Packers sign former Jaguars running back Corey Grant

The veteran back brings value on special teams and fills the roster spot left open by the release of Mike Daniels. 

With the release of Mike Daniels, the Packers had one spot remaining on their 90 man roster. On Thursday evening they made a move to fill it. 

The team has signed former Jacksonville Jaguars running back Corey Grant, according to his agency. 

Grant is coming off a Lisfranc injury  suffered during the Jaguars' loss to the Chiefs in early October last season. 

The 5' 11" back out of Auburn finished his Jaguars career with 454 yards on 81 carries with three touchdowns, chipping in 18 receptions for 156 yards and a touchdown as a receiver out of the backfield. He should be an immediate special teams contributor. 

 

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1 points
 

Comments (45)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
PatrickGB's picture

July 26, 2019 at 08:40 am

“ coming off a lisfranc injury”...aren’t those injuries supposed to linger? So now we have two running backs prone to injury? Not a complaint here, just a worry. We let Daniels go because no one would accept a trade because of injury yet we pick up an injured player? Help me out here.

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Leatherhead's picture

July 26, 2019 at 09:19 am

I had that and it takes forever to heal.

Probably a camp body but if we’re planning to run we need people to carry the rock.

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Coldworld's picture

July 26, 2019 at 02:13 pm

Looks like he injured it earlier. He was apparently being courted by several teams, but I doubt for a cap hit in the vicinity of Daniels’.

Interesting player, in 2017, Grant averaged 8.3 per carry over 30 attempts and produced two rushes over 50 yards. Makes me wonder why they didn’t use him more.

He has elite agility and is possibly faster than anyone on the roster I think. They did put a second round tender on him for 2018, but then he got injured. He is 27, but familiar with the system and has decent hands as well as being a special teams standout.

Just as interestingly, he is a kick returner, both at college and in the NFL, with a better kick return stat line than Davis. I could only find evidence of one punt return in college.

Hackett was his OC and apparently was used by Gute to persuade him to come to the Packers. If he is healthy, my guess is he will be on the roster.

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Rak43's picture

July 26, 2019 at 11:04 pm

I think so too Coldworld. He has a very intriguing skill set that could help the Packers immensely. I would like to know how his blocking is, but even still he can run very well and catch, as well as kick return and play on all the special teams units. I think this is a very solid signing by Gute.

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YouAskedForThis's picture

July 26, 2019 at 09:46 am

"We let Daniels go because no one would accept a trade because of injury".

Some how I think Daniels $10M Salary played a role.

As far as signing RB Grant - Guy can cruise and one would think Nathaniel Hackett gave his blessing. Not going to get too excited over a fringe roster add....5th string RB at this point. Pretty low odds he makes the final roster.

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Coldworld's picture

July 26, 2019 at 02:14 pm

I think you may be wrong on those odds

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holmesmd's picture

July 26, 2019 at 10:51 am

Someone must always sit in the worry chair;)

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CoachJV's picture

July 26, 2019 at 04:36 pm

2 Running backs prone to injury??? I suppose you're on the bandwagon that believes Aaron Jones is "injury prone"?

Well, he's not... and if you looked at the actual facts surrounding his time missed, the circumstances, the dynamics... you'd know that had the Pack had a shot at the playoffs last year, Jones would have played in those last two games, even with an MCL sprain... and it was a light sprain too. He easily could have suited up and played with a brace or heavy wrap.

So, because it was smart to keep him off the field in two games that don't matter, that makes him injury prone?

And it was the same the year before... the real difference there though was MM preferred Williams over Jones... so why not just put him on IR since the season was dead anyway?

MCL sprains are not much different than pulling a hammy... they won't make you miss a season, and they're nothing compared to the dreaded ACL tear.

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Since'61's picture

July 26, 2019 at 08:40 am

Underwhelming. Probably camp fodder. Thanks, Since ‘61

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GBPDAN1's picture

July 26, 2019 at 01:54 pm

Non risk signing with possible reward. The guy is a speed demon. I'm good with this

3 points
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Rak43's picture

July 26, 2019 at 11:46 pm

Have to disagree on this one 61. Corey Grant ran an official 4.26 at his pro day! A 4.26 wow! Several scouts in attendance clocked him at 4.19. Double wow! Both times would have been the fastest at the combine that year surpassing J.J. Nelson's 4.28. He only carried 135 times at Auburn playing behind some very good backs like Kerryon Johnson and Tre Mason. Once with the Jags he averaged 5.6 yards per carry with two runs over 50 yds on just 81 carries. He sounds similar to Aaron Jones except he's more versatile. At 5'11 205 pounds he is very similar in size to Jones. He's also a Special teams mainstay and returns kicks. I have a strong feeling he will make the Packers 53 man roster. Unless his injury hasn't fully healed and holds him back.

