Packers sign Pierre Strong to the 53 as Chris Brooks sits with ankle

The Green Bay Packers signed running back Pierre Strong Jr. to the active roster Thursday, promoting him from the practice squad ahead of Sunday's home game against the Chicago Bears.

The club posted the move on its official account. The Athletic's Matt Schneidman reported the signing minutes later and wrote that it is a sign Chris Brooks will not play Sunday.

Brooks has now missed Wednesday and Thursday practices with an ankle injury. On Wednesday, Schneidman reported that coach Matt LaFleur said Brooks would not practice because of the ankle. Brooks remained a non-participant Thursday while the club completed the Strong promotion.

Pro Football Talk's Josh Alper wrote that Strong joins Kaleb Johnson and MarShawn Lloyd as Green Bay's available backfield options with Brooks out of practice. Strong was on the Packers practice squad before Thursday's elevation to the 53-man roster.

That changes the Week 5 depth chart for RSO managers. Brooks was already a multi-day miss; the roster move is the team acting on that absence rather than waiting for Friday designations. Johnson and Lloyd remain the other backs already on the active roster. Strong becomes the third available option once he is eligible to dress.

Friday's injury report will carry the first game designation for Brooks. Until that posts, treat Brooks as unavailable for Sunday plans against Chicago and keep Strong, Johnson and Lloyd in the same backfield pool. If Brooks is ruled out, Strong's snap share is still unproven in Green Bay, so wait for weekend depth-chart notes before forcing him into a start.

Alper also noted Thursday non-participants on the offensive line, including guards Aaron Banks and Jacob Monk. That is a separate line issue from the running-back promotion.