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Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst must trim his roster to 53 by Sunday night.<\/p>\n
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n
In 1986, the Green Bay Packers made the stunning move of releasing starting quarterback Lynn Dickey and tight end Paul Coffman at the end of training camp.<\/p>\n
In 2016, the Packers pulled a similar shocker and cut Pro Bowl guard Josh Sitton at the end of camp.<\/p>\n
Those days are long gone \u2014 or so we think.<\/p>\n
Today, there are rarely any major surprises on cutdown day, as teams have their rosters mostly settled long before training camp begins.<\/p>\n
Green Bay general manager Brian Gutekunst \u2014 and the rest of the league \u2014 must reduce their rosters to 53 players by Sunday at 5 p.m. Teams can then they can establish a 17-player practice squad.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur scouts, the coaching staff, the contract, the financial part of it, medical staff \u2014 those things are going on nonstop,\u201d Gutekunst said. \u201cAt the end of the day, it\u2019s my job to take all that in and do what\u2019s best for the Packers.\u201d<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s my prediction of how the Packers\u2019 53-man roster will look Sunday night.<\/p>\n
QUARTERBACKS (2): Jordan Love, Tyrod Taylor.Cut: Kyle McCordAnalysis<\/p>\n
This is pretty cut and dry.<\/p>\n
Love had a terrific summer and the Packers are hoping the 37-year-old Taylor has something left if he\u2019s asked to play.<\/p>\n
McCord, a sixth round draft pick of Philadelphia in 2025, had a strong camp and the Packers are probably hoping they can get him through to the practice squad.<\/p>\n
McCord finished the summer with a 102.4 passer rating after completing 46-of-70 passes for 446 yards with four TDs, and no interceptions. He went the distance in Green Bay\u2019s 42-38 win over Arizona Friday and led the Packers to a pair of TDs in the final 3 \u00bd minutes.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe did a heck of a job, man,\u201d Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur said of McCord. \u201cHe was so just poised in his ability to operate and function. I think he’s, he definitely has the demeanor, no doubt about it. He’s in total control out there, and he’s willing to stand in the pocket, deliver in the face of pressure. And yeah, I thought he did an outstanding job.\u201d<\/p>\n
RUNNING BACKS (3): Josh Jacobs, MarShawn Lloyd, Chris Brooks.Cut: Pierre Strong, Jaden Nixon, Damien Martinez.Analysis<\/p>\n
This is a tricky position to project after Jacobs was charged with two misdemeanors on Thursday stemming from his arrest on May 26.<\/p>\n
Jacobs will almost certainly face discipline under the NFL\u2019s Personal Conduct Policy. The only question is when \u2014 and the NFL has likely told the Packers\u2019 brass what it\u2019s thinking.<\/p>\n
If Green Bay keeps four running backs, it\u2019s probable Jacobs will be suspended for the start of the season. If they keep just three, it likely means any disciplinary action won\u2019t come until after his initial court appearance on Nov. 17.<\/p>\n
One of the highlights of summer for Green Bay was that the oft-injured Lloyd came through camp healthy. Lloyd didn’t have much room to run on many of his carries due to shaky line play, but he did show a special burst on his 11-yard touchdown reception in Denver.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel great,\u201d Lloyd said earlier this week. \u201cI feel like myself. Really happy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jacobs missed two weeks of camp with a groin injury, but if he\u2019s not suspended, he should be ready to go in Week 1. Brooks excels as a third down pass protector, which should earn him a third season in Green Bay.<\/p>\n
If the Packers keep a fourth back, it’s likely to be Strong, who\u2019s averaging 5.0 yards per carry during his three NFL seasons and had a solid summer. A trade before cuts are due is also a possibility.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re always usually going to keep three or four running backs, and I think we have enough to do that,\u201d Gutekunst said. \u201cBut again it comes down to choices and trying to figure that out. The one thing, particularly at that position, is elevating a guy from the practice squad. I don\u2019t want to say it\u2019s easy to do but it\u2019s something we\u2019ve done in the past and not something we\u2019d shy away from.\u201d<\/p>\n
RECEIVERS (6): Christian Watson, Matthew Golden, Jayden Reed, Bo Melton, Savion Williams, Skyy Moore.Cut: Will Sheppard, J. Michael Sturdivant, Kisean Johnson, Isaiah Neyor, Kaden Prather, Chris Hilton.Analysis<\/p>\n
Much has been made of the late push Sheppard and Sturdivant made in the final preseason game. Green Bay should be able to get one, or both, to the practice squad, though.<\/p>\n
