(GREEN BAY PACKERS) – The Green Bay Packers have signed quarterback Desmond Ridder to the active roster from the practice squad, signed wide receiver Julian Hicks, wide receiver Kisean Johnson and tight end Messiah Swinson to the practice squad, and released QB Clayton Tune. General Manager Brian Gutekunst announced the transactions Tuesday.
Hicks (6-2, 201), a first-year player, originally signed with Green Bay on May 6, 2024 as an undrafted free agent and spent his rookie season on the Packers’ practice squad. He was released by Green Bay following the 2025 training camp. Hicks played for Central Michigan University in 2018, the University of Akron in 2019 and for the University at Albany from 2022-23. He appeared in seven games in 2018, recording 27 receptions for 313 yards (11.6 avg.) and a team-best four touchdowns. In 2019, Hicks played in eight contests and posted 21 receptions for 225 yards (10.7 avg.) and two TDs. He saw action in 23 games in 2022-23, registering 72 receptions for 1,139 yards (15.8 avg.) and 17 TDs. Hicks will wear No. 89 for the Packers.
(KEY-shawn) Johnson (6-0, 216), a rookie out of Western Kentucky, was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Cleveland Browns on May 12 and was released after training camp. He began his college career at Alabama State (2022-23), where he earned third-team All-America honors from FCS Football Central and was a first-team All-SWAC selection. In one season with the Hilltoppers, Johnson earned second-team All-Conference USA honors. He will wear No. 6 for Green Bay.
Swinson (6-7, 259), a first-year player out of Arizona State, originally signed with the Packers as an undrafted free agent on May 3, 2024. After training camp, he was signed to Green Bay’s practice squad before signing to the active roster of the Carolina Panthers on Sept. 4, 2024. Swinson did not appear in a game for the Panthers and was released on Sept. 24. He spent the rest of the 2024 season on Green Bay’s practice squad. After being released by the Packers at the end of 2025 training camp, Swinson spent most of this season on the practice squads of the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals. He spent three seasons at Missouri (2019-21), appearing in 23 games, before playing two years at Arizona State (2022-23). Swinson appeared in 24 games for the Sun Devils over two seasons, registering 21 receptions for 233 yards (11.1 avg.) and two touchdowns. He will wear No. 43 for the Packers.
Ridder (6-3, 211), a fourth-year player out of the University of Cincinnati, has been on the Packers’ practice squad since Dec. 31, 2025. He was originally selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round (No. 74 overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft. Ridder has played in 25 games with 18 starts for the Falcons (2022-23) and Las Vegas Raiders (2024), completing 374 of 588 passes (63.6 pct.) for 4,002 yards (6.8 avg.) and 16 touchdowns with 14 interceptions for a passer rating of 82.6. He has also registered 293 rushing yards and five TDs on 78 carries (3.8 avg.). Ridder has also spent time with the Arizona Cardinals (2024), Cincinnati Bengals (2025) and Minnesota Vikings (2025).
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