GREEN BAY, Wis. – When Patrick Taylor saw his former Green Bay Packers backfield-mates, Aaron Jones and Emanuel Wilson, get carted off the field during the first half on Sunday, he had a feeling he might be returning Green Bay.

Sure enough, his agent, Chris Cabott, had just talked to Packers executive Russ Ball. At halftime, Cabott called Taylor. His wife answered and handed him the phone and said:

“‘Hey, we’re going back to Green Bay.’”

Taylor joined the Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2020. Whether it was injured reserve, the active roster or the practice squad, Taylor stuck with the team through Week 5 of this season. Within a span of a few days, Taylor went from being promoted from the practice squad to the 53-man roster to playing at Las Vegas to being released. Rather than re-signing Taylor to the practice squad, the Packers instead signed veteran James Robinson.

Thanks for nothing, in other words.

“I’d say it left a bad taste in my mouth, for sure,” Taylor said. “But I know nobody owes you anything in this league, no matter how hard you work, no matter all the things that you do. It’s a performance-based business. If you’re not playing well or you’re not helping the team, then they’ll get rid of you.

“It left a bad taste in my mouth, for sure, but I’m grateful that it happened. It gave me a different perspective of everything moving forward. But I am grateful for the opportunity to be back here and be back with my boys, and play with the Packer G.”

Taylor quickly landed on the New England Patriots’ practice squad. That’s where he was on Sunday, with Taylor enjoying a bye week by watching his former team with his wife.