Packers Make Roster Move to Create Room for Eric Stokes

The Green Bay Packers released cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly to create a space on the roster that presumably will go to former first-round pick Eric Stokes.

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers released cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly on Tuesday, creating a roster spot that presumably will go to former first-round pick Eric Stokes when he is activated from injured reserve later this week.

Kelly, a fifth-round pick by the Ravens this year, was claimed off waivers four weeks ago and was inactive for Monday night’s loss to the Giants. Cornerback David Long, who was added off waivers last week, was on the gameday roster instead of Kelly, a hint that this move was coming.

Stokes has practiced the last two weeks and is ready to relaunch his season. He missed the start of the season following last year’s foot injury and made it through just two snaps in his season debut at Denver, when he injured a hamstring on special teams and landed on injured reserve.

Stokes is healthy and ready to go, having been full participation at practice last week.

Following the Packers’ transactions trend, Stokes will return to the 53-man roster on Saturday so long as he gets through the practice week with no trouble.

A first-round pick in 2021, Stokes had a superb rookie season, when he led the team in passes defensed and ranked among the league leaders in completion percentage allowed. However, he had a dismal 2022 before the injury. His completion percentage allowed went from 46.2 percent in 2021 to 73.9 percent in 2022, according to Sports Info Solutions, and his passes defensed went from 14 to zero.

This is Stokes’ third season in the NFL. That means the Packers need to make a decision on his fifth-year option this offseason. No doubt the Packers would love to get the ultra-athletic Stokes some action on defense before the season is over to guide the decision on the option and what direction they’ll go in the draft.

The Packers have gotten by with Carrington Valentine and Corey Ballentine as their corners with Jaire Alexander missing the last five games with a shoulder injury and Rasul Douglas traded to Denver.

Meanwhile, with their receiver corps slammed by injuries, the Packers signed Thyrick Pitts to the practice squad and released linebacker Austin Ajiake.

In four seasons at Delaware, Pitts caught 172 passes for 2,429 yards (14.1 average) and 23 touchdowns. He was a three-time all-conference selection.

Pitts went undrafted and spent training camp with the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots, then spent a couple days on New England’s practice squad.

Pitts measured 6-foot-1 3/4 and ran his 40 in 4.45 seconds. His Relative Athletic Score was 8.63.

At receiver, Christian Watson (hamstring) was inactive against the Giants and Jayden Reed (potential concussion) and Dontayvion Wicks (ankle) were injured in the fourth quarter.

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