The Green Bay Packers have one preseason game left with roster cuts looming shortly after that. The team currently has 90 players on their roster and must get down to 53 plus 16 on the practice squad by next week. Here are seven players on offense facing a make-or-break game in the Packers preseason finale Saturday against Baltimore if they hope to make the roster.

Seven Players on Offense Facing a Make-or-Break Game in the Packers Preseason Finale, Number Seven: TE Tyler Davis

The Packers coaches have always been high on tight end Tyler Davis for his special teams contributions. After missing all of 2023 due to a preseason injury, Davis is back and fighting for a depth spot as a tight end. Unfortunately, Davis played very poorly against the Broncos and had one of the lowest PFF grades on the team. Meanwhile, the other players competing for that spot on the roster have been playing better. Davis needs a strong game to hold on to a roster spot.

Number Six: OT Caleb Jones

Caleb Jones is the Packers tallest ever player at 6’9”. The coaching staff made him a developmental project, coaching him up on the practice squad as he improves his technique. The team is unsettled at backup tackle, but Jones didn’t look very good last week in Denver. He had a lot of company, but if Jones hopes to make the 53-man roster and not start the year on the practice squad, he’ll need to play well in practice and vs the Ravens on Saturday.

Seven Players on Offense Facing a Make-or-Break Game in the Packers Preseason Finale, Number Five: RB Emanuel Wilson

Emanuel Wilson was the NFL’s leading rusher in the preseason in 2023 and got off to a strong start in preseason game one. The issue with Wilson is a numbers game. A.J. Dillon re-signed with the team, the Pack signed Josh Jacobs as a free agent and drafted MarShawn Lloyd. Lloyd’s injury may give Wilson an opening, but a strong performance against the Ravens could encourage GM Brian Gutekunst to keep four running backs or maybe have Lloyd start the season on IR. The Packers may not be able to stash Wilson on the practice squad.

Number Four: TE Ben Sims

Like many of the players on this list, tight end Ben Sims is fighting a numbers game. In addition to Sims and Davis, Joel Wilson has also played well and is fighting for a roster spot. The Packers will either keep three or four tight ends and currently have five candidates fighting for those spots. Sims will need a strong finish to camp and the preseason to lock down a roster spot again in 2024.

Seven Players on Offense Facing a Make-or-Break Game in the Packers Preseason Finale, Number Three: WR Malik Heath

Malik Heath surprised everybody last year by making the roster as an undrafted free agent. He now faces a numbers game to make the roster again. It’s not that Heath has been playing poorly this preseason, but the Packers have a lot of depth and talent at the wide receiver position. Will Matt LaFleur and Gutekunst keep five, six, or possibly seven wideouts? A strong finish to camp and the preseason will help secure a roster spot for Heath.

Number Two: WR Grant DuBose

Last season, Grant DuBose missed much of training camp with an injury and ended up on the practice squad. This year, he’s healthy and showing off his skills in training camp. DuBose is making a strong case for a roster spot with his strong play in the preseason and throughout training camp. He’s turned heads nearly every day and made a standout play. The numbers crunch at wide receiver will affect DuBose just like Heath. The more he continues to play well, the more difficult he makes the decision for the coaching staff at cutdown day.

Seven Players on Offense Facing a Make-or-Break Game in the Packers Preseason Finale, Number One: G Royce Newman

Royce Newman has been a frustrating player for the Packers since he arrived in Green Bay in 2021. He started 16 games as a rookie but struggled with blitz pickup and especially stunts. Unfortunately, he hasn’t improved much since then. In the two seasons since his rookie campaign, Newman started eight total games, but only when injuries struck along the line. Newman took a pay cut trying to stay on the roster, but he hasn’t played well in camp or in games. The Packers added three interior linemen in this year’s draft, so Newman may just be the odd man out unless he really plays well in the next week.

 

 

 

Follow Gil Martin on Twitter @GilPackers

Click here for more great Packers coverage