The Green Bay Packers are preparing for their final preseason game on Saturday night, which will be played at home against the Baltimore Ravens. After the game, the front office and coaching staff will face the tall task of cutting their roster from 90 players down to 53.
There are many position battles that are still ongoing, and how certain players perform on Saturday night could determine whether or not they make the final 53-man roster.
As a reminder, 16 players can be signed to Green Bay’s practice squad, in addition to International Player Program designee Alex Hale, who has been competing for the kicker position in camp.
Green Bay Packers Quarterbacks (2)
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Make the 53-Man Roster: Jordan Love and Michael Pratt
Cut: Sean Clifford
Sean Clifford may have been the incumbent and favorite to win the job going into training camp, but he has done little to convince anyone that he should be Jordan Love‘s backup again in 2024.
In Green Bay’s most recent preseason game, a 27-2 loss to the Denver Broncos, Clifford completed six of ten passes for 43 yards and an interception. He had a passer rating of 30.4 in the game; if one just spikes the ball after every snap, one would have a passer rating of 39.6.
Clifford has also been turnover prone during training camp practices, making many wonder if the 2023 fifth-round pick will make the team. He could end up on the practice squad, though.
Green Bay Packers Running Backs (3)
Make the 53-Man Roster: Josh Jacobs, AJ Dillon, Emanuel Wilson
IR: Marshawn Lloyd
This is a tough position to predict right now. Obviously, Josh Jacobs is going to be the premier running back after signing a four-year $48 million in free agency. The other three running backs were supposed to fight for the two spots behind him.
Unfortunately, health has become an issue, especially for 2024 third-round pick Marshawn Lloyd. The rookie missed a few days of camp with a hip injury and now is out with a pulled hamstring. Despite being drafted so high, he may end up on injured reserve to start the season.
AJ Dillon, too, is dealing with a stinger and the team is having him go through some more testing to get a better grasp on its severity.
Wilson, meanwhile, has been the Packers’ leading running back in each of their preseason games, just as he was last year.
Green Bay Packers Wide Receivers (6)
Make the 53-Man Roster: Jayden Reed, Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks, Bo Melton, Malik Heath
Cut: Grant DuBose, Samori Toure
The Packers clearly like their top six wide receivers from last season, and for good reason. The difficult question is going to be which of their talented crop of pass catchers is going to be left off the roster.
Grant DuBose and Samori Toure are both former seventh-round picks. Toure is what he is at this point, a fringe roster player that will probably be a career practice squad player. DuBose, though, showed promise against the Cincinnati Bengals before struggling against the Broncos.
Both will probably be signed to the practice squad.
Green Bay Packers Tight Ends (4)
Make the 53-Man Roster: Luke Musgrave, Tucker Kraft, Ben Sims, Henry Pearson (FB)
Cut: Tyler Davis
The Packers used two of the picks in the 2023 NFL Draft to take Musgrave and Kraft, and then plucked Sims off of the Minnesota Vikings practice squad. Each tight end performed well in 2023, especially the two who were picked in the draft.
Green Bay recently re-signed Pearson after cutting him earlier in camp. While the team may not use a traditional fullback, he can play special teams and has been healthy.
Davis is coming off of a 2023 season that saw him sidelined with a torn ACL. He also missed more than a few blocks in the Packers’ 27-2 loss to the Broncos. Since he does not seem to be in the plans on offense anyway, the Packers may decide to keep Pearson over him.
Green Bay Packers Offensive Linemen (10)
Make the 53-Man Roster: Zach Tom, Sean Rhyan, Josh Myers, Elgton Jenkins, Rasheed Walker, Andre Dillard, Jacob Monk, Travis Glover, Caleb Jones, Kadeem Telfort
Cut: Royce Newman, Donovan Jennings, Lecitus Smith, Luke Tenuta
The Royce Newman experience finally will come to an end after the offensive guard played 100% of the offense’s snaps in Denver and failed to show any signs of improvement.
The streak of Green Bay keeping a new undrafted free agent on the 53-man roster also will end with Jennings being cut.
Green Bay Packers Defensive Ends (5)
Make the 53-Man Roster: Rashan Gary, Preston Smith, Kingsley Enagbare, Lukas Van Ness, Brenton Cox
Cut: Deslin Alexandre
No surprises here.
The edge rushers are sure to have improved seasons with new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley’s scheme and will now be lined up in a 4-3 as opposed to a 3-4.
Expect career years from multiple players.
Green Bay Packers Interior Defensive Linemen (5)
Make the 53-Man Roster: Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt, TJ Slaton, Colby Wooden, Karl Brooks
Cut: Jonathan Ford
No surprises here either. Hafley’s new scheme is going to make the interior defensive line a great deal more fun to watch as well.
Jonathan Ford, a former seventh-round draft pick, likely will be signed onto the practice squad.
Green Bay Packers Linebackers (5)
Make the 53-Man Roster: Quay Walker, Edgerrin Cooper, Ty’Ron Hopper, Isaiah McDuffie, Kristian Welch
Cut: Eric Wilson, Chirstian Young, Arron Mosby, Ralen Goforth
Welch may be the surprise here, but he was one of the few bright spots on the Packers’ roster in their last preseason game.
Wilson and Mosby likely end up on the practice squad.
Green Bay Packers Cornerbacks (6)
Make the 53-Man Roster: Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes, Carrington Valentine, Corey Ballentine, Keisean Nixon, Kalen King
Cut: Benny Sapp III, Robert Rochell, Gemon Green, Zyon Gilbert
Not many surprises here either.
It will be very exciting to see how Stokes plays in his first year back from injury. The Packers decline his fifth-year option, so he has to play well in order to earn a next contract.
Green Bay Packers Safeties (4)
Make the 53-Man Roster: Xavier McKinney, Javon Bullard, Evan Smith, Kitan Oladapo
Cut: Zayne Anderson, Anthony Johnson Jr., Tyler Coyle
This position will feature all new players from the ones that manned safety for Green Bay last year. Hopefully they are a lot better, too.
Zayne Anderson has been having a good camp, so he may end up on the practice squad.
Green Bay Packers Specialists (3)
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Kicker: Anders Carlson
Punter: Daniel Whelan
Long Snapper: Matt Orzech
Other than Whelan, this group does not inspire much confidence.
