Ex-Raiders WR Returns to Packers Amid Injuries: “I Just Want to Come Back to the Packers” — And It Landed Loud

GREEN BAY — The scoreboard against the Jets wasn’t pretty, but the real headache for the Packers sits in the wide receiver room: Jayden Reed’s foot, Dontayvion Wicks’ calf, Romeo Doubs leaving practice early, and rookie Savion Williams also banged up. In that context, Green Bay turned the emergency key and brought back wide receiver Kawaan Baker to patch depth and keep camp on schedule.

Baker isn’t a stranger in Titletown. A 2021 seventh-round pick, he spent a brief stint on the Packers’ practice squad in 2022 before bouncing around a few stops. This time, his immediate mission isn’t flashy: plug into special teams, run full drills for the QB2–QB3 group, and be ready if he’s tossed into a nickel or two-minute window during the preseason.

“We need someone who can step into the huddle right now,” a Packers offensive assistant said succinctly. “This week is about preserving the structure of practice—hit the route landmarks, keep consistent tempo, and clean assignments. Those things move the whole team forward.”

On the practice field, Baker tapes a shoulder, pulls on his gloves, and lines up with the second wave of receivers. There’s a lived-in feel to his route work: tidy stems, low hips, and a ‘violent’ break point to create separation at 6–10 yards. He may not deliver instant ‘wow’ plays, but he’s the type who keeps practice from breaking rhythm—a quiet win when the depth chart is thinned out.

Baker knows exactly where he stands. Asked about looping back to Titletown, he answered without a wasted beat:

“I just want to come back to the Packers and put everything I have into it. When the Packers are in a tough spot, I swear I’ll give my all. I know who I am and what this team needs right now: run the right routes, catch the next ball, and work on special teams like it’s my last snap.”

That promise isn’t a grand emotional appeal; it taps into the practical heartbeat of August: readiness and reliability. On a roster short of healthy bodies, the value of a receiver who knows the playbook, can play gunner/return roles with “safe hands,” and holds onto technical details period after period can’t be overstated.

Inside the meeting room, Baker’s role is drawn clearly:

• Priority 1: Special teams. Gunner/punt units, setting the edge, and disciplined lane integrity.

The road to the 53-man roster is still a steep climb. As Reed, Wicks, Doubs, and Williams return, competition at WR5/WR6 will sharpen—special teams value matters more than the August box score. But the practice squad path is very much alive for a “pro’s pro” type: diligent, fast-learning, and a stabilizer in a bruised position group.

From the coaching perspective, bringing Baker back isn’t a proclamation about reinventing the receiver room; it’s an antibiotic dose to get through a chaotic week: preserve practice structure, fairly evaluate the backup quarterbacks, and avoid torching the install just because bodies are scarce. If Baker strings together 2–3 on-time catches in the next preseason game—plus a few clean special-teams snaps—he can write another chapter to this Green Bay reunion: not loud, but solid.

In Titletown, they still believe “Day-3/waiver-wire” stories can bloom with discipline and grit. This time, amid injuries and a sweaty August, Kawaan Baker is choosing to say little and do more—letting his own vow ring out with every practice horn: give everything, right when the team needs it most.