GREEN BAY, Wis. — In a somewhat surprising transaction, the Green Bay Packers released versatile wide receiver Bo Melton on Friday, two days before they’re scheduled to face the Minnesota Vikings.
Don’t jump to conclusions just yet, though. Melton will presumably pass through waivers unclaimed and be re-signed to the Packers’ practice squad. But that’s not guaranteed—a team like the Miami Dolphins could claim Melton and throw a wrench in the Packers’ plans.
Assuming that doesn’t happen, Melton will return to Green Bay and even be elevated to the active roster to play Sunday in Minnesota. The expectation is that he’ll return to the Packers’ 53-man roster next week.
It’s merely a roster management move by the Packers, but it’s unclear exactly what the reason is. They’ve executed similar maneuvers in the past, parting ways with tight end Tyrone Davis on the eve of a game against the New Orleans Saints in 2002. Most recently, they did it with long-snapper Matt Orzech in October 2024.
Despite being a seventh-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks in 2022, Melton has just two accrued and three credited seasons in the league. He was on the Seahawks’ practice squad for the entirety of his rookie season, and appeared in just five games for the Packers in 2023. To gain an accrued season, a player has to be on a team’s active roster for at least six games, which Melton has done just twice in Green Bay.
For a credited season, requirements are a little easier to meet. A player has to be on a team’s active roster—injured reserve and Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) lists are also acceptable—for at least three regular or post-season games. Melton has three such seasons, but to be a vested veteran, he’ll have to reach four.
Melton has appeared in some big moments for the Packers throughout his three-year tenure with the team. He’s appeared in 38 games, recording 28 receptions for 416 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Last summer, the Packers cross-trained him on the defensive side of the ball, transitioning him into a two-way player similarly to how the Jacksonville Jaguars weaponize Travis Hunter.
Although he didn’t play a single regular-season snap at cornerback, his roster value skyrocketed. When he was deployed on offense, he served as a reliable target—albeit with reduced snaps in 2025—for Jordan Love. Melton was on the receiving end of a 45-yard touchdown in the Packers’ Dec. 7 win over the Chicago Bears.
He’s also blossomed into a reliable contributor on special teams, playing 339 snaps over the last two seasons for Rich Bisaccia’s unit and cementing himself as one of the Packers’ top gunners. More of the same will likely be expected under Bisaccia’s successor, Cam Achord, assuming Melton returns to the team.
Zachary Jacobson is the author of The Packer Dispatch. He is entering his 12th season covering the Green Bay Packers after spending seven as the Editor-in-Chief of Packer Report. He is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America. Follow him on Twitter @zachjacobson or contact him via email at itszachariahj@gmail.com.