The Green Bay Packers have signed TE Emanuel Byrd to the active roster from the practice squad, placed T Jason Spriggs on injured reserve and signed WR Jake Kumerow to the practice squad. The transactions were announced Tuesday by Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations Ted Thompson.
Byrd, a 6-foot-2, 240-pound rookie out of Marshall, has been on the Packers' practice squad since Nov. 3. He signed with Green Bay on Aug. 5 before being released on Sept. 2. Byrd was originally signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the Kansas City Chiefs on May 9, but was released on Aug. 1. After playing quarterback and tight end for two years at Georgia Military College, Byrd appeared in 21 games in two seasons as a tight end at Marshall, totaling 456 yards on 45 receptions (10.1 avg.) with four touchdowns for the Thundering Herd. He will wear No. 86 for the Packers.
Kumerow (KOO-mer-o), a 6-foot-4, 209-pound first-year player out of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, originally signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent on May 8, 2015. He spent almost all of the 2015-16 seasons on the Bengals' practice squad, and was promoted to the active roster in Week 17 last season. Kumerow was placed on injured reserve on Aug. 10 before being released on Sept. 22. The Bartlett, Ill., native was signed to the New England's practice squad on Oct. 26, but was released by the Patriots on Nov. 9. Kumerow will wear No. 16 for the Packers.