Paul Bretl | 8/24/2024
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Training camp practices are now over and the Packers’ preseason will conclude on Saturday afternoon following the finale at Lambeau Field against the Baltimore Ravens. For Brian Gutekunst and Matt LaFleur, the evaluation process is nearing an end and decisions will have to be made with initial 53-man rosters needing to be set by 3:00 PM CT on Tuesday, August 27th.
For a number of players, Saturday’s contest with the Ravens will be their last chance to earn a roster spot. However, while performing well in a game can certainly carry weight when it comes to making these decisions, LaFleur is taking into account each player’s entire body of work this summer.
“I think it’s the totality,” said LaFleur. “I think you can’t put too much stock in one or the other. You’ve got to look at the whole. Granted, those games get heavily magnified because of the situation. That’s when you’re playing real football, so, obviously, there’s a lot of value to that and making sure that we get the right guys in there to see what we need to see in order to make the best decisions possible for the football team.”
So with roster cuts looming, here are 15 Packers players to watch for against Baltimore as they have one last chance to add to the foundation they’ve established over the last month of practices and games.
Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt
For the record, I do think the Packers keep three quarterbacks. Gutekunst had mentioned on a few occasions this offseason the desire to get back to drafting and developing quarterbacks. Well–and the Packers know this–but that process can’t be accomplished in one year, in Clifford’s case, particularly when taking quarterbacks on the back end of the draft. Time and patience is required.
With that said, the backup role is up for grabs. Both players are coming off less than desirable performances against Denver, but both Clifford and Pratt had strong days against Baltimore on Thursday. Here and there, we’ve also seen Pratt getting some practice reps with the twos.
For Clifford, he has to find some sort of consistency and reignite that big play ability he brings. A big difference between last summer and this one, is that while there were still interceptions being thrown in 2023, Clifford often bounced-back with a big throw or long drive. That hasn’t been the case in 2024. With Pratt, as an incoming rookie playing in what can be a complicated offense, he’s drinking water through a fire hose, as LaFleur often says, and trying to navigate that learning curve.
Emanuel Wilson
Wilson has made the most of his opportunities with the ball in his hands. He’s averaging 4.2 yards per carry in the preseason, has a few explosive runs, and is averaging an impressive 3.69 yards after contact with seven missed tackles forced. He’s shown great burst as a ball carrier, but the question mark for Wilson when it came to making the team was always around his ability in pass protection and to be a three-down back. He’s improved in this regard, there were some nice pass-blocking reps against Denver, but there is still work to be done.
“Well, we’re still working on that part of it,” said RB coach Ben Sirmans. “He has shown whether it’s 1-on-1s that when he does attack things with the proper technique that he can block people, and I think the other thing besides that is he’s shown whether it’s a walkthrough or different phases we’ve put him in where we’ve brought pressure that he’s much more I guess educated at what his assignment is and making really good decisions.
“So I think that’s something that we’re working towards, but we’ve just got to continue to put him in those situations to get a full answer on that. but my trust level is growing with him.”
Injuries, however, at running back have changed the complexion of this position group. MarShawn Lloyd has been sidelined with a hamstring injury and for a rookie learning a new offense and trying to get acclimated to the NFL level, he’s missed more practices than he’s been a part of. AJ Dillon is also dealing with a stinger and right now the team is still in wait-and-see mode, gathering other opinions.
With the new IR rules for this season, allowing up to two players to be designated to return without having to be placed on the 53-man roster first, that could open up a roster spot for Wilson depending on the extent of either of these injuries.
Grant DuBose and Malik Heath
There isn’t room for both of these players on the 53-man roster. In terms of offensive production, DuBose has made more plays this summer, often working with the second unit. However, while of course, there is a certain prerequisite that both DuBose and Heath must meet from a pass catching perspective, their ability to help in the run game–which both have shown they can do–and to help on special teams will be other key factors in determining who makes the roster.
“You’re looking at everything,” said LaFleur. “I think any time you’re talking about that spot in particular, whether it’s the fifth receiver or the third runner, some of your backup linebackers, your fourth safety, your fifth corner, those guys have to be able to contribute on special teams. Absolutely.
“And I think that’s pretty standard around the league, but also, I mean you certainly want someone that can come in and help you on the offensive side of the ball and right now we’ve got a great competition. I think all those guys are doing a really good job.”
