The Green Bay Packers have signed LS Steven Wirtel (wur-TELL) from the practice squad to the active roster, signed DL Abdullah Anderson to the practice squad, placed QB Kurt Benkert on the practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list, released LS Hunter Bradley and LB Jaylon Smith, and released LB Aaron Adeoye (uh-DAY-oh-yay) from the practice squad. General Manager Brian Gutekunst announced the transactions Tuesday.
Wirtel is a 6-foot-4, 228-pound, first-year player out of Iowa State University who was signed to the Packers' practice squad on Sept. 2. He originally signed with the Detroit Lions in May 2020 as an undrafted free agent and spent the entire season on their practice squad. Wirtel signed with the Los Angeles Rams this offseason, but was released on Aug. 26. In four seasons at Iowa State, he did not miss a single game in his career (51 total) while handling all snapping duties.
Bradley, originally a seventh-round draft choice by the Packers in 2018, has handled all snapping duties for Green Bay over the past 56 regular-season games (2018-21) while also appearing in four playoff contests.
Smith played in two games with Green Bay after signing on Oct. 7.
Anderson (6-3, 303), a second-year player out of Bucknell that originally signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in May 2018, returns to the Packers' practice squad after spending the first two weeks of the season on it. He will wear No. 98 for Green Bay.
Per agreed-upon NFL-NFLPA policy, clubs are not permitted to comment on a player's medical status other than referring to roster status. Being placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list is for a player who either tests positive for COVID-19 or who has been in close contact with an infected person or persons.