The trio of Watson, Golden and Reed has the potential to be one of the league\u2019s most explosive trios. The biggest question is can they stay healthy?<\/p>\n
Golden played in 14 games during his 2025 rookie season, while Reed is averaging 13.3 games per season and Watson is at 12.0 during their careers.<\/p>\n
Melton is a jack-of-all-trades who runs extremely well and is a key cog on most special teams units.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like this was my best summer yet,\u201d Melton said. \u201cIt\u2019s the fastest I\u2019ve been. I\u2019m doing special teams. I\u2019ve been making play after play, so I\u2019m excited.\u201d<\/p>\n
Moore, who played for San Francisco last season, ranked sixth in the NFL on kick returns in 2025 (27.5) and seventh on punt returns (11.6). Moore should be a major upgrade from Romeo Doubs on punt returns (6.3) and Savion Williams on kickoff returns (25.6).<\/p>\n
Williams had a mediocre summer, then suffered an ankle injury against Denver in the second preseason game and hasn’t returned. Williams, a third round draft pick in 2025, is certainly safe. If he winds up on the PUP list, though, it will open the door for either Sturdivant or Sheppard.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of factors that play into determining the final 53,\u201d LaFleur said. \u201cAnd I think \u2026 a lot of these guys made it very, very difficult onus.\u201d
TIGHT ENDS (4): Tucker Kraft, Jonnu Smith, Josh Whyle, (TBA).<\/p>\n
Cut: Drake Dabney, Messiah Swinson, McCallan Castles, Thomas Yassmin.PUP: Luke Musgrave (neck).Analysis<\/p>\n
Kraft was in the middle of an All-Pro season in 2025 when he tore his right ACL against Carolina on Nov. 2.<\/p>\n
Kraft started all eight of the games he played last season and posted 32 receptions, 489 receiving yards and six touchdowns. He was the only tight end in the league with 30-plus receptions, 475-plus receiving yards, six-plus receiving touchdowns and an average of 15-plus yards per catch through Week 9. <\/p>\n
Kraft was activated from the PUP list on July 31, returned to 11-on-11 team drills in mid-August and will play Week 1 at Minnesota. Kraft\u2019s reps will be limited early, though.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey’re going to take into account my rep range probably until halfway through the season,\u201d Kraft said on Aug. 16. \u201cThen they’re just going to pat me on the (butt) and send me out there, send me to the wolves.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Packers typically keep four tight ends, and with Kraft on a pitch count early, there\u2019s a greater need this season.<\/p>\n
Smith, who caught 88 passes and had eight touchdown receptions in 2024, signed a one-year deal with Green Bay on Aug. 27. Whyle, who began last season on the practice squad, played eight games after Kraft was injured and enhanced his standing with the team thanks to a solid summer.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s unlikely the fourth tight end is currently on the roster. Look for Gutekunst to sign one that\u2019s released on Sunday, or make a minor trade to add another.<\/p>\n
OFFENSIVE LINE (9): Jordan Morgan, Aaron Banks, Sean Rhyan, Jacob Monk, Zach Bako-Bewele, Anthony Belton, Jager Burton, John Williams, Darian Kinnard.Cut: Travis Glover, Donovan Jennings, Dillon Wade, Josh Gesky, Dylan Barrett, Brant Banks, Dalton Cooper.Analysis<\/p>\n
The top seven \u2014 Morgan, Banks, Rhyan, Monk, Bako-Bewele, Belton and Burton \u2014 seem set in stone. From there, it\u2019s likely Williams, Kinnard, Jennings and Glover are battling for two spots.<\/p>\n
Williams, a forgotten man in 2025 when he missed the entire season with a back injury, has been a surprise this camp and started at left tackle in the final preseason game.<\/p>\n
\u201cLast year, I don\u2019t know if you guys even knew who John Wiliams was,\u201d Green Bay offensive line coach Luke Butkus said of Williams on Aug. 22. \u201cHe was banged and that injury, to get him back this offseason and to see what he\u2019s doing and his movement ability right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kinnard, who made four starts last season and received $1 million signing bonus this offseason, could be in some trouble. Green Bay rested its starters Friday \u2014 meaning it opened with its No. 2 offensive line \u2014 and Kinnard was a backup to that group.<\/p>\n
Jennings has positional versatility, which the Packers love. Glover, a sixth round pick in 2024 who spent all of last season on the injured reserve list (torn lat), might be out of time.<\/p>\n
DEFENSIVE TACKLES (7): Devonte Wyatt, Javon Hargrave, Chris McClellan, Karl Brooks, Warren Brinson, Jonathan Ford, Anthony Campbell.Cut: Nazir Stackhouse, Anthony Campbell, Jaden Crumedy.PUP: Jordon Riley (Achilles).Analysis<\/p>\n