Andre Dillard, Kadeem Telfort, and Travis Glover
If the Packers keep nine offensive linemen, then there are likely two spots up for grabs with Sean Rhyan and Jacob Monk solidified as two of the backups. This means that, in this instance, one of these players will be left off the roster. For a few weeks now, based on rotations in practice and playing time in the preseason, Dillard seems to be ahead of both Telfort and Glover and is someone I would put on the roster right now.
Glover has only entered the swing tackle mix in the last week, and otherwise spent camp practicing with the third team offense. While Telfort has continued to see reps at both tackle spots, Glover works only at the right tackle position. Again, based on performance and opportunities, I would slot Telfort ahead of Glover right now.
“I think we’re trying to figure out who the third guy is and just that consistency that we’re looking for,” LaFleur said on Wednesday. “I think it’s a good battle. We’ve got confidence in all those guys that are battling for it. It just comes down to putting that consistent performance out there.”
Unlike in past years, instead of having a true swing tackle, my guess is that if the Packers need help at left tackle, Dillard steps in. If they need help on the right side, either Telfort or Glover would fill in. Keeping 10 offensive linemen and rostering all three also seems to be in play. I do not think that Caleb Jones or Luke Tenuta have much of a chance of making the roster.
Corey Ballentine, Robert Rochell, and Kalen King
If the Packers roster five cornerbacks, which we’ve seen them do in the past, then just one roster spot is available. It’s also not uncommon to see teams keep six, meaning two roster spots would be up for grabs.
At this point, I do think Ballentine is fairly safe. As I wrote recently, he’s a more experienced defender than Rochell and King, and as we saw last year, can provide quality snaps if called upon. He’s also been working out of the slot a bit this summer to bring added versatility and has been a special teams contributor as well.
Rochell has been a quality special teams player and can likely provide more value this season in that regard than what King can. However, King, who has been lining up in the nickel, has shown acclimated himself well to that role with his physical play-style, and we’ve also seen his playmaking ability flash with two interceptions and a sack this summer. Oftentimes these back-end roster spots go to developmental players over veterans–not to mention that the need for Rochell’s help on teams is reduced with Ballentine already on the roster.
Kristian Welch and Zayne Anderson
With the Packers having so many draft picks over the last few seasons, there just isn’t the same number of roster spots available for special teams only players, which is what Welch and Anderson are. Neither would be expected to see defensive snaps this season. I don’t see a path to where both Welch and Anderson make the team, and frankly, neither might make it.
Keeping Welch likely means keeping six linebackers, just like keeping Anderson likely means keeping six safeties. The trickle-down effect of this is having to go light at another position group. In regards to the long-term outlook of the team, rostering Welch or Anderson over Glover or King or DuBose, for example, certainly doesn’t seem like the prudent move.
The flip side to this is that if both are left off the roster, the Packers are relying heavily on young players to play important special teams snaps. And just like on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball, there is a learning curve that incoming players have to navigate on teams.
“What’s interesting about, when you’re talking team, is some of these guys may have been a non-teamer at their schools,” said LaFleur. “So, I think a lot of guys typically when you come into a situation as a young guy you get thrust into that role and you kind of graduate out of it the more you play.
“So, it’s just kind of getting them re-acclimated to the fundamentals, to the skills, to knowing what to do so they can go out there and play fast, because that is an important part of it. it’s a great opportunity for a lot of these guys to make their impact early on in this league. So those reps are really valuable.”
Anders Carlson and Greg Joseph
Barring a rough performance from Carlson, my feeling is that he has a firm grasp on this kicking competition. Overall, Carlson has made 81.9 percent of his kicks this summer and Joseph 78.1 percent. But beyond the numbers, Carlson has been trending in the upward direction for a few weeks now, while Joseph has been going the opposite direction. With only one game left, I’m not sure there is a long enough runway for Joseph to make up lost ground.
“Everything that they do,” said LaFleur on what other factors he’s looking for at kicker. “Everything’s under a microscope. Everything’s being evaluated. I think obviously you put a lot of stock into when you’re playing against somebody else, whether it’s a game or practice, and just I think everything gets heightened a little bit, just the anxieties and the pressure gets amped up a little bit more.”