The 2023 NFL preseason is over and Green Bay Packers will have to reduce their roster to 53 players by Tuesday afternoon. Currently, there are 90 players on the roster and 37 of them will be released. On Wednesday, the Packers will have the chance to sign players to the practice squad. GM Brian Gutekunst and head coach Matt LaFleur will have some tough decisions ahead. Here is a look at our projections for the Packers initial 2023 roster:
OFFENSE: (25)
Quarterbacks (2): Jordan Love, Sean Clifford
Jordan Love has looked good in preseason and while he will inevitably have growing pains in his first year as the starter, he has also showed a lot of potential.
Sean Clifford has confidence and knows the offense. He lacks an elite arm but looks like a solid backup after seeing extensive action in three preseason games.
Running Backs (2): Aaron Jones, A.J. Dillon
Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon will get almost all the carries if they’re healthy just like last season. The duo will also be very involved in the offense as receivers.
The Packers will likely do what they did last season which is keep two RBs on the active roster and add two or possibly even three onto the practice squad and elevate them on game day when necessary.
Patrick Taylor, Emanual Wilson, and Lew Nichols III are the top candidates to start the season on the practice squad unless they are claimed by another team.
Fullbacks/H-Backs (1): Josiah Deguara
Josiah Deguara is the returning fullback/H-back and will continue to start in that role. Henry Pearson may earn a spot on the practice squad, so the team has somebody ready if Deguara is injured later in the season.
Wide Receivers (7): Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Samori Toure, Malik Heath, Dontayvion Wicks, Grant DuBose
The Packers are deep at wide receiver and have some tough decisions to make. Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs and Jayden Reed are locks. Samori Toure should make the team as well. Malik Heath had an outstanding camp and has earned a roster spot. His size and blocking ability give him a skill set the team doesn’t have if he doesn’t make the team.
Draft picks Dontayvion Wicks and Grant DuBose will make the team if they’re healthy as Gutekunst likes to keep his draft picks on the roster. The Packers will keep seven wideouts this year, something they’ve done before when loaded at the position.
Tight Ends (3): Luke Musgrave, Tucker Kraft, Austin Allen
Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft are high draft picks and are locks. Austin Allen didn’t show a lot in preseason, but the Packers do like his size and potential. If another tight end becomes available, they could add one off the waiver wire to replace Allen, but Allen should make the initial 53.
Offensive Line (10): David Bakhtiari, Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Jon Runyan, Jr., Zach Tom, Rasheed Walker, Sean Rhyan, Royce Newman, Yosh Nijman, Caleb Jones
David Bakhtiari, Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Jon Runyan, Jr., and Zach Tom are the likely starters. Myers struggled in camp and the preseason but will win the starting job almost by default and because of his draft position.
Rasheed Walker took a big step forward in training camp and may have passed Yosh Nijman, who struggled a bit, on the depth chart. Caleb Jones’ potential helps him stay as the 10th and final offensive lineman on the depth chart. If he doesn’t, the Packers will try to keep him on the practice squad.
Backup guards should include Sean Rhyan, who looked a lot better in his second training camp and Royce Newman who was inconsistent in preseason but has enough starting experience to earn a backup spot.
DEFENSE: (25)
Defensive Line (5): Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt, T.J. Slaton, Karl Brooks, Colby Wooden
This may be the deepest defensive line unit the Packers have fielded in more than a decade. Kenny Clark remains the best lineman on the roster and is a two-time Pro Bowler. Devonte Wyatt and T.J. Slaton are now starters. Wyatt has a chance to live up to his first-round status of a year ago while Slaton will start at nose tackle allowing Clark to move outside.
Rookies Colby Wooden and Karl Brooks were quick to pick up the defense and looked very good in preseason and in training camp.
If the Packers keep six linemen, Jonathan Ford would be next. If not, the Pack will try to sign him to the practice squad to add depth as a run stuffing nose tackle.
Edge (6): Rashan Gary, Preston Smith, Kingsley Enagbare, Lukas Van Ness, Justin Hollins, Brenton Cox
Will the Packers keep five or six edge rushers? Rashan Gary returned from the PUP list but did not play in any preseason games. He’ll start once he’s ready and will probably be a rotational player until then. Preston Smith will start opposite Gary.
Kingsley Enagbare took a second-year jump and looks like he could be ready to be more effective as a pass rusher. This year’s first-round pick Lukas Van Ness has a lot to learn but he’s very talented and a lock to make the team.
Justin Hollins provides reliable veteran pass rush skills to the rotation. Undrafted free agent Brenton Cox showed enough flashes to keep if the team feels his off-field troubles are behind him. If they try to stash him on the practice squad, there’s a chance someone could try to claim him, so he earns one of the final roster spots.
ILB (4): De’Vondre Campbell, Quay Walker, Isaiah McDuffie, Eric Wilson
Veteran De’Vondre Campbell and second-year man Quay Walker will be the starters. Isaiah McDuffie looks like a solid third option at inside linebacker.
The final spot is a close race between Eric Wilson and Tariq Carpenter. Both have excelled on special teams. Wilson is better for right now, but Carpenter may have more upside. Special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia will go with Wilson and Carpenter will end up on the practice squad.
CB (5): Jaire Alexander, Rasul Douglas, Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine, Innis Gaines
Former first-round pick Eric Stokes will start the season on the PUP list as he continues to rehab his foot and knee injuries that ended his season in 2022 so he won’t count on the 53-man roster.
Jaire Alexander and Rasul Douglas won the starting jobs on the perimeter while Keisean Nixon will start as the slot corner.
Rookie Carrington Valentine had a very strong camp and earned a roster spot. Innis Gaines will edge out Shemar Jean-Charles for the backup slot corner job at least until Stokes returns. If Jean-Charles doesn’t make the roster, he will likely be on the practice squad.
S (5): Darnell Savage, Rudy Ford, Jonathan Owens, Anthony Johnson, Jr., Dallin Leavitt
Darnell Savage and Rudy Ford will be the starters. Jonathan Owens is a good tackler and will beat out the injured Tarvarius Moore for one of the backup spots.
Rookie Anthony Johnson, Jr. has earned a roster spot with his play in training camp. Dallin Leavitt will likely only play on special teams again because he’s a liability in coverage. Bisaccia loves him and will keep him on the roster.
SPECIAL TEAMS (3)
Kicker (1): Anders Carlson
Rookie Anders Carlson starts the season as the new kicker replacing Mason Crosby who has held the job since 2007.
Carlson possesses a strong leg but is inconsistent and misses too many short ones. The Packers hope to stick with him and have Bisaccia help him improve over time.
Punter (1): Pat O’Donnell
Veteran Pat O’Donnell will edge out Daniel Whelan for the punting job. O’Donnell has more experience and is a better holder than Whelan although both possess strong legs.
Long Snapper (1): Matt Orzech
Matt Orzech has been more consistent than Broughton Hatcher and will win the long snapper job.
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