The depth of this group was one of the surprises of camp. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s very talented,\u201d veteran tackle Javon Hargrave said of the group. \u201cEverybody can play ball here. I feel like some places you could tell certain people don’t belong, but here I honestly don’t know who \u2013 we’re pretty deep at this position.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Packers\u2019 depth opens up the possibility that they could trade a player like Brooks, who\u2019s entering the final year of his rookie deal and seems unlikely to get a second contract in Green Bay.<\/p>\n
Another wildcard would be Brinson, a sixth round pick in 2025 who took a big jump this training camp. Brinson suffered a calf strain in warm-ups, though, before the Packers\u2019 second preseason game and his status for the season opener is uncertain.<\/p>\n
If Brinson is going to miss time, he could wind up on the PUP list and Green Bay might keep six tackles instead of seven.<\/p>\n
Campbell (6-6, 307) made plays on a daily basis all summer, and has probably done enough to stick regardless of Brinson\u2019s status. Ford, signed late in 2025 with the Packers desperate for defensive line help, had a productive summer and edges out Stackhouse in our projections.<\/p>\n
EDGE (5): Lukas Van Ness, Barryn Sorrell, Brenton Cox, Dani Dennis-Sutton, Collin Oliver.Cut: Arron Mosby, Nyjalik Kelly, Arden Walker.PUP: Micah Parsons (ACL\/meniscus)Analysis<\/p>\n
The top four are locks, meaning the fifth spot comes down to Oliver, Kelly and Mosby.<\/p>\n
Oliver was a fifth round draft pick in 2025 who missed his entire rookie season with a hamstring injury. Oliver is undersized (6-2, 240) and is out once again, this time with a calf injury.<\/p>\n
Gutekunst loves his draft picks, though, and probably wants to give Oliver a chance to prove he was worth a fifth rounder.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like I did a great job this training camp,\u201d Oliver said this week. \u201cI feel like personally special teams has been good. I feel like I’m pass rushing, and I feel like I had some good plays in the run, as well.\u201d
Kelly, an undrafted free agent, was given a $15,000 signing bonus after the 2026 draft and the Packers will certainly try getting him to the practice squad if he doesn’t stick.<\/p>\n
Mosby is a key special teams player who\u2019s played in 28 games the last two seasons.<\/p>\n
The guess here is Green Bay goes with Oliver, whose greatest strength is rushing the passer. With Parsons out at least the first month of the season, Green Bay will need all the pass rushers it can find.<\/p>\n
LINEBACKERS (5): Edgerrin Cooper, Zaire Franklin, Isaiah McDuffie, Ty\u2019Ron Hopper, Nick Niemann.Cut: Kristian Welch, TJ Quinn.Analysis<\/p>\n
There\u2019s unlikely to be any drama with this positional group on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Cooper had an impressive summer and could be poised for a breakout year. The 30-year-old Franklin, who came via trade with Indianapolis this offseason, appears to have plenty left in the tank.<\/p>\n
Together, the duo could accomplish big things. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think they\u2019re all learning how to play off of one another,\u201d Green Bay linebackers coach Sam Siefkes said of Cooper and Franklin. \u201cIt\u2019s the first year in a new system and obviously Z\u2019s a new player for us as well. But I think they\u2019re learning when you can quote-unquote take a shot and cover for a guy and when you can do different things. You start to understand the tendencies of the players that you\u2019re playing with.\u201d<\/p>\n
McDuffie is one of the most reliable players on the roster and one of Green Bay\u2019s best special teams players. Niemann is a core special teams player, as well, who edges Welch for the final linebacker spot.<\/p>\n
Quinn, who forced a fumble Friday and had two tackles for loss, should have a home on the practice squad.<\/p>\n
CORNERBACKS (5): Brandon Cisse, Keisean Nixon, Benjamin St-Juste, Carrington Valentine, Kamal Hadden.Cut: Domani Jackson, Jaylin Simpson, Shemar Bartholomew, MJ Devonshire.Analysis<\/p>\n
This group could certainly use some help, but it’s unlikely Gutekunst will find any at this late date.<\/p>\n
Cisse, the Packers\u2019 second round pick in April, appears to be a virtual lock at one spot. Nixon, St-Juste and Valentine are battling for the other job, with Nixon the current frontrunner.<\/p>\n
Is that group good enough to hold up against teams like Minnesota, Detroit and the Los Angeles Rams? Probably not, but at this juncture, it is what it is.<\/p>\n
