The Green Bay Packers signed RB Ryan Grant, placed RB Johnny White (concussion) on injured reserve, and signed T/G Shea Allard and S Chaz Powell to the practice squad. The transactions were announced Wednesday by Ted Thompson, Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations.
Grant, a 6-foot-1, 222-pound sixth-year player out of Notre Dame, played in 63 games with 52 starts for the Packers from 2007-11 and rushed for 4,016 yards (No. 5 in team history) and 25 TDs on 924 carries (4.3 avg.) over that span. He topped the 1,200-yard rushing mark in both 2008 and 2009, one of only three players in franchise history (Ahman Green, Jim Taylor) to do so in consecutive years. Grant was acquired by the Packers in September 2007 in a trade with the N.Y. Giants, the team that signed him as a non-drafted free agent in May 2005. Grant will wear No. 25.
Allard (Al-urd), a 6-foot-4, 305-pound rookie out of the University of Delaware, signed with the Packers as a non-drafted free agent in May 2012 after participating in Green Bay's rookie orientation camp on a tryout basis. He was with the team during the preseason before being released on Aug. 31. Allard was a three-year starter at left tackle for the Blue Hens, appearing in 42 career games with 33 starts. He earned first-team All-Colonial Athletic Association honors as a senior and third-team All-CAA recognition as a junior. Allard will wear No. 69.
Powell, a 6-foot, 203-pound rookie out of Penn State, entered the NFL as a non-drafted free agent with the Oakland Raiders in May 2012. He was with the Raiders during the 2012 preseason before being released on Aug. 27. Powell played both cornerback and wide receiver and returned kickoffs at Penn State, where he set school career records for kickoff returns (73) and kickoff return yards (1,886). Powell will wear No. 41.
