The Green Bay Packers will start the NFL playoffs on Saturday without running back Kenyan Drake.

A member of the Packers’ practice squad, the former Alabama ball-carrier was released by Green Bay on Friday so the team could pick up cornerback David Long Jr.

The Packers placed cornerback Eric Stokes on injured reserve on Dec. 30, and cornerback Jaire Alexander didn’t practice on Thursday and Friday because of shoulder and ankle injuries.

Green Bay released Long only last week after he had played in three December games. Long also played in eight games for the Las Vegas Raiders and three games for the Carolina Panthers this season.

The Packers play the Dallas Cowboys at 3:30 p.m. CST Sunday in a first-round game in the NFC playoffs. FOX will televise the game.

Drake joined the Packers on Dec. 5. He played in one game as a practice-squad elevation.

The Packers were the fourth NFL team to sign Drake since Aug. 5, when the Indianapolis Colts added the free-agent running back to their training-camp roster.

Released by the Colts on Aug. 27 as they reduced their preseason roster to the regular-season limit, Drake returned to the NFL as a member of the Baltimore Ravens’ practice squad on Sept. 20.

Released by the Ravens on Oct. 17, Drake joined the Cleveland Browns’ practice squad on Oct. 31. The Browns released Drake on Nov. 28.

While with Baltimore, Drake made two appearances as a practice-squad elevation. He played 12 offensive snaps, caught two passes for 31 yards and had a rushing attempt for no gain.

Since joining the NFL as a third-round choice in the 2016 draft, Drake has run for 3,866 yards and 33 touchdowns on 869 carries in 104 NFL regular-season games. He also has 218 receptions for 1,655 yards and eight touchdowns.

Last season, Drake had 482 yards and four touchdowns on 109 carries and caught 17 passes for 89 yards and one touchdown in 12 games for the Ravens.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.