Key Battles For Roster Spots

None of the following are exactly Ali vs. Frazier, but some intriguing battles are going on for the final nine or 10 spots on the 53-man roster. Here’s a closer look at where things stand heading into tonight’s second preseason game against the Saints:




QB3 (Danny Etling vs. reality)

Etling has probably exceeded expectations this month, but there’s absolutely no reason to carry him on the 53-man roster. No other team will claim a 28-year-old quarterback who hasn’t thrown a single pass in a real NFL game. The former LSU star will be signed to the practice squad after final cuts, and that’s where the Packers hope he’ll stay all season.

RB3 (Tyler Goodson vs. Patrick Taylor)

Taylor, who carried the ball 23 times for 89 yards a year ago, has the advantage in experience, but Goodson is more versatile and has a higher ceiling. That should give him an edge on cutdown day. Dexter Williams had the longest run in the preseason opener against the 49ers despite being on the roster for only three days. Of course, Kylin Hill could swipe this spot if he’s activated off the physically unable to perform list before Week 1, although that seems highly unlikely.

TE4 (Tyler Davis vs. Tyler Davis)

General manager Brian Gutekunst, coach Matt LaFleur, and the local media sang Davis’ praises throughout the spring, so this was always his job to lose. He might be doing just that. The former college wide receiver has blocked poorly in practice and dropped a pass that turned into an interception against the 49ers. Still, there’s not much competition for this spot now that veteran Dominique Dafney has been released, so unless Alize Mack, Sal Cannella, or newly-acquired Nate Becker do something to really stand out in the next two or three weeks, Davis will likely stick around for another season.

WR7 (Samori Toure vs. Juwann Winfree)

There’s no guarantee the Packers will keep seven wide receivers, but it sure looks like a two-person battle if they do. As is the case at running back, one player has more experience (Winfree), and the other is more versatile and has a higher ceiling (Toure). This will probably be decided in the next two preseason games. There’s also a slight chance ascending undrafted rookie Danny Davis could make a late push if the hamstring injury he suffered earlier in the week isn’t too serious.

OL9 (Caleb Jones vs. Cole Van Lanen)

Elgton Jenkins, Yosh Nijman, Jon Runyan, and Josh Myers are locks, while Royce Newman, Sean Rhyan, and Zach Tom appear safe. That leaves one or two openings for three players (Jake Hanson, Caleb Jones, and Cole Van Lanen). Hanson should feel secure, considering he’s taken most of the snaps with the 1s at right guard, but you never know. If the ninth spot comes down to Jones and Van Lanen, the former might have the slight edge due to his higher ceiling. Of course, both players would likely be headed to the practice squad if All-Pro David Bakhtiari is finally activated off PUP before Week 1.




DL6 (Jack Heflin vs. Chris Slayton)

The Packers don’t need to keep six at this position, but general managers hate to cut big guys who can play, and both Heflin and Slayton have looked pretty good this summer. Second-year pro Heflin is a slightly more athletic version of Tyler Lancaster, who stuck around for four seasons before leaving for Las Vegas in April. Slayton has been one of the surprises of camp. He sure hasn’t looked like a player who’s been cut seven times by five teams since being drafted by the Giants in 2019. Jonathan Ford is also in the mix, although this appears to be a two-person battle with Heflin in the lead.

OLB5 (Tipa Galeai vs. La’Darius Hamilton vs. Kobe Jones)

Kingsley Enagbare all but wrapped up a roster spot in the past week. The rookie from South Carolina has really come on after a slow start. Jonathan Garvin, who played 396 capable snaps last season, should also feel pretty secure. That would leave three players to battle for most likely one opening. Galeai would be the slight favorite over Hamilton to grab the fifth spot – assuming there is a fifth spot – but don’t dismiss the unheralded Jones, who’s quietly had a nice summer.

ILB4 (Isaiah McDuffie vs. Ty Summers vs. Ray Wilborn)

It would be a shock if the fast-rising McDuffie doesn’t make the 53-man roster. In fact, he could move ahead of Krys Barnes on the depth chart by the end of training camp. It’s possible Gutekunst could decide to keep a fifth player at this position, but either Summers or Wilborn would have to step up in the next few weeks to make that happen. The former has been pretty good on special teams in the past, and the latter runs very well and can cover backs and athletic tight ends.

CB5 (Rico Gafford vs. Shemar Jean-Charles vs. Kabion Ento)

Keisean Nixon isn’t a lock to be on the 53, but he should feel pretty secure. Since it would be a surprise if Gutekunst doesn’t go heavy at this position, there’s a good chance that both Gafford and Jean-Charles will survive. The former is the better special teams player, and the latter is the better corner. Ento hasn’t done anything to stand out in his third summer, but Gutekunst seems to like him. Remember, he made the initial 53 in 2020 before being placed on injured reserve. And if recent practices are any indication, there’s a chance Kiondre Thomas could make a late push for a roster spot.

S5 (Tariq Carpenter vs. Innis Gaines)

This is assuming both Shawn Davis and Vernon Scott make the 53-man roster and Gutekunst decides to keep a fifth player at the position. Carpenter was drafted in April, which automatically gives him an edge over Gaines. It’s also possible that a veteran will be acquired sometime after final cuts, which could affect all four players in one way or another. Simply put, there’s still a lot of uncertainty on the depth chart behind starters Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage.

LS1 (Jack Coco vs. the league)

Coco has been OK in camp, but are the Packers really going to go with a rookie who hadn’t snapped for punts since high school prior to signing in May? What makes this even harder to believe is that Gutekunst is paying top dollar to coordinator Rich Bisaccia, kicker Mason Crosby, and punter Pat O’Donnell. Replacing Coco with a veteran makes sense.