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Coldworld's picture

July 27, 2019 at 08:41 am

Belichick on Grant:

“They use him a lot of different ways,” added Belichick. “Very productive player in the kicking game, and they use him on a lot of their gadget-type plays – reverses and fake punts and so forth. He’s been very productive on those. And then offensively, he’s fast. He’s gotten out in space against us several times. Had a long run in preseason, had at least three catches against us in the [conference] championship game. So, he’s tough, he runs hard. He’s got good skills with the ball as a receiver, as a returner.”

... “He’s a guy we need to make sure we do a good job on,” said Belichick.

Source patspulpit.com 09/15/2018

Nathaniel Hackett had this to say:

"I thought Corey - once again, he's a guy that stepped in [last season] and did a great job there at the end - and he's just a guy we've got to get out there. There's all these guys we're talking about and it's a long ways away from that first game to see what we're going to get but I'd love to put him out there because he's a major change-of-pace back."

... "He's a guy that can catch the ball from the backfield," Hackett said. "Every time we've given him the ball in the backfield, he's done really good things.“

Source: firstcoastnews.com 05/30/2018

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Handsback's picture

July 26, 2019 at 09:36 am

The Packers need camp bodies at rb just to make sure they don't overwork the starters. Very similar to QBs. Who knows...this guy has some decent stats.

3 points
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Southside's picture

July 26, 2019 at 09:38 am

Ran a 4.28 forty. Speed kills.

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Southside's picture

July 26, 2019 at 09:41 am

Additional info from his pro day............

Former Auburn running back Corey Grant reportedly was clocked at 4.19 in the 40-yard dash at the school's pro day on Tuesday. Grant's other two unofficial times reportedly were 4.24 and 4.27

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Lare's picture

July 26, 2019 at 10:30 am

Also has quite a bit of experience as a kick returner.

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Leatherhead's picture

July 26, 2019 at 11:02 am

When you read through his resume it looks like the Packers are going to look as him as a return guy. I can’t find any fumbles with his name on them. He’s probably the fastest guy on the field. He was on IR last year.

Of course I’m looking for something splashy like Duke Johnson but this is a smaller move that strengthens us .

5 points
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Coldworld's picture

July 26, 2019 at 02:17 pm

One fumble in his pro return career. This guy averaged 8.3 yards per run in 2017 earning a second round tender before getting injured, can catch and return. This guy is more interesting to me than Johnson.

3 points
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Leatherhead's picture

July 26, 2019 at 02:42 pm

Johnson has proven himself, with 3500 yards from scrimmage in four years without missing a single game. If we could add him to Jones and Williams all we’d need to do is feed those road graders up front. I think we could grind that against the Bears, or anybody else.

I think we should have 3 RBs on the gameday roster, with another on the 53, and at least one on PS. Dexter Williams is probably in the mix. But we could actually use Johnson AND Grant on the 53 and put Williams on the PS.

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Samson's picture

July 26, 2019 at 05:53 pm

Johnson is a Cleveland Brown.
At this point, they aren't trading him to anyone, including the Pack.
Reality does matter.

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CoachJV's picture

July 27, 2019 at 08:51 am

Road Graders up front? Grind against the Bears?

Do you really understand how LaF's wide zone is going to work? It doesn't use road graders or backs that have to grind for yards... this OL is going to have to move laterally, move quickly, and move in unison... not the "Old School" way of 'run for daylight'...

This guy is probably here to compete with Trevor Davis as the Return man.

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OnWisconsinGoPack's picture

July 26, 2019 at 10:32 am

Potential 3rd back if Dexter can sneak on to PS maybe? Use him on hey sweeps and special teams and cut Trevor.....

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JohnnyLogan's picture

July 26, 2019 at 10:38 am

Will make the team and lead the league in rushing while scoring ten combined kickoff and punt returns. Remember what I said.

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holmesmd's picture

July 26, 2019 at 10:56 am

That injury he’s coming off of is no joke. Can he still run as fast? I would assume GB worked him out and thought he can? Those 40 numbers are beyond elite! They would actually make him the fastest player in the NFL....ever. Something isn’t really adding up here. You can never have enough speed though, that’s for sure

3 points
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Coldworld's picture

July 26, 2019 at 02:21 pm

I’ve had a Lisfranc. It doesn’t stop you running permanently, but there is healed and completely over it. Obviously severity factors in too, but 9 months could well be back to normal. Not speaking from medical expertise, just experience.

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PackfanNY's picture

July 26, 2019 at 11:03 am

Maybe a commitment to improving the special teams for this one?

