We all thought Carl Bradford should have made the Green Bay Packers’ final roster. He now gets that distinction.
Bradford, a 2014 fourth-round pick who was moved from outside to inside linebacker, was brought up off the practice squad on Saturday.
The Packers made the move because starting inside linebacker Jake Ryan will be out for Sunday’s game against Washington. The team was only carrying three inside linebackers, with Blake Martinez and Joe Thomas being the other two.
Martinez and Thomas are expected to start on Sunday, but the Packers had no depth with Ryan’s injury. It had been suggested that Clay Matthews could move back to the inside in the event of an emergency, but he has — it seems like he has refused — but we’ll just say he’s expressed reluctance to do so.
Matthews played on the inside the past season and a half.
To add Bradford, the Packers released tight end Justin Perillo. He had four catches for 35 yards on the season.
Perillo’s release is a good sign that Jared Cook will be able to play on Sunday. With or without Cook, the Packers’ tight ends have been unproductive this season. So losing one of them doesn’t really matter.