Predicting the Packers’ 53-Man Roster With Cuts Looming Next Week

The Green Bay Packers have made it through the first two preseason games and are heading toward a meaningful final week of training camp with a joint practice and game against the Arizona Cardinals.

There are plenty of battles to be won as the depth of the roster has made for some interesting decisions and even given the Packers some potential trade chips if they choose to go that route.

Other spots are easy to project, and some jobs have been solidified with big-time performances in the preseason from kicker Trey Smack and defensive back Kamal Hadden.

Here is our second crack at a 53-man projection with a big week looming.

Quarterback (2)

On the 53: Jordan Love, Tyrod Taylor.

Not much to see here. Jordan Love is the starter. Tyrod Taylor will be the backup.

Kyle McCord has been excellent in the preseason, and the Packers may have to weigh whether a team would scoop him up if they release him on cutdown day. If he’s released and clears waivers, the Packers would likely be thrilled to have him back on the practice squad.

Running Back (3)

On the 53: Josh Jacobs, Marshawn Lloyd, Chris Brooks.

MarShawn Lloyd is healthy and proving why the Packers were willing to wait for him to work through his injuries through the first two seasons of his career. Chris Brooks is the team’s best blocking back and a core special-teamer.

One thing that could be interesting is what the Packers do with Pierre Strong Jr. He’s shown an ability to get downhill in the run game and return kickoffs. Strong returned a kickoff 68 yards to set up a Trey Smack field goal in the game Friday against the Denver Broncos. With legal questions surrounding Josh Jacobs, could the Packers look to keep an insurance policy?

Wide Receiver (6)

On the 53: Christian Watson, Matthew Golden, Jayden Reed, Skyy Moore, Bo Melton, Savion Williams.

There are some intriguing practice-squad candidates with Isaiah Neyor, J. Michael Sturdivant and Will Sheppard proving their worth at different points in the preseason and training camp.

As far as the roster goes? There’s just not that much drama here. In order to keep one of the aforementioned players, they’d either have to keep seven receivers or release Bo Melton.

Seven receivers feels like a waste of a roster spot with all of the needs in other places on the roster. The likelihood is the Packers could get some, if not all of the aforementioned receivers, back on the practice squad.

Releasing Melton would be the shock of the century. The organization loves him. He might be the team’s best special teams player, and has made plays for them as a receiver. On Saturday, special teams coordinator Cam Achord said they are working 18 players at gunner but pointed only to Melton. Then, passing-game coordinator Jason Vrable said Melton is one of the receivers’ top blockers.

Tight End (3)

On the 53: Tucker Kraft, Josh Whyle, Drake Dabney.

PUP: Luke Musgrave.

The first two choices on this list are easy. Tucker Kraft is back, but they’re going to have to hold him back early in the season while he fully recovers from his torn ACL.

Josh Whyle is firmly entrenched as the backup tight end. After that, Drake Dabney’s name could read Dabney Drake and it may not make a difference. Dabney is making the roster at this point by default, but tight end feels like a position where the Packers are going to have to add someone from the outside.

Jonnu Smith is one possibility as he has played under coach Matt La Fleur. Zach Ertz is a veteran with some big-game chops, but the Packers are likely to lean toward a younger player who could potentially make an impact on special teams.

Offensive Line (9)

On the 53: Jordan Morgan, Aaron Banks, Sean Rhyan, Anthony Belton, Zach Bako-Bewele, Darian Kinnard, Jager Burton, John Williams, Jacob Monk.

There may not be a player who has helped himself more in training camp than Jacob Monk. At the beginning of camp, it appeared he would be on the roster bubble. Now, he appears to be the overwhelming favorite to start at right guard against Minnesota in Week 1.

The back end of the offensive line room is starting to take shape. Jager Burton is the plug-and-play guy at all three interior spots if he’s not starting in favor of Aaron Banks. Anthony Belton is the swing tackle. John Williams is a potential super-sub with reps at left tackle, left guard and center during camp.

Darian Kinnard played well for the Packers a season ago if he can get off the injury report. Not only could he provide depth at right guard and right tackle but he played 66 snaps at tight end last season.

