Packers add RB Pierre Strong to active roster after Chris Brooks misses practice with ankle issue

The Green Bay Packers made a quick adjustment to their backfield this week, signing running back Pierre Strong to the active roster after Chris Brooks was unable to practice with an ankle injury. The move comes with the Packers preparing for Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears, a matchup that typically places a premium on consistent depth and ball-carry options.

According to the report, the Packers were missing a running back at Thursday’s practice. Brooks, a member of the Packers’ backfield group, missed both days this week as he dealt with the ankle issue. That absence reduced Green Bay’s immediate options in a week when each practice rep matters for timing, protections, and run-game assignments.

To address the shortage, the Packers signed Strong off their practice squad and added him to the 53-man roster. Strong’s promotion places him alongside other backfield options already on the active roster, including Kaleb Johnson and MarShawn Lloyd. With Brooks unable to take part in practice, the team’s running back rotation could become more defined based on who is available to handle reps through the remainder of the week.

Strong’s role will likely hinge on how quickly Brooks can resume work and regain full participation. If Brooks remains limited, the Packers could lean more heavily on the group they have available for game-day workload, including Strong as an active-roster option. In the NFL, practice-squad elevations often bring immediate roster flexibility, especially when an active player’s availability is uncertain late in the week.

It is also worth noting that even when an injured player is not expected to miss the game, a two-day practice absence can affect how a coaching staff manages snap counts and situational usage. Teams often prefer to avoid expanding an injured player’s workload until they’ve regained full practice participation and timing. That makes the active roster addition more than a symbolic move, it can reshape how the backfield is used in key game situations.

The Packers’ next practical step is to monitor Brooks’ ankle status and determine whether he can return to full or near-full practice. Meanwhile, Strong’s presence on the active roster indicates that Green Bay wants extra certainty heading into Sunday. The backfield depth chart could look different by kickoff depending on how participation changes from day to day.