Trevor Davis' activation could boost Packers' return game

Jim Owczarski
Packers News
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Trevor Davis (11) breaks free on a kickoff return against the Detroit Lions on Dec. 31, 2017, at Ford Field in Detroit.

SEATTLE - As expected, the Green Bay Packers activated wide receiver/kick returner Trevor Davis off their injured reserve list Thursday before their game against the Seattle Seahawks.

Davis, who went on IR after injuring his hamstring sometime in the week before the season opener against Chicago, is one of two "designated to return" players the Packers are allowed to bring back to the 53-man roster.

The Packers have had an open roster spot since making a number of personnel moves Nov. 6, which included placing wide receiver Geronimo Allison on injured reserve and releasing safetu Jermaine Whitehead.

Davis, 25, missed almost all of the preseason with a hamstring injury before returning to action for the final preseason game against Kansas City on Aug. 30. Davis was required to sit out eight weeks before being eligible to return.

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Last season, Davis ranked third in the NFL in punt returns with a 12.0 average and was eighth in kickoff returns with a 22.8 average,

“I feel great,” Davis said last week. “The trainers worked a lot on me to try and figure out what the triggers were to make me have repeated hamstrings (injuries). Learning that and strengthening certain muscle groups just to help out my hamstrings as well.”

The Packers shopped Davis around the NFL before cutdown day in late August but found no takers.

Davis could bring a sorely needed improvement to the Packers' special teams. They lost a final chance at beating the Los Angeles Rams on Oct. 28 when Ty Montgomery fumbled a kickoff return. Montgomery was traded to Baltimore two days later.

Veteran safety Tramon Williams has been handling punt returns and lost a fumble on a return last Sunday against Miami. 

Jake Kumerow, another wide receiver who was placed on IR at the start of the season, has yet to return to practice. It remains unknown whether he eventually could be activated.