Defensive Line (6)

Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Karl Brooks (94) is shown at training camp on Friday, July 31. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

On the 53: Javon Hargrave, Devonte Wyatt, Chris McClellan, Karl Brooks, Jonathan Ford, Warren Brinson.

PUP: Jordon Riley.

Jonathan Ford is one of the top performers in training camp and may start at nose tackle if the season were to begin tomorrow. He replaces Nazir Stackhouse, who made the cut in our initial projection.

One question that could upset the apple cart here is whether the Packers want to keep training camp stalwart Anthony Campbell. He’s been all over the field during practices and games, including his first sack against the Broncos on Friday. If the Packers don’t want to risk losing Campbell to waivers, they’d either have to keep him in favor of Ford, trade Karl Brooks, who is entering the final year of his deal, or keep seven.

That’s something worth monitoring as the preseason comes to a close.

Edge (5)

On the 53: Lukas Van Ness, Barryn Sorrell, Brenton Cox, Dani Dennis-Sutton, Collin Oliver.

PUP: Micah Parsons.

This group has had an up-and-down camp and is facing a big week with their joint practice session against the Cardinals. The pass rush was solid against the Steelers in the first week of the preseason, with Lukas Van Ness and Brenton Cox recording sacks.

Friday night against the Broncos, they were dormant against one of the better offensive lines in football. Nobody has really separated themselves in game situations, and that could make for one giant Micah Parsons-sized question mark as the season kicks off in three weeks.

Linebacker (5)

On the 53: Zaire Franklin, Edgerrin Cooper, Isaiah McDuffie, Ty'Ron Hopper, Nick Niemann.

This is another pretty easy group to forecast. The Packers likely hope to sneak local product Kristian Welch onto the practice squad for the depth he provides at linebacker along with his special-teams ability.

Otherwise, Zaire Franklin and Edgerrin Cooper are the starters. The primary backups are Ty’Ron Hopper and Isaiah McDuffie, with Nick Niemann playing the role of special teams ace.

Cornerback (6)

On the 53: Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine, Brandon Cisse, Benjamin St-Juste, Domani Jackson, Kamal Hadden.

There has been a lot of drama at this position, but right now it’s hard to forecast any major changes coming. Carrington Valentine and Keisean Nixon could be trade candidates at the end of camp, but can the Packers really afford to sacrifice any depth at the position? As things stand, Brandon Cisse is likely to start Week 1. with Nixon, Valentine and Benjamin St-Juste battling it out for roles as the season goes on.

Kamal Hadden has popped since returning to action and could provide positional versatility as a boundary cornerback and slot. Domani Jackson has missed a good chunk of camp, but is back on the field, and the Packers liked him enough to draft him. He’ll get one of the final spots on the roster.

Safety (5)

On the 53: Evan Williams, Xavier McKinney, Javon Bullard, Kitan Oladapo, Mark Perry.

The first three help form what is likely the best safety trio in all of football. Javon Bullard should return to action soon after missing time with a foot injury that has hampered him during training camp. Xavier McKinney and Evan Williams might form the best starting safety tandem in the NFL.

The big addition here is Mark Perry, who popped onto the screen in Friday’s win over the Broncos with an interception that led to a field goal late in the first half. Playmaking and his ability on special teams should give him the nod for one of the final spots on the roster.

Specialists (3)

On the 53: Daniel Whelan, Trey Smack, Matt Orzech.

Could there be a controversy here? It does not sound like it, according to the coaching staff. Incumbent snapper Matt Orzech is hurt and has missed all of training camp, but once he’s off the PUP list, it seems likely he’ll reclaim his job, even if there may be a fair point to make about not disrupting the rhythm that Trey Smack has established with newcomer Cal Adomitis.

Whelan is one of the top punters in football.

The only question mark coming into camp was Trey Smack, but he has answered every question emphatically through two preseason games. The Packers will continue to say that he’s only kicked in two games, but everything he’s done to this point should have them feeling very confident that he’ll be ready when Week 1 rolls around.

With just one week remaining in training camp, here's our latest 53-man Packers roster projection, with the focus on the players on the bubble and with two potential trades. ⬇️https://t.co/0rsDIkZH1e
— Bill Huber (@BillHuberNFL) August 22, 2026

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