5 points
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Southside's picture

July 26, 2019 at 11:31 am

The Packers also announced the signing of former Wisconsin defensive lineman Olive Sagapolu, and both players were participating Friday in Day 2 of training camp practice.

4 points
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Coldworld's picture

July 26, 2019 at 02:27 pm

So I don’t follow the Badgers, but friends that do felt this guy was a rock (albeit one able to do backflips). He too had a bad injury, but why was he available at this point even so? Was it just timing for passing his physical and we grabbed him?

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Doug Niemczynski's picture

July 26, 2019 at 08:34 pm

Definitely very athletic. I know I could never do a back flip.

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Samson's picture

July 26, 2019 at 03:31 pm

"Olive Sagapolu (oh-LEE-vay SONG-uh-POE-loo) is a 6-foot-2, 331-pound rookie out of the University of Wisconsin. In four seasons with the Badgers, he played in 44 games with 26 starts and registered 61 tackles (31 solo), 10 tackles for a loss, six sacks, an interception, a pass defensed and a fumble recovery."

2 points
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Samson's picture

July 26, 2019 at 03:36 pm

"He was voted honorable mention All-Big Ten in 2017 after starting 10 of 14 games played at nose tackle (17 tackles, 3.5 for loss, three sacks). He injured his right arm in the eighth game of his senior year ending his 2018 season (23 tackles, 4.5 for loss, two sacks, one interception) prematurely."

1 points
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Rak43's picture

July 26, 2019 at 11:23 pm

He's more of a PS candidate imho.

1 points
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Doug Niemczynski's picture

July 26, 2019 at 11:51 am

Did he pass the physical? Yes or No. That's all I am concerned with at this moment.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

July 26, 2019 at 01:56 pm

Must have as he is participating in today's practice session (seen running the cones, anyway) and he is wearing #35.

Zach Kruse reports that the Packers used Nathaniel Hackett to help recruit Grant (Hackett used to coach Grant) and noted that other teams were interested in Grant.

Maybe more than camp fodder. Grant has 454 rushing yards in 38 games with JAX over three seasons and averaged 5.6 yards per carry. He has returned 41 kickoffs for a 23.6-yard average, which is decent and beats GB's KO returners over the last few years.

4 points
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Coldworld's picture

July 26, 2019 at 02:28 pm

I’m betting he wasn’t persuaded to come here as a camp body. He had a round 2 tender on him this time last year and other teams interested this year.

2 points
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Samson's picture

July 26, 2019 at 05:55 pm

I agree... Looks like Gute has grabbed another player for the 53. -- Everything I could find says he's not camp fodder.

2 points
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Dzehren's picture

July 26, 2019 at 01:30 pm

Would rather have a injury free UDFA RB to compete

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Doug Niemczynski's picture

July 26, 2019 at 02:56 pm

His video tape highlights look great. I hope he is injury free. Looks potentiality like a good addition.

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Doug Niemczynski's picture

July 26, 2019 at 03:10 pm

Just in case anyone wanted to know about his previous foot injury

The Lisfranc joint complex includes the bones and ligaments that connect the midfoot and forefoot. Lisfrancinjuries include ligament strains and tears, as well as fractures and dislocations of bone (far right). The midfoot is critical in stabilizing the arch and in walking (gait)

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Southside's picture

July 26, 2019 at 05:22 pm

8 months ago he was in GB to undergo surgery by Dr. Robert Anderson. The RB hit the practice field Friday after he signed with the Packers.

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Rak43's picture

July 26, 2019 at 11:30 pm

I wouldn't underestimate having Dr. Anderson as a team Dr. in GB, playing some role in his decision as well to sign with the Packers. He went to the best for surgery and now has the best taking care of him every day post surgery.

3 points
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Doug Niemczynski's picture

July 26, 2019 at 08:45 pm

O. Sagapulo is 6'2. 342 Lbs ..If he could hold 2 OL up like Gilbert Brown that would be awesome!!

and

Gilbert Brown

Gilbert Jesse Brown  (The Gravedigger)
Position: DT
6-2, 340lb (188cm,

1 points
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Coldworld's picture

July 27, 2019 at 08:45 am

I wonder if Gilbert could do backflips too

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JohnnyLogan's picture

July 27, 2019 at 04:38 pm

No, but he could dunk

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Lambeau_West's picture

July 27, 2019 at 10:37 am

Signing Grant gives the Packers another options in the return game. GB has a surplus of WRs and we know LaFluer uses the running game a lot so we probably need fewer WRs and more RBs. Trevor Davis could be the odd man out if he doesn't show up in the preseason games.

LaFleur apparently will be using 3 and 4 WRs sets than MM so we don't need 7 WRs on the active roster but need more RBs. Since Trevor is a one trick pony (return man), he's now expendable.

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