The Green Bay Packers have wrapped up Family Night and their preseason opener, but the roster is still taking shape, with coach Matt LaFleur and general manager Brian Gutekunst still needing to play a handful of preseason games and practice together.
Rather than predicting a 53-man roster, an increasingly challenging task as training camp changes, we’ll try to identify where the roster still poses legitimate questions ahead of the Packers’ second preseason game Sunday night in Denver.
Here are the Packers’ toughest roster decisions after one preseason game:
Offense
Two or three quarterbacks? Both Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt have had impressive moments in Cleveland, but it’s clear that Clifford is still the clear No. 2 quarterback. Could Pratt make a move in the next two weeks, or will the Packers be willing to keep all three at 53? Placing Pratt on waivers would be a risk for a team looking to develop multiple teenage quarterbacks.
Can Emanuel Wilson do it? He was on the 53-man roster last year and opened the preseason with another solid performance (67 yards, touchdown) against the Browns. With MarShawn Lloyd dealing with a hamstring injury and AJ Dillon rushing four times for just two yards on terrible blocking, Wilson could make a legitimate tackle at the slot.
Dubose or Heath? Unless Bo Melton completely collapses, the Packers’ top five wide receivers are set. Let’s assume the Packers keep six. Grant DuBose, who was a star in Cleveland, could edge out Malik Heath, who was 53rd last year, for the final spot. DuBose, in his second year, is having a great summer.
Mr. Newman! Royce Newman restructured his contract through 2024, improving his chances of making the team. But even as he enters his fourth year, he was once again frustratingly inconsistent in the preseason opener. Time to move on?
Reserve Offensive Point Guard: Sean Rhyan and Jacob Monk look like versatile starters on the offensive line, but the offensive point guard position is still a work in progress, with Andre Dillard, Caleb Jones, Kadeem Telfort and Travis Glover among those options.
Defense
Five attackers on the edge? Who makes up the team’s top four defensive ends? Brenton Cox Jr. has shown flashes in camp, but so has Arron Mosby.
Can Kristian Welch do it? The starting five linebackers seem to be known, assuming Edgerrin Cooper and Ty’Ron Hopper are fit for Week 1. Is there enough room for Welch, a special-player?
How many corners? You could argue that Corey Ballentine, Robert Rochell and Kalen King have legitimate claims to roster spots. Ballentine started, Rochell broke up two passes and had a special teams tackle, and King made a nice open-field tackle against the Browns. The Packers wouldn’t keep seven cornerbacks, would they?
Special teams
Carlson or Joseph: Anders Carlson is a draft pick, but Greg Joseph has been the better kicker on the field this summer. This competition will likely last all summer to determine the winner.
Change at snapper? Matt Orzech continues to struggle with consistency, but Peter Bowden — a rookie out of Wisconsin — doesn’t look ready to take over.
