The Green Bay Packers made their final cuts on Tuesday to get down to the NFL mandated roster limit of 53 players. Most of the moves were expected but as always, there were some surprises in the players GM Brian Gutekunst, and head coach Matt LaFleur decided to keep and let go.
Here is a look at the five biggest surprise cuts by the Packers on Tuesday. Some of these players could still be signed to the practice squad as soon as Wednesday and later elevated to the active roster for one game or on a full-time basis.
Obviously, the roster is never final, and the Packers will be signing and releasing players throughout the season due to injuries, poor play, or the availability of a player the team really wants to sign.
Packers Surprise Cut Number Five: Cornerback Shemar Jean-Charles
The Packers released 2021 fifth-round pick Shemar Jean-Charles on Tuesday. The former Appalachian State star played in 20 total games over the last two seasons but never started.
In 2022, Jean-Charles was limited by injuries to just six games and that slowed his development. He played only three snaps on defense last season and 37 in 2021.
Jean-Charles’ inability to carve out a role on defense and the depth the Packers have at cornerback made him expendable. His ability on special teams may be enough for the Pack to seek to sign him to the practice squad.
Packers Surprise Cut Number Four: Punter Pat O’Donnell
Veteran punter Pat O’Donnell lost the roster battle to Daniel Whelan. Many experts expected O’Donnell would be back for a second season as the team’s punter because of his reliability as a holder for field goals and extra points. Whelan apparently improved in this area in recent weeks at training camp.
The move saves the Packers money against this year’s cap and gives them a young punter who they can keep for a few seasons before having to pay him more than an entry-level contract.
O’Donnell had two punts blocked last season although that was more due to poor blocking than anything the punter did. However, the veteran ranked 30th in the league last year in net average with 40.4.
The Packers feel Whelan is cheaper and has a stronger leg than O’Donnell. This season was also the last on O’Donnell’s contract, so the team realized they’d probably need a new punter next season anyway and made the move a year earlier.
The Packers are getting younger across the roster and punter was no exception.
Packers Surprise Cut Number Three: Defensive Back Innis Gaines
Innis Gaines played seven games for the Packers last season and started one. He was released on his birthday.
In training camp, Gaines was seeing action as the backup slot corner behind Keisean Nixon. But the Packers chose to keep only four cornerbacks on the initial 53-man roster and Gaines was let go.
Green Bay knows that Jaire Alexander is also capable of playing slot corner. Eric Stokes will also be coming off the PUP list later in the season to provide more depth at cornerback.
Packers Surprise Cut Number Two: Wide Receiver Grant DuBose
Gutekunst typically likes to keep his draft picks on the roster especially during their draft year. Grant DuBose struggled with a back injury during training camp and had to play catch-up late in the preseason.
DuBose was the Packers final pick in this year’s draft. He was beaten out for the final spot on the roster by Malik Heath and Samori Toure. DuBose should be a strong candidate to be added to the Packers practice squad on Wednesday if another team doesn’t claim him to their active roster.
Packers Surprise Cut Number One: Safety Corey Tarvarius Moore
The Packers signed Tarvarius Moore as a free agent during the offseason to compete for a starting safety spot. A knee injury derailed Moore’s chance to make the roster. His inconsistent play before the injury was another a factor.
Moore’s best assets are his speed and his expertise on special teams. Unfortunately for Moore, the team had several players who also fit that mold. The strong play of rookie Anthony Johnson, Jr. also hurt Moore’s chances to make the team.
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