Welcome to Green Bay, Johnny Lumpkin and TJ Luther!
On Tuesday, the Green Bay Packers’ off day this week, the team announced a couple of practice squad transactions: the release of running back La’Michal Perine and receiver Jalen Wayne and the signing of tight end Johnny Lumpkin and receiver TJ Luther. These moves, particularly the swap of a running back for a tight end, shouldn’t have been shocking considering the roster counts on the team.
Perine was signed by the Packers on August 30th and was one of three running backs on the 17-man practice squad before his release. Ellis Merriweather, who was elevated from the practice squad in Week 1, and Chris Brooks remain on the roster at the position. Meanwhile, the team didn’t have a single tight end on their practice squad — and only three total on their whole roster — after the Carolina Panthers poached Messiah Swinson to their 53-man roster in Week 1.
Lumpkin began his NFL career in New England as an undrafted free agent last season. After he was waived around the cutdown deadline, he signed with the Indianapolis Colts’ practice squad and then later the Denver Broncos’ practice squad, but he has been out of work since the end of the 2023 regular season. By the sounds of it, he’s a blocking tight end.
Luther is also a former undrafted free agent from the 2023 class. The Gardner-Webb product by way of Wofford originally signed with the New York Jets last season before landing on the New England Patriots’ practice squad. This summer, he was a member of both the Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers. Luther’s best trait might be returning kicks, as he managed to record returns of at least a long of 50 yards in three of his college seasons, despite playing just two games in the 2020 Covid season and not returning a kick as a senior.
