Paul Bretl | 8/27/2024
GREEN BAY, Wis. — By 3:00 PM CT on Tuesday afternoon, the Packers along with the rest of the NFL must have their initial 53-man rosters set. As part of this difficult decision-making process, Matt LaFleur and GM Brian Gutekunst are in constantly communicating.
“We’re in constant communication,” said LaFleur after the Ravens’ game. “I think we come to pretty much a consensus on a majority of the guys. But yeah, we’re in constant communication, just always talking about the roster and there’s gonna be some very tough decisions and sometimes, I’m like, man, I’m glad I don’t have to make the decision.”
Throughout the day, there will be reports of players being cut, and right here I’ll keeping you up to date with those roster moves, along with providing my analysis and observations on each decision. So be sure to bookmark or save this article and continue to check back in throughout the day.
Before beginning, one clarification: we will see reports of players being both released and waived. Players who are released are veterans with four years of accrued NFL experience and will immediately become free agents. Players who are waived have fewer than four years of accrued experience and will go on waivers. If that player goes unclaimed and clears waivers, they then become a free agent.
Packers trade seventh-round pick to Titans for QB Malik Willis
The backup quarterback competition underwhelmed so the Packers went outside the organization to hopefully find an answer. Willis is still a more developmental player, but with his rocket arm and mobility his ceiling is much higher than that of Sean Clifford or Michael Pratt. Willis will be the Packers’ backup and there is no longer room for both Clifford or Pratt. My guess is that the Packers choose Pratt over Clifford, but the other question in all of this is do they roster a third quarterback or try to get one of them back on the practice squad? For more on the addition of Willis, click here.
Packers release OT Caleb Jones per Matt Schneidman
Jones was on the Packers roster the last two seasons as a developmental tackle. However, during the final two weeks of practice in particular, it became clear based on rotations that he was fourth option at tackle among the backups–often playing with the third team offense behind Andre Dillard, Kadeem Telfort, and Travis Glover. Consistency in pass protection was always the big question for Jones.
Packers release WR Samori Toure per Adam Schefter
Ultimately, this receiver room just became too crowded for Toure. Best case scenario was that he was the eighth receiver on the team’s depth chart. He would get some work here and there with the second offense but was mostly with the threes this summer.
Packers release K Anders Carlson per Matt Schneidman
Carlson finished training camp and the preseason with a higher field goal hit rate than Greg Joseph, but any sort of momentum that he had established over the last week seemed to be negated by that missed 32 yard attempt at the end of the Baltimore game. It was an energy zapping moment, reminding everyone once again of the volatility that has come with Carlson. I would presume that an outside addition is going to be made, but we will see. Similarly to when Matt LaFleur was asked about the backup quarterback role after Saturday’s game, he expressed that the Packers would look into all options at kicker.
“We’ve got a really good sample size,” LaFleur said after the Baltimore game, “and then we’ll see what happens just around the league. Certainly, there were some really good moments. Both those guys went in there, hit a 54-yarder and a 55-yarder, and then there’s a poor moment there where we missed a chip shot. You know, again, lot of good. Some we know we can be better at, and we’ll wait and see.”
Packers release TE Joel Wilson per Matt Schneidman
Wilson had a nice stretch over a few practices and in the first preseason game where he saw some opportunities in the passing game with the second and third team offenses. When tight ends coach John Dunn was asked about Wilson’s performance, he mentioned his ability as a route runner standing out. However, base case scenario, Wilson was the fifth tight end on the depth chart.
Packers release OL Luke Tenuta per Bill Huber
Early on in training camp, Tenuta was mentioned among those competing for the swing tackle role, but he would spend most of training camp playing guard, with most of his snaps coming with the third team offense. If among the backups I would categorize Caleb Jones as the fourth tackle option, Tenuta was the fifth.
Packers release WR Jalen Wayne per Bill Huber
Jalen Wayne, the cousin of Reggie Wayne, caught one pass in the preseason eight yards and played eight special teams snaps. He spent his time with the third team offense.
Packers release TE Messiah Swinson per Bill Huber
Swinson was signed following April’s draft as an undrafted rookie out of Arizona State. There he would spend most of his time as a blocker, but has pass-catching upside, often asked to line up in the slot. Huber adds that Swinson “should” be back on the practice squad.
Packers release WR Julian Hicks per Bill Huber
At 6-2 – 201 pounds and having posted a RAS of 9.18, Hicks has measurables that teams will want to take a swing on developing. Huber adds that Hicks is a prime practice squad candidate for the Packers. Hicks had one catch in the preseason for 23 yards, but it was an impressive back-shoulder grab on a throw from Michael Pratt. He also played 13 special teams snaps.
Packers release WR Dimitri Stanley per Aaron Wilson
Stanely went undrafted in April out of Iowa State and signed with the Packers after a rookie camp tryout. He brings ample return experience to the NFL from his time in college. He lined up both from the slot and out wide in the preseason, catching three passes on four targets for 12 yards.
Packers release RB Nate McCrary per Ryan Wood.
