Green Bay Packers sign RB Kenyan Drake, release James Robinson
The Green Bay Packers (6-6) signed veteran running back Kenyan Drake to their practice squad Tuesday and released fellow running back James Robinson in a corresponding move.
Green Bay also claimed cornerback David Long Jr. off waivers from the Carolina Panthers (1-11). Drake, in his eighth season in the NFL, appeared in two games this season for the Baltimore Ravens (9-3). He received one carry, rushing for zero yards and added 31 yards on two receptions.
Drake, a third-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft out of Alabama, spent three seasons with the Miami Dolphins (9-3), two with the Arizona Cardinals (3-10), one with the Las Vegas Raiders (5-7) and the last two in Baltimore. Drake has tallied 3,866 rushing yards on 4.5 yards per carry and 33 touchdowns as well as 218 receptions for 1,655 yards and eight scores.
The Packers have spent a majority of the season without star running back Aaron Jones. The 29-year-old has appeared in just seven games, rushing for 245 yards on a career-low 3.7 yards per carry and two touchdowns. Green Bay has instead had to rely on AJ Dillon, who has struggled to carry the load without Jones. He has rushed for 521 yards on 3.5 yards per carry and one touchdown.
Jones, who is nursing a knee injury, is hoping to return at some point this season.
“Like if it’s my ACL, then I’m done for the season,” Jones said last month. “I put in a lot of work, put in a lot of time to be here with these guys and for it to go out like that, I was feeling like, ‘Man I can’t catch a break.’ But caught a break. Hopefully, it’s not anything serious and I’m back here pretty soon.”
Jordan Love taking step forward for Packers
While the running game has been up and down, the Packers have seen substantial improvement out of quarterback Jordan Love — a big reason why Green Bay has won three in a row and four of its last five. Love was superb in the 27-19 Week 13 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs (8-4) Sunday, completing 25-of-36 passes for 267 yards and three touchdowns.
“It’s huge. For me personally, obviously, I’ve had this game circled for a long time,” Love said after the game. “It was my first start [against the Chiefs in 2021], obviously, I didn’t play how I wanted to the first game, so being able to see these guys again and get the victory is huge. This is a great team win tonight. Everybody just balled out, so it was an awesome win.”