The Green Bay Packers have waived eight players, including veteran tight end Tyrone Davis and quarterback Akili Smith, in beginning to reduce the team's roster to the NFL-mandated limit of 65 prior to Tuesday's 3 p.m. CDT deadline, GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman announced. Seven additional player moves will need to be made in advance of the deadline.
Also waived were two other veterans, tight ends Luther Broughton and Cory Geason.
One draft selection, wide receiver/kick returner DeAndrew Rubin of South Florida, a seventh-round pick, was among four first-year players let go. The others were running back Keith Burnell of Delaware, fullback Tommy Collins of Connecticut and offensive guard/tackle David Porter of Iowa.
Davis, an eight-year veteran, had not played since the Hall of Fame game against Kansas City August 4, suffering a knee injury that had sidelined him since. The 31-year-old University of Virginia alumnus, who had no receptions in the Chiefs contest, caught 71 passes for 780 yards and 13 touchdowns during six Packers seasons, including 18 for 250 yards and a career-high 7 touchdowns in 1998, his best overall season.
In 1999, playing in all 16 games for the only time in his career, he followed with a career-best 20 catches for 204 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Smith, who played in each of Green Bay's last three preseason games, posted a 47.5 overall passer rating, second among the Packers' four quarterbacks, based upon 15 completions in 29 attempts for 136 yards and one touchdown, with two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown in Saturday night's game against the Carolina Panthers.
Additionally, wide receiver Rob Johnson was waived/injured on Monday to make room on the roster for safety Scott McGarrahan, acquired in a trade with the Miami Dolphins.