Cisse had a terrific summer, but he\u2019s also a rookie.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere’s a long way to go still with him,\u201d said Bobby Babich, Green Bay\u2019s secondary coach\/pass game coordinator. \u201cCertainly he’s setting himself up to have a chance to be pretty successful.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nixon, a 17-game starter in 2025, had an underwhelming summer. Valentine, who started opposite of Nixon last season, missed part of training camp with a hamstring injury and was passed by Cisse and St-Juste.<\/p>\n
St-Juste, a third round draft pick in 2021, has tremendous size (6-3, 200), but hasn’t been able to either win, or keep a starting job in both Washington and with the Los Angeles Chargers.<\/p>\n
Hadden, who broke his right tibia and fibula, and suffered severe ankle damage during a Week 17 game against Baltimore last season, has made an impressive return and seems well ahead of Jackson for the fifth cornerback spot.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been fun to watch his growth,\u201d LaFleur said of Hadden. \u201cHow he prepares \u2014 he comes in with a great attitude, he\u2019s extremely coachable.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jackson, a sixth round draft pick in April, gave up a 41-yard touchdown to Arizona\u2019s Simi Fehoko during a rough outing on Friday. The best spot for him right now would be the practice squad.<\/p>\n
SAFETIES (4): Xavier McKinney, Evan Williams, Javon Bullard, Kitan Oladapo.Cut: Mark Perry, Murvin Kenion III, Trey Dean III, Tra Fluellen.Analysis <\/p>\n
There doesn’t appear to be much mystery here, either.<\/p>\n
Green Bay\u2019s top three of McKinney, Williams and Bullard rival the top trios in football and should be able to compensate for a shaky cornerback room.<\/p>\n
Oladapo, a fifth round draft pick in 2024, had his best summer and saw extensive playing time as Bullard recovered from a foot injury. Oladapo seems likely to hold off Perry and Kenion III.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of growth,\u201d Oladapo said of his training camp. \u201cMore snaps, but it\u2019s more coaching point for myself and just more reps, getting your body used to being in certain positions where you don’t even need to think about it. You’re just reacting to the play, so it’s been very beneficial.\u201d<\/p>\n
SPECIALISTS (3): K Trey Smack, P Daniel Whelan, LS Matt Orzech. Cut: LS Cal Adomitis. Analysis <\/p>\n
Smack, Green Bay\u2019s sixth round draft pick in April, struggled on the practice field throughout the summer, but made all nine of his field goals in games \u2014 including three from beyond 50 yards.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome guys are great on gameday, some guys are great in practice,\u201d Packers special teams coach Cam Achord said. \u201cAnd it may not translate. I think it\u2019s just being the same person every day, whether that\u2019s a kicker or a core player or whatever it may be.\u201d<\/p>\n
Whelan set the single-season franchise record with a 51.7-yard gross average and a 43.9-yard net average last season. He\u2019s one of the NFL\u2019s elite punters.<\/p>\n
Orzech is a steady veteran who\u2019s missed all of camp with a calf injury, but said Wednesday he\u2019ll be ready for Week 1. Adomitis has performed admirably, but it\u2019s unlikely Orzech is going anywhere.<\/p>\n
\u201cMiserable, terrible,\u201d Orzech said of his summer. \u201cBut right now they’re telling me to be patient. It’s like this goes against everything in my entire being is to fight through pain. But they’re trying to urge the other way, and it’s been hard to do.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey just want to make sure that when I do come back, that I\u2019m at 100 percent myself and not nursing it or fighting a regression for a whole season. It’s a long run as you well know.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst must trim his roster to 53 by Sunday night. Copyright 2023…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":987059,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2072],"tags":[2945,7,41,345,2514,2513,1724,5393,3031,491,6,428,904],"class_list":["post-987058","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-green-bay-packers","tag-brian-gutekunst","tag-football","tag-green-bay","tag-green-bay-packers","tag-greenbay","tag-greenbaypackers","tag-jordan-love","tag-marshawn-lloyd","tag-matt-lafleur","tag-micah-parsons","tag-nfl","tag-packers","tag-savion-williams"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/117183161879405541","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/987058","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=987058"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/987058\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/987059"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=987058"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=987058"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=987058"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}