Saturday’s Packers Transactions: What They Mean vs. Saints

The Green Bay Packers elevated running back Patrick Taylor and cornerback Corey Ballentine, and the New Orleans Saints made a big move. Here's the breakdown.

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers have elevated running back Patrick Taylor and cornerback Corey Ballentine from the practice squad for Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints.

Here’s what those roster moves mean.

Elevated: CB Corey Ballentine

Star cornerback Jaire Alexander was an unexpected questionable on the injury report. He popped up on Friday with a back injury that had him limited participation.

“Just his back was acting up a little bit, so we’ll monitor that and we’ll see where he’s at,” coach Matt LaFleur said on Friday.

After about 24 hours of monitoring, Ballentine has gotten the call for depth and special teams.

If Alexander can’t go against the Saints, seventh-round rookie Carrington Valentine would join Rasul Douglas and Keisean Nixon in the starting lineup. Ballentine would be the next man up at a position group in which the Packers carried only four on the 53-man roster.

A sixth-round pick in 2019, Ballentine started two games for the Giants in 2019 and again in 2020. He’s mostly played special teams for the Packers, with just 17 snaps on defense in his eight appearances last year.

Safety Innis Gaines was elevated the previous two weeks for those snaps on special teams, so the move with Ballentine might not be related to the status of Alexander.

Alexander’s presence against the Saints seems vital given the firepower they have in their passing game, with quarterback Derek Carr being one of the top deep-ball artists in the NFL.

Elevated: RB Patrick Taylor

This marks the third consecutive week that Taylor has been elevated. In Week 1, Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon were healthy, so Taylor served as the No. 3 back ahead of rookie Emanuel Wilson. In Week 2, Jones was out with his hamstring injury, so Taylor and Wilson provided the depth behind Dillon. 

So, the elevation of Taylor might not mean anything in projecting the status of Jones. Jones was questionable on the final injury report and was limited participation at practice on Wednesday and Friday.

Taylor has six carries for 23 yards in two games. His 10-yard run against Chicago is the team’s longest aside from Jordan Love’s 24-yard scramble against Atlanta.

What is noteworthy is this is the last time the Packers can elevate Taylor from the practice squad. The next time they need him will require a promotion to the 53-man roster.

Moves Not Made

Along with Alexander and Jones, the Packers listed left tackle David Bakhtiari (knee), receiver Christian Watson (hamstring) and outside linebacker Lukas Van Ness (elbow) as questionable due to injuries.

Will Watson play? Even when he was inactive for the first two games, the Packers didn’t elevate seventh-round rookie Grant DuBose. For what it’s worth, Watson practiced on Wednesday and Friday.

Will Bakhtiari play? “We’ll see on gameday,” LaFleur said twice when asked about Bakhtiari on Friday. The Packers did not elevate tackle Kadeem Telfort from the practice squad, though Rasheed Walker, Yosh Nijman and Caleb Jones are on the 53 to provide quality depth.

Will Van Ness play? The Packers are strong at outside linebacker with Kingsley Enagbare and Justin Hollins behind Rashan Gary and Preston Smith. Van Ness did practice all week.

Big Saints News

Will the Packers have Alexander? Maybe; maybe not. What is certain is Saints will not have one of their starting cornerbacks. Paulson Adebo, who popped up on the injury report on Friday due to a hamstring injury, was downgraded from questionable to out on Saturday.

That’s a big loss. He’s started 31 of 32 career appearances. He had three interceptions as a rookie in 2021, including against Aaron Rodgers in the 2021 opener, and one this year. According to Sports Info Solutions, he’s allowed 6-of-11 passing for 71 yards in two starts this season.

Former Vikings starting cornerback Cameron Dantzler and former Packers safety Johnathan Abram were elevated from the practice squad.

More Green Bay Packers News

Here are our two big Saturday features.

Three reasons why the #Packers might lose:https://t.co/pfKllCOFFw

And three reasons why they might win: https://t.co/LH0THcXKJs

— Bill Huber (@BillHuberNFL) September 23, 2023

Three reasons to worry vs. Saints

Three reasons for optimism vs. Saints

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