Green Bay Packers Add Cornerback MJ Devonshire and Tight End Luke Lachey to Roster

May 13, 2026, 11:26

Introduction

The Green Bay Packers have increased their 90-man roster by signing two players through the waiver system.

Main Body

The addition of cornerback MJ Devonshire and tight end Luke Lachey shows a strategic effort to fill specific gaps in the team. General Manager Brian Gutekunst emphasized that the team is constantly evaluating its players, suggesting that the roster is still being developed rather than being finished. Regarding the defense, the team signed Devonshire after his time with the Buffalo Bills, Las Vegas Raiders, Carolina Panthers, and Baltimore Ravens. Although he has not played in a regular-season NFL game, his performance in preseason games with Baltimore was impressive. Specifically, he had a strong PFF coverage grade of 82.0 and prevented a completion on his only target. At the same time, the organization addressed the need for a traditional tight end by claiming Lachey. A former seventh-round pick by the Houston Texans, Lachey has mostly spent time on practice squads and in three preseason games. During his college years at the University of Iowa, he served as a team captain and recorded 74 receptions for 893 yards. Lachey now joins a group of tight ends that includes Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave.

Conclusion

The Green Bay Packers have added two developing players to their team to improve depth at the cornerback and tight end positions.

Learning

🚀 Moving Beyond "Simple" Verbs

At the A2 level, you likely use verbs like get, add, or make. To reach B2, you need to use Precision Verbs. These are words that tell the reader how or why something happened, not just that it happened.

🔍 The 'Precision' Shift

Look at how the article describes the team's actions. Instead of saying "The Packers got new players," the author uses:

Addressing a need $\rightarrow$ "the organization addressed the need for a traditional tight end"
- A2 style: "They needed a player, so they got one."
- B2 style: "They addressed the need." (This implies a professional solution to a specific problem).
Evaluating $\rightarrow$ "the team is constantly evaluating its players"
- A2 style: "The team is looking at the players."
- B2 style: "They are evaluating." (This means they are judging the quality or value of the players).

🛠️ How to apply this to your speaking

Stop using "do/make/get" for everything. Try these substitutions:

Instead of...	Try using...	Example from the text
Fill a hole	Fill a gap	"effort to fill specific gaps in the team"
Improve	Develop	"the roster is still being developed"
Check	Evaluate	"constantly evaluating its players"

Pro Tip: When you describe a professional situation (work, school, or sports), ask yourself: "Is there a more specific verb for this action?" That is the fastest bridge to B2 fluency.

Vocabulary Learning

waiver (n.)

a document or legal instrument that releases a person from responsibility or claim

Example:The team claimed the player off the waiver system.

strategic (adj.)

planned to achieve a particular goal or advantage

Example:The coach made a strategic decision to add a new defender.

evaluation (n.)

the act of assessing or judging something

Example:The team's evaluation of talent continues throughout the season.

preseason (adj.)

occurring before the regular season, especially in sports

Example:He played in several preseason games before the regular season began.

coverage (n.)

the act of watching, guarding, or defending a particular area or opponent

Example:His coverage of the opposing receiver was outstanding.

grade (n.)

a score or rating given to assess performance

Example:He received a grade of 82.0 for his performance.

captain (n.)

a person who leads or commands a group or team

Example:He served as team captain during his college years.

receptions (n.)

catches of passes made by a player in football

Example:He recorded 74 receptions for 893 yards.

depth (n.)

the number of players available for a particular position

Example:The team needs depth at the cornerback position.

positions (n.)

specific roles or places within a team or organization

Example:They added players to the cornerback and tight end positions.