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Green Bay Packers' 53-man roster projection after the second preseason game

By Wendell Ferreira,

1 day ago

The Green Bay Packers played with the Denver Broncos on Sunday night, their second preseason game in 2024. Most starters didn't play and the game was rough , but it gave backups an opportunity to get reps.

After that, we have a slightly different perspective than what we had last week, after the win over the Cleveland Browns .

QBs (2): Jordan Love, Michael Pratt

Beyond Love , two recent draft picks are fighting to be the immediate backup and to stay on the roster. Sean Clifford was awful against the Broncos, and Pratt was... less bad. The seventh-round rookie will have another opportunity on Saturday to show he deserves to be the backup, but the situation for the QB2 job is rough.

Released: Sean Clifford.

RB (4): Josh Jacobs, Emanuel Wilson, AJ Dillon, MarShawn Lloyd

AJ Dillon now seems like a lock, since he didn't play in Denver. Emanuel Wilson played a lot, and he was clearly the best running back of the bunch. After a solid performance in Cleveland, the second-year running back deserves a spot on the 53.

Released: Jarveon Howard, Ellis Merriweather, Nate McCrary.

WR (6): Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Bo Melton, Malik Heath

The five first players here seem like locks, but the battle for the sixth spot will be intriguing. Malik Heath brings more special teams acumen, which is significant for a bottom of the roster player. He had three catches on Sunday, leading the team in an underwhelming passing performance.

Grant DuBose had had an impressive game against the Browns, with five receptions for 66 yards, but was quiet against the Broncos. The last preseason game, against the Baltimore Ravens, might decide to get the final job.

Released: Grant DuBose, Samori Toure, Julian Hicks, Dimitri Stanley, Jalen Wayne.

TE (4): Luke Musgrave, Tucker Kraft, Ben Sims, Tyler Davis

Musgrave and Kraft are locks, and Sims is pretty close to being one too. The Packers like Tyler Davis better than the external perception, so he might be kept as a special teamer. Joel Wilson played well against the Browns, but he's more of a practice squad type at this point.

Released: Joel Wilson, Messiah Swinson.

OL (9): Rasheed Walker, Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Jordan Morgan, Zach Tom, Sean Rhyan, Jacob Monk, Andre Dillard, Kadeem Telfort

That will be a fascinating fight for jobs. The Packers drafted three offensive linemen, signed veterans Andre Dillard and Lecitus Smith, plus two UDFAs. Dillard has no guarantees in his contract, and his play against the Browns was concerning — even though it seems like he's their primary swing tackle.

Travis Glover is a sixth-round pick, but it's getting hard to justify a roster spot (especially a rough performance at right tackle versus the Broncos), and he will probably end up on the practice squad.

Royce Newman, once a useful rookie, is now unplayable even against backups.

Released: Caleb Jones, Royce Newman, Travis Glover, Luke Tenuta, Donovan Jennings, Lecitus Smith.

IDL (5): Kenny Clark, TJ Slaton, Devonte Wyatt, Karl Brooks, Colby Wooden

The Packers haven't added interior defensive linemen until undrafted free agency, and that shows you how good the front office feels about their pieces. Ford and the UDFAs will most likely fight for practice squad spots.

Released: Jonathan Ford, Spencer Waege, James Ester.

EDGE (4): Rashan Gary, Preston Smith, Lukas Van Ness, Kingsley Enagbare

The first four are locks. After that,Brenton Cox made the team last year, but he hasn't shown big signs of development. Arron Mosby and Keshawn Banks could get in, but the numbers don't favor them. Mosby, though, had a couple of good plays and helped his case.

Released: Brenton Cox Jr, Keshawn Banks, Arron Mosby, Deslin Alexandre, Brevin Allen, Zach Morton, Kenneth Odumegwu.

LB (5): Quay Walker, Isaiah McDuffie, Eric Wilson, Edgerrin Cooper, Ty'Ron Hopper

This group is pretty much defined, with the three veterans and two rookies. Undrafted rookie Ralen Goforth was solid against the Browns, but suffered a concussion on Sunday.

Released: Ralen Goforth, Kristian Welch, Christian Young, Chris Russell.

CB (6): Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes, Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine, Corey Ballentine, Kalen King

The cornerback position is relatively easy to project, unless they decide to keep more than six players. Kalen King isn't guaranteed a roster spot as a seventh-rounder, but Gutekunst likes to keep his picks and he has a high upside. Rochell is a valuable special teamer, but it will be hard to get him a spot.

Released: Robert Rochell, Gemon Green, LJ Davis.

S (5): Xavier McKinney, Javon Bullard, Evan Williams, Kitan Oladapo, Anthony Johnson Jr.

McKinney and the rookies are the locks, even though Oladapo hasn't done much at this point. Anthony Johnson Jr., projected to be a starter before the draft, is now fighting for a roster spot with the other safeties and with other positions too, but it seems like he will make it based on his projected role.

Released: Benny Sapp III, Zayne Anderson.

ST (3): K Greg Joseph, P Daniel Whelan, LS Matthew Orzech

The Packers would certainly prefer to keep Carlson around, but Joseph is simply the better kicker. He is experienced and has been better in practice. However, Joseph missed a 47-yard field goal against the Broncos, so maybe the Packers' kicker in week 1 is not on the roster right now. There was also a long snapper battle, but rookie Peter Bowden was waived last week, and Orzech will keep his job.