the Cardinals against the Browns in 2019, scoring four touchdowns and 137 yards in a 38-24 Arizona win.

We will see on Saturday if he is elevated to the active roster and gets to dress for the game.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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Former Alabama RB Kenyan Drake signs with Cleveland Browns practice squad

On Monday, former Alabama running back Kenyan Drake was signed to the Cleveland Browns practice squad.

On Monday, the Cleveland Browns signed former Alabama running back Kenyan Drake to their practice squad. Prior to signing with the Browns, Drake spent some time with the Baltimore Ravens this season.

Drake played at Alabama from 2012 to 2015. He was well-known for his 95-yard kick return for a touchdown against Clemson in the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship. Following his four years in Tuscaloosa, Drake entered the NFL Draft.

He was drafted in the third round by the Miami Dolphins. Drake spent four seasons with the Dolphins organization. During the 2019 season, Drake was traded to the Arizona Cardinals.

Since then, Drake has spent no longer than one season with an organization. He has played for the Las Vegas Raiders, Baltimore Ravens, and Indianapolis Colts.

Now, Drake will have the opportunity to work his way up from the practice squad. This is a good chance for Drake to turn some heads as he looks to make the Browns’ active roster soon.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow former Alabama players in the NFL and other news regarding the Alabama football program.

Browns add Kenyan Drake among a flurry of practice squad roster moves

Cleveland has re-arranged their practice squad

The Cleveland Browns, on the day of the trade deadline, have been quite busy. However, none of it has anything to do with making a trade. Instead, the Browns have made a flurry of moves to their practice squad roster, including the addition of veteran running back Kenyan Drake. The former Alabama running back was in Cleveland for a workout last week, and now finally lands on the practice squad a few days later.

Drake teased his signing to the Browns this morning on Twitter, but now the news is officially official. While the Browns have been busy reconstructing their practice squad, do not discount general manager Andrew Berry from making a trade before the 4 PM deadline today. The team is rumored to be interested in bringing back quarterback Jacoby Brissett, as well as dipping their toes in the wide receiver market.

For now, however, here are all of the moves the Browns made to their practice squad today.

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RB Kenyan Drake hints he is signing with the Browns

Have the Browns added another running back?

It appears the Cleveland Browns may have signed another running back. The source? The running back himself Kenyan Drake has tweeted out a GIF of Cleveland Browns imagery. While it is unlikely Drake will be added to the active roster, he did work out for the Browns last week.

The Browns signed three running backs to the practice squad a week ago as Nate McCrary, John Kelly Jr., and Jordan Wilkins were added to the reserve unit. This could mean that one of them has been released from the practice squad to make room for Drake.

It is highly unlikely that Drake has been signed to the active roster, as the three-headed attack of Kareem Hunt, Jerome Ford, and Pierre Strong Jr. has begun to take effective shape.

There is still no confirmation that Drake has signed, but given his workout a week ago and this quite specific tweet, it seems likely.

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