GREEN BAY, Wis. – On Tuesday, the Green Bay Packers protected four of their practice-squad players, meaning they couldn’t be poached by another team this week.
Three were familiar names: quarterback Kurt Benkert, kicker J.J. Molson and long snapper Steven Wirtel. The fourth was receiver Equanimeous St. Brown.
And now we perhaps know why. The Packers are expected to place receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling on injured reserve, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Valdes-Scantling missed the end of last week’s game at San Francisco with an injured hamstring. With the Packers taking their usual long-term view of the season, they will take a conservative approach with their big-play receiver.