Packers Elevate Drake Dabney to Active Roster
Green Bay promotes the 24-year-old tight end from its practice squad for Sunday's game at New England with Josh Whyle sidelined by a concussion.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Football
The Green Bay Packers elevated tight end Drake Dabney from the practice squad to the active roster on Saturday, November 7, 2026, according to an announcement from general manager Brian Gutekunst. The move comes as Josh Whyle is out with a concussion and five Packers players were ruled out for Sunday's game against the New England Patriots.
Why it matters
The elevation adds tight end depth for Green Bay with Whyle unavailable, as the team also ruled out Micah Parsons, Zaire Franklin, Sean Rhyan, and Travis Glover for the matchup. It gives Dabney a chance to contribute on gameday after he returned to the practice squad in August.
The Packers ruled out five players on Friday ahead of the game, and Dabney's college career included 84 receptions for 1,066 yards and eight touchdowns across 37 starts. The team has not said how much Dabney will play against New England.
The players
Drake Dabney
Dabney is a tight end who played college football at Baylor and TCU before going undrafted and joining the NFL with Tennessee.
Brian Gutekunst
Gutekunst is the general manager of the Green Bay Packers and announced the roster move.
The details
Green Bay elevated Dabney from the practice squad for gameday, a move the team described as an elevation rather than a full roster promotion. Dabney, a 6-foot-5, 246-pound tight end, signed with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent in May 2025 and made his NFL debut with Green Bay in December 2025.
Timeline
May 2025: Dabney signs with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent.
December 2025: Dabney makes his NFL debut with Green Bay against Baltimore.
August 31, 2026: The Packers bring Dabney back to the practice squad.
Friday, November 6, 2026: The Packers rule out five players for the game.
Saturday, November 7, 2026: Green Bay elevates Dabney to the active roster.
Season Trajectory
Dabney's elevation follows the NFL's practice squad elevation rules, which let teams temporarily add practice squad players for a single game without a permanent roster commitment. With Whyle out and several starters ruled out, the move helps Green Bay manage depth at a position where the Packers have limited healthy options this week.
Dabney's elevation gives the Packers an extra tight end for Sunday, which affects how Green Bay distributes targets at the position while Whyle is sidelined. Fantasy managers tracking tight ends should note his role is unconfirmed until the game is played.
The takeaway
Roster elevations like this one often reflect short-term injury needs, so Dabney's usage on Sunday will show whether he is in a larger role or simply covering for Whyle. Readers following the Packers should watch the official injury updates before the game.
Further reading
Follow more Packers roster news in Football coverage.