McCrary was a very late addition to the Packers roster as they dealt with injuries at running back with both MarShawn Lloyd and AJ Dillon sidelined. In that short timeframe there were limited opportunities for McCrary, but credit to him for making the most of them, averaging 5.4 yards per rush in the preseason, showing good burst with the ball and being difficult to bring down, averaging 3.64 yards after contact. Wood adds that McCrary will be a practice squad candidate.
Packers release LB Chris Russell per Ryan Wood
Russell was another late addition to the Packers training camp roster, providing some needed depth at linebacker when they were without both Ty’Ron Hopper and Edgerrin Cooper. Russell played 31 defensive snaps in the final two games and seven on special teams. He made six total tackles and held pass-catchers to 10 yards on two receptions.
Packers release LB Kristian Welch per Bill Huber
There’s no doubt about it, this was an impressive training camp preseason and training camp performance from Welch, who made an impact on special teams–as we saw from him last season–and on defense as a middle linebacker, which included coming away with two interceptions. However, as I wrote in my roster prediction, with so many draft picks the last two seasons, it’s not easy finding roster space for veterans whose role comes solely on special teams. I would imagine the Packers will try to get him back on the practice squad. For what it’s worth, Welch was released by Baltimore last summer, went unclaimed, and then signed onto the Packers’ practice squad.
Packers release QBs Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt per Ian Rapoport
Once the Packers traded for Willis, it became clear that he was going to be the backup and presumably both Clifford and Pratt would be released. Now, one of them will be back on the practice squad.
Prior to this move for the Packers, the backup quarterback battle between Pratt and Clifford was one of the bigger positional competitions to take place in training camp. However, it also underwhelmed with there being little clarity gained over three preseason games and 19 training camp practices about which player should assume that role.
Through three preseason games, Pratt would complete 65.7 percent of his 35 pass attempts for 178 yards (5.08 yards per attempt) with one touchdown and one interception. His quarterback rating was 78.4. Clifford, meanwhile, would complete 51.1 percent of his 43 passes for 207 yards (4.81 yards per attempt) with one touchdown and one interception. His passer rating was 59.4.
While there were glimpses here and there from each quarterback, inconsistent play and poor decision-making at times were far too prevalent. We often heard Clifford praised for his resiliency and gamer-like play-style, but the moments where those qualities shined through were few and far between. Pratt, meanwhile, like any seventh-round rookie, is navigating a steep learning curve as he transitions to the NFL.
Following the Packers’ preseason finale against the Ravens, with neither Pratt or Clifford unable to instill much confidence, LaFleur hinted at the team exploring options outside of the organization.
“We’ll see,” said Matt LaFleur after the third preseason game when asked if the backup quarterback play was good enough. “Certainly, again, I think it’s similar to the kicking competition in terms of there were some really good moments and then there were some things we absolutely have to do better, and then we’ll evaluate everything that’s out there for us.”
Packers release DE Deslin Alexandre per Matt Schneidman
Alexandre did make a few standout plays as a pass rusher during OTAs but in a crowded defensive end room, making the initial roster wasn’t in play. He was also injured for the first part of training camp, making it more challenging to make a push towards the practice squad as well. Alexandre played in the final two preseason games. He recorded four total tackles and had no pressures.
Packers release DT James Ester per Ryan Wood
As an undrafted rookie, Ester joined a Packers’ position group this offseason that was already well-established. There were never any unknowns about who would make up the defensive tackle position group on the 53-man roster. But Ester showcased his potential, which has the Packers interested in bringing him back on the practice squad. In college at Northern Illinois, he was someone who impacted both the run and passing games. In three preseason games, he recorded three pressures and three total tackles in the run game across 69 total snaps.
Packers release OL Lecitus Smith per Ryan Wood
Ultimately, there just wasn’t room for Smith on the roster with Sean Rhyan or Jordan Morgan, and Jacob Monk as backup interior offensive line options. However, getting Smith back on the practice squad would feel like a win for the Packers. Smith spent the latter portion of training camp playing with the second team offense and has the versatility to play all three interior positions.
Packers release OL Royce Newman per Aaron Wilson
This was an expected move at this point. Newman was entering the final year of his deal, and the Packers already made him rework his contract early in the summer by taking a pay cut. Throughout camp, he provided a veteran presence, playing guard mostly with the second unit but spent some time with the ones when needed. However, over the last two years there has been too much inconsistent play. Sean Rhyan and Jacob Monk will now provide the interior depth.
Packers release RB Ellis Merriweather per Matt Schneidman
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Packers want to get Merriweather back on the practice squad as depth at the position–especially with AJ Dillon and MarShawn Lloyd dealing with injuries. He brings a physical running style to the backfield. On 16 carries against the Ravens, Merriweather averaged 4.6 yards per attempt.
Packers release OL Donovan Jennings per Matt Schneidman
Jennings was signed as an undrafted rookie and fits the mold of what the Packers look for in an offensive lineman. He’s a college tackle, who’s a good athlete, and will be asked to play guard in the NFL. An injury early on in training camp put Jennings behind and my guess is that there just wasn’t a long enough runway for him to fully show what he could do when it came to making the team. Schneidman adds that the Packers would like to bring Jennings back on the practice squad.