The Green Bay Packers will finish up a three-day trip to Indianapolis with a preseason game against the Colts on Saturday afternoon. Although veterans and most starters aren’t expected to play, the preseason clash at Lucas Oil Stadium is still an important evaluation opportunity for coach Matt LaFleur and general manager Brian Gutekunst following Thursday’s competitive joint practice.
Here are five things to watch on Saturday afternoon in Indianapolis:
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Can healthy WRs seize the opportunity?
Five of the Packers’ top six wide receivers missed Thursday’s joint practice and likely won’t play, leaving a big opportunity for whomever is healthy and available on Saturday. Mecole Hardman and Malik Heath are competing for 53-man roster spots and will be in the spotlight after disappointing individual performances in the preseason opener, but other young receivers have a big chance to impress. Julian Hicks, Corneilus Johnson, Will Sheppard, Isaiah Neyor and Kawaan Baker should all get plenty of snaps against the Colts.
Sorting out the bottom of the OL depth chart
The top seven spots along the offensive line are set in stone, and it’s possible Jacob Monk has an eighth spot locked up despite a disappointing preseason opener, but at least one roster spot is up for grabs over the next two weeks. Who is going to be the No. 9 or even No. 10 offensive lineman on the 53-man roster? Donovan Jennings, Kadeem Telfort, Lecitus Smith and Trey Hill have the most experience, but the door is open for a rookie such as Tyler Cooper, J.J Lippe or Brant Banks to make some noise. The Packers need to see a better all-around performance from the bottom of the depth chart options along the offensive line in Indianapolis.
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Escalade coming through
Speaking of the offensive line, Packers second-round pick Anthony Belton (nickname: Escalade) flashed impressive ability but was inconsistent snap-to-snap in his preseason debut. Can Belton, who played right tackle exclusively in the opener, take another step forward? He is a big man who can punish people at the point of attack, and these reps in live game environments will only help smooth out the rougher parts of his still developing game. Don’t be surprised if Belton gets a long look at left and right tackle against the Colts.
Young defensive linemen
Barryn Sorrell, Brenton Cox, Colby Wooden, Nazir Stackhouse and Warren Brinson all had impressive moments in the preseason opener. The Packers defensive front mostly dominated the Colts in Thursday’s joint practice, and the backups up front will get a chance to repeat the feat on Saturday. The Packers need to find out who are the best rotational edge rushers behind Rashan Gary and Lukas Van Ness and the best run-stuffing options at defensive tackle, so these snaps have real importance for determining who secures specific roles for the 2025 team.
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A few other players to watch
Can cornerback Bo Melton build off his debut at cornerback? Is Kristian Welch capable of continuing his push for a roster spot due to his impact on special teams? Will Ty’Ron Hopper have another productive performance? Is MarShawn Lloyd going to make his long-awaited preseason debut, and can he get through the contest healthy? Will John FitzPatrick further solidify his spot as the No. 3 tight end? Can Taylor Elgersma flash enough as a passer to surpass Sean Clifford on the quarterback depth chart entering the final week of the preseason? Will Kalen King make a few more notable plays after a solid preseason debut? As is always the case in exhibition games, don’t sleep on the special teams snaps — they are vital for determining the final spots on the roster.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers vs. Colts: 5 things to watch in preseason clash