The Green Bay Packers have signed RB Patrick Taylor to the active roster from the practice squad and signed LB Tim Ward and WR Dede Westbrook to the practice squad. General Manager Brian Gutekunst announced the transactions Tuesday.
Taylor has spent the season on the Packers' practice squad and active roster. He originally joined the Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2020 and has played in 16 regular-season games for Green Bay, including seven this season.
Ward (6-6, 255) is a third-year player out of Old Dominion University that was originally signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2019. He started the only game he played for the Chiefs in his two seasons in Kansas City (2019-20). After being released by the Chiefs following the 2021 training camp, Ward was claimed by the New York Jets. Last season, he played in 11 games for the Jets. For his career, Ward has registered 17 tackles (10 solo), a sack, two passes defensed, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. He will wear No. 57 for the Packers.
Westbrook (6-0, 178) is a sixth-year player out of Oklahoma University that was originally a fourth-round pick (No. 110 overall) of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2017. He spent four seasons with the Jaguars (2017-20) and one season with the Minnesota Vikings (2021). For his career, Westbrook has played in 55 games with 25 starts, registering 170 receptions for 1,788 yards (10.5 avg.) and nine touchdowns as well as 14 carries for 125 yards (8.9 avg.). He also has returned 69 punts for 644 yards (9.3 avg.) and a TD and 50 fair catches. On kickoffs, Westbrook has averaged 18.0 yards on seven returns. He will wear No. 80 for the Packers.
TE Josh Babicz will now wear No. 49.
