Packers sign WR Bo Melton to 53-man roster, place Samori Toure on IR

The Green Bay Packers made three roster moves on Monday, signing Bo Melton to the 53-man roster, placing Samori Toure on IR, and signing safety Tyler Coyle to the practice squad.

Following their win on Sunday night, the Green Bay Packers announced three roster movers on Monday, which include Bo Melton being signed from the practice squad to the 53-man roster. Samori Toure being placed on IR and safety Tyler Coyle being signed to the practice squad. Here is what you need to know.

Melton being added to the active roster was about as predictable of a move as you will see. Melton is coming off a six reception 105 yard performance against Minnesota, leading the team in targets, receptions and yards. In fact, Melton was the first Packers’ receiver this season to eclipse 100 yards in a game. In the previous game against Carolina, Melton had 44 yards on just 15 routes - an efficient performance - and has contributed on special teams.

Melton’s three practice squad elevations had been utilized, meaning that if the Packers wanted him available for Week 18, he’d have to be added to the 53-man roster.

Melton’s emergence has seemingly come out a nowhere, but due to injuries at the receiver position, especially over the last month, he has gotten regular reps in practice with Jordan Love and the starting offense, along with impressing on special teams and on the scout team offense regularly as well.

“He stepped up huge,” said Jordan Love post-game. “I talk about it all the time; it’s always the next man up mentality, and Bo’s a guy whose been working every week, even when he’s not been in the role. He’s working on scout team, trying to find ways to get better, and it’s not surprising anybody when he goes out there and does what he does. He did a lot of good things.”

To make room on the 53-man roster for Melton, the Packers placed Samori Toure on IR—effectively ending his season. With Melton on the game day roster the last three weeks, it was evident that he had jumped Toure on the depth chart. Toure still saw some snaps on offense, but they were very sporadic. He also wasn’t much of a special teams contributor.

When fully healthy at receiver, Toure is the seventh option on a team that regularly has five active. It is unknown what the injury is that landed him on IR. Toure caught 8-of-18 targets this season for 78 yards.

With two practice squad openings following the recent additions of Melton and Benny Sapp to the 53-man roster, one of those spots have been filled by signing safety Tyler Coyle.

Coyle was a 2021 undrafted rookie out of Purdue, where he played his final season, which was cut short due to injury. Coyle began his career at UCONN and played the majority of his college snaps in the box, but came to the NFL with a good amount of experience in the slot and as a free safety as well. He is a terrific athlete, posting an elite Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 9.83 during the pre-draft process and measures in at 6’1” - 209 pounds.

Coyle spent the last two seasons with the Dallas practice squad, seeing 37 snaps on defense, with 17 coming from the slot, 12 in the box, and eight as a free safety, according to PFF. He’s also played 56 career special teams snaps with two tackles. Dallas released Coyle following 2023 training camp.

For some added insight into Coyle’s game, here is what Lance Zierlein of NFL.com had to say in his pre-draft report:

“A team might fall in love with the combination of size, speed and explosiveness, but it simply doesn't manifest itself enough on tape to buy all the way in. His issues digesting combo routes and his leggy transitions are serious concerns when tasked with man coverage duties. Coyle has the speed and athletic ability to range and make plays on the football both downhill and over the top, but he only did that in one season. He appears to be a better tester than impact talent, but traits often earn players a longer look at the next level.”