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When general manager Brian Gutekunst spoke on Sunday afternoon about his first cutdown as general manager Torey Krug Jersey , he described the Green Bay Packers' roster as "fluid."

He wasn't kidding.

Gutekunst continued tweaking the 53-man roster on Monday, adding running back Darius Jackson off the Dallas Cowboys' practice squad and signing linebacker Korey Toomer. Those are an effort to fill two obvious needs in advance of the team's regular-season opener Sunday night against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field.

"It took a little longer than normal," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said following the team's first post-training camp practice. "We had a lot of movement there on Saturday into Sunday, (and) we were juggling things. . Obviously, I think our transactions reflect that. So, it's been a long weekend. (But) we feel really good about the 63 players (including the practice squad) in our locker room and we'll move forward getting ready for the Bears."

To make room for Toomer, the Packers placed wide receiver Jake Kumerow on injured reserve. By having Kumerow, a Wisconsin-Whitewater alum who was the star of training camp earlier this summer, on the 53-man roster for a day, he is now eligible to return from IR later this season. NFL rules allow each team to bring a maximum of two players back from IR later in the season.

Kumerow injured his shoulder while crossing the goal line on an 82-yard touchdown Aug. 16 against Pittsburgh.

To accommodate Jackson, the Packers waived cornerback Herb Waters one day after he'd made the initial roster.

Before adding Jackson, a 2016 sixth-round pick from Eastern Michigan who has spent time with the Cowboys and Browns but has never played in an NFL regular-season game, the Packers had only two running backs: second-year back Jamaal Williams Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Jersey , who is set to be the starter, and converted wide receiver Ty Montgomery. Aaron Jones, the team's most explosive running threat last season, will miss the first two weeks because of an NFL suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy.

The Packers had four other running backs at the end of camp, but the team released Joel Bouagnon, LeShun Daniels and Bronson Hill, and waived/injured Devante Mays. Both fullbacks, Aaron Ripkowski and Joe Kerridge, were also released on the final cutdown. Bouagnon and Kerridge were re-signed to the practice squad Sunday.

McCarthy has said for years he doesn't like going into games with just two active running backs, but that could be the case against the Bears because Jackson didn't arrive at the facility in time to participate in Monday's practice.

"I think those guys are ready to go," McCarthy said of Williams and Montgomery. "They're healthy, they give us an excellent 1-2 punch. So, I'm not concerned about that at all."

Said Williams: "I'm just grateful for any opportunity Womens Jaroslav Halak Jersey , and these are the opportunities you want - to get more carries and more responsibility in the offense. Really, you take it for what it is and not take it for granted. I'm doing everything I can to make sure the coaches know I'm going to keep producing at a consistent rate."

It's unclear what the Packers will have at inside linebacker alongside veteran Blake Martinez, who tied for the NFL lead in tackles last season. Third-round pick Oren Burks, who sustained a shoulder injury during pregame warmups at Oakland on Aug. 24, was with the rehabilitation group at practice and may not be ready for the Bears.

Gutekunst acquired Antonio Morrison in a trade with Indianapolis last week, and he or Toomer could start if Burks isn't cleared. Toomer, in his fifth season, has played 46 games (16 starts) and was in camp with the 49ers before being cut Saturday.

"This is always the big challenge when you get to that spot of finishing your 53," McCarthy admitted. "We've had a lot of change. And that's always the challenge.

"But we're set and ready to go with all our guys and we're looking forward to the week of preparation."
Corey Dickerson led off the game by plunking the top of Cincinnati pitcher Anthony DeSclafani’s left foot with a sharp grounder.

Then the Pittsburgh left fielder really did some damage.

Dickerson hit two first-pitch home runs, rookie Nick Kingham overcame another rain delay to pitch six shutout innings and drive in two runs, and the Pirates beat the Reds 6-2 Saturday for their season-high eighth straight win.

Dickerson homered on the first pitches he saw from DeSclafani (4-3) in the third and fifth innings for his seventh career multihomer game, helping the Pirates to their longest winning streak since an eight-game stretch Sept. 19-26, 2015. They are over .500 for the first time since they were 31-30 on June 6.

”I try to have a plan Tom Kuhnhackl Jersey ,” Dickerson said about the aggressive approach that led him reaching 100 career home runs. ”They know my weaknesses. What I try to do is stay on pitches. It’s really more about timing.”

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said he’s stressed the importance of having an aggressive approach.

”We’ve been talking since spring training about being ready to hit when you step into the box,” Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle. ”Early in the count, guys are ready to hit.”

Josh Bell added four hits, including a run-scoring double in the fourth, to help send the Reds to their third straight loss, their longest slump since a four-game losing streak June 2-6.

The game was delayed 47 minutes by rain in the middle of the fourth inning, one night after the start was held up 2 hours, 55 minutes.

Kingham allowed just one runner past second base before Curt Casali knocked him out of the game with a two-run homer that just barely reached the left field seats in the seventh. Pitching in rain, he walked the first two batters he faced before getting All-Star Joey Votto to hit into a double play.

”There were a lot of different things,” Kingham said about his slow start. ”The ball was slipping. My release point was off. Nothing was going right. Walking two and facing Votto is not how your draw it up,”

Kingham (5-4) earned his third win in his last three starts, limiting the Reds to four hits and two runs with three strikeouts and two walks in 6 1/3 innings. He also grounded a two-run single up the middle through a drawn-in infield in the sixth.

Ervin Santana finished the seventh, Kyle Crick pitched a perfect eighth against Reds All-Stars Scooter Gennett Authentic Khalil Mack Jersey , Votto and Eugenio Suarez and All-Star Felipe Vazquez escaped a one-out, two-on jam in the ninth.

DeSclafani was able to shake off Dickerson’s sharp one-hopper to last 4 1/3 innings, giving up six hits and three runs with two walks and six strikeouts.

”Dickerson smoked that ball in the first inning,” DeSclafani said. ”It hit me on the top of the foot just below the ankle. The x-rays were negative. I just have a contusion. It will feel better in a couple days.”

SURGING STARLING

Starling Marte’s first-inning single extended his hitting streak to a career-high 14 games, the majors’ longest active streak and the longest by a Pirate since Andrew McCutchen hit in 18 straight in 2015.

RAISE THE BAR

Jesse Winker singled in the fourth to extend his career-high hitting streak to 12 games, the longest by a rookie in the majors this season.

DREADED GLITCH

Due to a锟絧regame锟絫echnical锟絠ssue锟絯ith the replay system, each club was afforded its normal manager’s challenge, but crew chief reviews were unlimited for the remainder of the锟絞ame.

WELCOME TO THE CLUB

The Reds honored their 2018 team Hall of Fame inductees – OF Adam Dunn, LHP Fred Norman and manager Dave Bristol – in pregame ceremonies.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Pirates: C Francisco Cervelli was eligible to be activated from the seven-day concussion disabled list on Saturday, but Hurdle said Cervelli had not resumed baseball activities.

Reds: INF Alex Blandino will undergo season-ending surgery on Monday to repair the torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. INF-OF Brandon Dixon was recalled from Triple-A Louisville to replace Blandino.

UP NEXT

Pirates: RHP Ivan Nova (5-6) is 3-1 with a 3.51 ERA in seven starts since being reinstated from the disabled list on June 10. He’d been out with a sprained right ring finger.

Reds: Matt Harvey (5-5) is 4-0 over his last five starts. He hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in any of those appearances.

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