Packers sign WR Kisean Johnson, make waiver and waived/injured moves in Sunday roster shuffle

The Green Bay Packers used the Sunday roster window to add wide receiver Kisean Johnson and make corresponding moves in the secondary, the team announced Aug. 9. The transactions reflect the kind of early-career sorting that often defines August depth-chart building, when teams look for reliable roles on special teams and in rotational packages while staying prepared for health fluctuations.

According to the Packers, the team signed WR Kisean Johnson. The signing means Johnson will join Green Bay’s offseason and preseason evaluation group, with coaches likely to assess his route running, hands, and ability to create separation as well as his readiness for the coverage and tempo demands that come with NFL preseason reps.

The Packers also announced that they waived or designated injured S Johnathan Baldwin II and CB Marlon Jones. The specific phrasing in the team release matters because “waived/injured” typically indicates the player is being moved through the waiver process while carrying an injury designation, rather than being simply released outright. It is a procedural step that can allow other teams to claim a player, or for the original team to proceed through the league’s injury handling if no claim is made.

Together, those moves altered the personnel picture for Green Bay’s defensive back room. Even without a deeper breakdown of each player’s current availability, the net effect is clear: the Packers created roster room and shifted at least two defensive backs out of their current status on the active roster, while adding Johnson to the receiver group.

The general manager, Brian Gutekunst, made the announcements as part of the club’s ongoing roster management. For a team in the preseason portion of the calendar, the timing is significant because each week can introduce new competition at the margins, including players vying for the last spots at cornerback, safety, and on the perimeter of the wide receiver rotation.

For Packers fans, the Johnson signing is the more straightforward watch point. The most immediate questions are how quickly he can translate practice work into live-readiness, and whether he can carve out a consistent role on special teams or as a depth target in offensive looks. Meanwhile, the Baldwin II and Jones waived/injured designations are a reminder that depth evaluation in August often overlaps with the realities of physical strain.

The Packers’ next steps will likely involve continued competition across both units, with weekly practice and preseason games serving as the proving ground. If additional roster moves follow, they will help clarify whether Green Bay intends to prioritize Johnson as a longer-term depth piece or as a short-term camp option while the defensive back evaluations settle.

Looking ahead, the transactions also carry roster-repair implications beyond player-for-player swaps. By adding a receiver and moving two defensive backs through waiver/injury processes, Green Bay indicates it is keeping options open, both in case of future health needs and in case a new candidate pushes ahead during training camp and preseason work.