The Green Bay Packers had no viable option other than elevating an offensive lineman from the practice squad for gameday to face the Dallas Cowboys on ‘Sunday Night Football.’ On Saturday, the Packers confirmed that interior offensive lineman Lecitus Smith has been elevated to be available in Week 4. The player reverts back to the practice squad on Monday.
Right tackles Zach Tom (oblique) and Anthony Belton (ankle) are both out this week, and left guard Aaron Banks (groin) is doubtful, prompting the Packers to make the roster move. The decision is a strong indication that Banks, in fact, will not be available.
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Experience in the mix
Lecitus Smith has been in the NFL since 2022, and spent time with the Packers on several occasions over the past two seasons. Originally a sixth-round pick by the Arizona Cardinals, he’s already played for the Houston Texans, Philadelphia Eagles, New England Patriots, and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Last year, he had been signed by the Packers in May and spent the training camp in Green Bay, starting the season on the practice squad. However, the Patriots signed him off the Packers’ PS in October. In 2025, he returned to the Packers in August and was released as part of the final cuts, but re-signed to the PS earlier this week to add more experienced depth.
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Throughout his NFL career, Smith has played 202 snaps at right guard, eight at left guard, and two as a sixth offensive lineman in regular season games. Over the past two years for the Packers in preseason, he played 79 snaps at left guard, 113 at center (including 72 this year), and three at right guard.
NFL rules
The NFL increased the size of the practice squad during Covid and kept some of the adjusted rules. Of the 16 players, 10 must be players with up to two accrued seasons, and there’s no restrictions for the other six. There’s also an extra spot for a player with an International Pathway Program exemption—for Green Bay, it’s Irish kicker Mark McNamee.
Throughout the season, teams can elevate practice squad players for gameday. Each player can be elevated up to three times for the same team without being a member of the active 53-man roster. After the game, the player reverts back to the PS.
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Practice squad elevations in 2025
Micah Robinson — 2
Brant Banks — 1
Lecitus Smith — 1
Packers’ practice squad
RB Pierre Strong Jr.
EDGE Deslin Alexandre
DB Johnathan Baldwin
C/G Lecitus Smith
T Dalton Cooper
DT James Ester
WR Jakobie Keeney-James
LB Jamon Dumas-Johnson
K Mark McNamee
EDGE Arron Mosby
WR Isaiah Neyor
CB Micah Robinson
WR Will Sheppard
S Jaylin Simpson
QB Clayton Tune
LB Kristian Welch
TE Josh Whyle
Related: Jordan Love has a golden opportunity to explode against Cowboys’ defense that suddenly looks vulnerable without Micah Parsons
This story was originally reported by A to Z Sports on Sep 27, 2025, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add A to Z Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
