Green Bay just locked up their final practice squad spot, signing rookie running back Damon Bankston. This move comes after a bit of a winding road for the New Mexico product, who initially visited the Packers pre-draft but then signed with the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent for a solid $115,000 guaranteed. Talk about a curveball! The Packers, remember, had gone with Jaden Nixon for $15,000 guaranteed instead, who didn’t even stick around after cuts. It just shows you how quickly things can change in this league.
Bankston’s Journey and the Numbers
Bankston is a 2026 draft class RB prospect who put up an 8.13 RAS, which is pretty darn good, ranking 425 out of 2268 running backs since 1987. That’s serious athleticism. The kid blazed a 4.43-second 40-yard dash during the pre-draft process, but he got overlooked by the big-time all-star games because he came from a committee backfield. Before heading to the FBS level, he was an all-conference player at Weber State in the FCS. At college, he wasn’t just a one-cut runner; he was chipping in as a pass-catcher and a returner too. That kind of versatility is huge, especially for a practice squad guy looking to prove himself.
A Perfect Scheme Fit for Green Bay
This signing makes a ton of sense when you look at what the Packers are trying to do. They’re transitioning to an outside zone-based offense, a scheme head coach Matt LaFleur ran earlier in his tenure in Green Bay. Guess what? Bankston is a really good fit for that exact scheme. He just had a workout with the team on Tuesday, and it looks like it paid off big time. Green Bay also brought in some other prospects like QB Jack Plummer, and a couple of other running backs, Phil Mafah and Ian Wheeler, but Bankston is the one who stuck.
The Packers still have needs at quarterback, where they signed Kedon Slovis, and tight end, where they retained Drake Dabney. Plus, they’re definitely keeping an eye on defensive backs, given they only have 11 total DBs across the 53-man roster and practice squad. That’s barely enough to make a two-deep once you factor in nickel defenders! So, while Bankston fills a crucial practice squad spot, expect Green Bay to keep looking for answers, especially in the secondary. For now, keep an eye on Bankston; this guy could be a real steal for the new-look offense.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Acme Packing Company.
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