JUST IN: Packers Re-Sign Veteran CB to the Practice Squad Just 21 Hours After His Release
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Green Bay, WI — Aug. 27, 2025. Less than a day after cutdown day, the Green Bay Packers have brought Corey Ballentine back on a practice squad deal, closing the familiar emotional loop of roster-deadline week: gone in the morning, back the next day. With game experience and proven value on special teams, Ballentine remains a piece that helps Green Bay steady its perimeter defense and preserve the team’s identity across the coverage units.
The move aligns with Green Bay’s roster philosophy: aggressive youth movement without abandoning veteran “anchors.” In a cornerback room that’s already crowded and fiercely competitive, re-signing Ballentine to the practice squad gives the coaching staff flexibility. Should an injury pop up or special-teams reinforcement be needed, he’s an immediate elevation option (within the league’s elevation limits) before any 53-man contract decision is required.
Ballentine knows the system, the practice tempo, and has been trusted as a gunner/kick-coverage piece and an emergency outside corner. That shortens the runway if he’s called up on game day and lets the Packers avoid deeper structural changes on defense. In the locker room, he’s also a steadying presence for younger players—from day-to-day habits to intensity—especially early in the season when rhythms are still settling in.
“Green Bay is my home. From snowy days at Lambeau to the final whistle, I’ve always felt I belong here. Putting on the green and gold again—even on the practice squad—is an honor. My job hasn’t changed: run hard, tackle hard, mentor the young guys, and be ready the moment the team calls my name,” Ballentine said upon his return.
Tactically, Ballentine’s presence reinforces the depth Green Bay targeted after cutdown day: carrying extra DBs to unlock multiple defensive packages while optimizing special teams—often the hidden lever on field position and momentum early in the year. It’s a smart insurance play: low cost, low risk, and ready to convert into live snaps when needed.
In the short term, the likely plan is to monitor the cornerback group’s health and the needs of the special-teams units over the first two weeks. If an opening appears—via injury or tactical adjustment—Ballentine becomes a strong candidate to move back to the 53. For now, he’s the timely answer to a simple question: how to keep speed and edge on special teams while maintaining continuity in the secondary in a season where every yard of field position matters.
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