Acme Packing Company
Earlier this offseason, the Green Bay Packers picked up former Houston Texans tight end Luke Lachey on waivers when he became available. Upon reporting to Green Bay, though, the Packers failed Lachey’s physical, even though the Texans didn’t waive him with an injured designation. Now, Lachey’s injury issues seem to be in the past, as Green Bay has brought him back the week after the team’s mandatory minicamp.
As the Packers’ roster was at its 91-man limit, Green Bay had to make a corresponding roster move to make room for the addition of Lachey. General manager Brian Gutekunst decided to waive receiver Jakobie Keeney-James. Keeney-James was getting work as a returner, a job that might just end up going to free agent signing Skyy Moore in 2025.
Keeney-James got playing time in one regular-season game as a rookie, his two-reception, two-kick return effort in the Packers’ JV game against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 18. A week later, in the playoffs, Keeney-James was displaced on the depth chart by fellow practice squad receiver Isaiah Neyor, who has drawn praise from head coach Matt LaFleur during spring practices.
Lachey, a 2025 seventh-round pick, was picked out of Iowa by the Texans. He didn’t get into a regular season as a rookie, but was projected to be more of a Y-tight end than a pass-catcher. Considering Tucker Kraft’s backups right now are more pass-catchers than in-line blockers (Luke Musgrave and Josh Whyle), it will be interesting to see if Lachey gains any momentum leading up to roster cutdowns later this summer.
