Grant

DuBose

DuBose remains hospitalized a day after suffering a brutal hit to the head in Sunday’s loss to the Texans, but it sounds as if the worst is behind him. The second-year receiver was playing in his first game since Week 2 after making his way back from a shoulder injury but now seems unlikely to play again this season. We don’t yet know the specifics of his injury, but we continue to wish DuBose the best in his recovery.

He took a hit to the head from Calen Bullock on a ball over the middle and immediately crumpled to the ground. They took DuBose’ face mask off his helmet, put him in a neck brace, and cut his jersey off on the field, hooking him to a backboard which appeared to have an EKG and an IV already on it. We would be surprised if we saw DuBose again this season. It was a sickening injury to watch.

DuBose was impressive in the preseason, catching five of nine targets for 66 yards. The Dolphins claimed him after the Packers on Tuesday released the seventh-round draft pick. DuBose will likely start on Miami’s practice squad.

DuBose briefly received first-team reps this summer but never had a shot at cracking the Pack’s crowded receiver rotation. Still only 23, he could be headed back to the practice squad. Also waived/released at final cuts were DL Deslin Alexandre, DL Brevin Allen, DL Keshawn Banks, K Anders Carlson, QB Sean Clifford, DL James Ester, CB Gemon Green, K Alex Hale, WR Julian Hicks, G/T Donovan Jennings, S Anthony Johnson, OT Caleb Jones, CB Kalen King, RB Nate McCrary, RB Ellis Merriweather, DL Zach Morton, G/T Royce Newman, TE Henry Pearson, QB Michael Pratt, CB Robert Rochell, LB Chris Russell, S Benny Sapp, DL Keonte Schad, G/C Lecitus Smith, WR Dimitri Stanley, TE Messiah Swinson, OT Luke Tenuta, WR Samori Toure, DL Spencer Wage, WR Jalen Wayne, LB Kristian Welch, TE Joel Wilson and LB Christian Young.

The tallies come from Acme Packing Co. Team Community Producer, Justis Mosqueda, whose 2023 Family Night and preseason snap counts helped Mosqueda effectively project last year’s regular season starting lineup. Doubs (21 snaps) and Watson (19 snaps) debuted as the two-wide receiver-set winners with second-year WR Jayden Reed logging 16 snaps, WR Dontayvion Wicks six, Bo Melton five and Grant DuBose two. Doubs will be a fantasy-draft-day steal if the trend holds.

Green Bay also placed Jeff Cotton, Jake Hanson, and Eric Stokes on the PUP list. Grant DuBose and Camren McDonald were placed on the non-football injury list. Gary suffered a torn ACL in Week 9 last year and has been working off to the side during practices so far. It’s possible he’s ready for Week 1, though that remains up in the air. If the Packers don’t remove him from the PUP list before roster cutdowns, they will have to place him on the reserve/PUP list, sidelining him for at least the first four weeks of the season.

DuBose ran a 4.57 40-yard dash per Dane Brugler’s The Beast and caught 15 touchdowns over his final two seasons with Charlotte. He’s a big-bodied 6-foot-3 outside receiver who can also play special teams. He’ll get a shot to stick at the end of Green Bay’s roster in preseason.

The 49ers had DuBose’s running mate Victor Tucker back today, so DuBose wasn’t dealing with as much attention as he was in last week’s 49-28 loss to Marshall. The nine catches ties DuBose’s career-high. Unfortunately, this loss dropped Charlotte to 5-7, ending their season.

DuBose (6'2/200) was Reynolds main target on Friday night, catching 4 more passes than the next highest receiver. His two touchdowns in the first quarter set the tone for the rest of the game. DuBose nearly matched his season total in receptions tonight having had 11 in the first three games and he doubled his touchdown total. DuBose looks to keep the momentum going next week as the 49ers take on Illinois on Saturday.