Saturday’s Packers Transactions: What They Mean for Sunday vs. Rams

The Green Bay Packers did not fill the roster spot created by Tuesday’s trade of cornerback Rasul Douglas. Instead, they elevated defensive back Innis Gaines from the practice squad on Saturday for Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams.

Here is our weekly rundown of the day-before-the-game roster moves.

Elevated: DB Innis Gaines

While safety Rudy Ford is questionable with a calf injury and Gaines is listed as a safety on the roster, the reality is Gaines spent just about every second of training camp and the preseason in the slot, where he was the No. 2 choice behind starter Keisean Nixon.

In fact, during the portion of Thursday’s practice that was open to reporters, Gaines worked alongside Nixon.

“My whole college career, I played slot corner,” Gaines, an undrafted free agent out of TCU who originally signed with the Packers in January 2021, said during training camp.

“Right now, I’m in the corner room every day so I’m learning all the intricacies of the cornerback room lingo. I like being in the slot. I like being physical with the slot receivers and using my strengths, which is press-man. You’re always press-man in the slot so that’s what I do best.”

Gaines was elevated from the practice squad for the opening games at Chicago and Atlanta. He played 35 snaps on special teams (two tackles) and five snaps on defense (one tackle). This will be his third elevation. The next time the Packers need him for a game, they’ll need to add him to the roster.

Following the trade of Douglas, the Packers have a vacancy on their 53-man roster.

Last year, Gaines played 44 defensive snaps in the final three games of the season, including a Week 18 start against Detroit.

The Packers traded Douglas and a fifth-round pick to the Bills on Tuesday in exchange for a third-round pick.

The trade left the Packers will four cornerbacks: Jaire Alexander, Nixon, rookie Carrington Valentine and veteran Corey Ballentine, who spent the start of the season on the practice squad alongside Gaines.

Gaines, who goes by “Thump” rather than Innis, will provide depth in the secondary and an immediate presence on special teams.

The unofficial Packers.com depth chart used to show Alexander and Douglas as the starting corners with Nixon in the slot. The updated version shows Alexander and Nixon as the starting corners with no slot. Presumably, the 22-year-old Valentine will make his fourth start of the season.

“Rasul was a mentor to me,” he said. “I sat next to him every day. I’m sad to see him go. I learned a lot from him. I appreciate everything. He didn’t have to do that. But with the opportunity, just got to make the most of it.”