The Packers are down to their final preseason test, and that means the roster squeeze is real. Green Bay closes out the exhibition slate against the Arizona Cardinals this week, with training camp officially in the books and the 53-man cutdown coming into focus. For a handful of players hanging on the edge, this is the last chance to tilt the decision their way.
There are plenty of spots where the Packers still have work to do. The back end of the running back room, the long snapper situation, several receiver and tight end battles, depth along the offensive line, and a crowded defensive line all carry real weight heading into the finale.
Pierre Strong Jr. has at least given Green Bay something to think about. He had a strong kickoff return in Denver and has been steady in limited work, but the Packers still may want more certainty from the running back position, especially with Josh Jacobs' future uncertain as of now. If the team continues to explore the waiver market or other options, Strong could wind up right in the middle of that bubble conversation.
Then there’s the long snapper situation, which has become one of the strangest storylines of camp. Matt Orzech still has not practiced or played in training camp or the preseason because he has been on the PUP list the entire time.
In his place, Cal Adomitis has handled the job, built chemistry with kicker Trey Smack, and delivered in preseason action. That makes this less about a simple roster bubble and more about what Green Bay is actually willing to do.
Adomitis has been the more active option, but the question is whether the Packers will activate Orzech off PUP and ask him to jump in without any work with Smack.
Wide receiver is another spot where the Packers may have to make some tough calls. J.
Michael Sturdivant, Will Sheppard, and Isaiah Neyor have all done enough to keep the discussion alive, but that doesn’t mean there’s room for everyone. Sturdivant may have been the most impressive throughout camp and has added value on special teams.
Sheppard flashed in Denver and can help as a punt returner. Neyor brings the kind of traits teams like to stash as a potential lottery-ticket receiver.
Whether the Packers keep one, two, or none of them remains to be seen, especially with the receiver room already looking fairly solid.
Tight end might be the most crowded puzzle of all. Green Bay came into camp with plenty of bodies there, but nobody really separated from the pack, which is part of why the team signed veteran Jonnu Smith to a one-year deal.
Tucker Kraft looks set for Week 1, and Josh Whyle had been the backup before Smith arrived. Luke Musgrave remains on the PUP list.
That leaves Drake Dabney, Messiah Swinson, and McCallan Castles fighting for what could be a fourth spot, if the Packers even decide to carry that many. They clearly value the position, but the development from the group has not made the answer easy.
The offensive line is in a similar spot. The starting group appears to be taking shape for Week 1, but the depth chart behind it is still unsettled.
Darian Kinnard, Donovan Jennings, and John Williams are all trying to make their case. Kinnard is just back from an ankle injury and has the advantage of being a veteran, but he also missed valuable time.
Jennings seems to be without a clear role, even if he did get some first-team work earlier this week. Williams looks the safest of the bunch after playing plenty of snaps at backup left tackle, though Travis Glover has also worked at both guard and tackle over the last few weeks, which could affect how the group is sorted out against Arizona.
In the secondary, Kamal Hadden has probably done the most in recent weeks to lock down his place, but there’s still a numbers game at play. With Javon Bullard back and Xavier McKinney and Evan Williams already entrenched as top safeties, Green Bay has to decide whether to keep Hadden or risk losing him on waivers. Domani Jackson is back after some time away from the field, but as a rookie who hasn’t played much, he also sits in that uneasy zone where the Packers could want immediate help more than long-term patience.
The defensive line adds yet another layer. It’s one of the Packers’ busiest groups, which naturally creates a few casualties.
Jonathan Ford, Nazir Stackhouse, and Arron Mosby are all trying to force their way in, even as players like Anthony Campbell have been making plays and Ford seems like a lock. That leaves Stackhouse and Mosby needing a strong finish if they want to change Green Bay’s mind before the roster decisions arrive.
In Other News...
Jordan Love Called This Cardinals Practice Moment His Lowest Point
A joint practice with the Cardinals gave the Packers a useful tune-up, but it also left Jordan Love with one sequence he would rather forget. After getting down to the five-yard line, Green Bay came away empty on that series, and Love pointed to it as the low point of the day. For a quarterback and offense still sharpening timing in August, those are the kinds of snaps that tend to linger longer than the cleaner ones.
Tucker Kraft also came out of the session with a moment worth monitoring, taking a late hit after returning from a torn ACL. The good news for Green Bay is that Kraft said he is playing without concern for his knee, a reassuring note as the Packers turn from practice to their preseason game against Arizona. For a team trying to build momentum while protecting key pieces, the next few days will matter just as much as the work already put in. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Could Find Late Roster Help From A Familiar Dolphins Connection
Matt LaFleur has spent plenty of this offseason watching familiar faces head for Miami, with former Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley taking over as the Dolphins head coach and ex-Packers executive Jon-Eric Sullivan moving in as general manager. The shuffle has created an unlikely Green Bay-Miami bridge at a time when the Packers are still sorting out the back end of their roster, and that kind of connection can matter when teams start looking for last-minute help before the cutdown deadline.
Two Dolphins names to keep an eye on are Lonnie Johnson Jr. and Jaylen Wright, both of whom could fit the Packers search for depth in spots where competition is still unsettled. Green Bay does not need splashy moves this time of year as much as it needs practical ones, and a familiar pipeline to Miami could give the front office another route to fill out the roster if the right opportunity opens up. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Pass Rush Already Has A Roster Question Fans Cant Ignore
The Packers pass rush already looks like one of the more interesting roster debates of the summer, and it has little to do with September opener talk. Micah Parsons is still working back from a torn ACL, which leaves Green Bay with a clear need for edge help, and the rest of the group still has work to do before anyone can call the spot settled. That creates a familiar late-summer opportunity: if a young pass rusher shakes loose after final roster cuts, the Packers could be right in the mix.
Chris Braswell of the Buccaneers is one name to watch if he becomes available, and he fits the kind of waiver claim Green Bay would have reason to explore. The Packers do not need another reminder that pass rush depth matters over a long season, especially with Parsons unavailable and the competition behind him still sorting itself out. For now, the question is less about one opening-day role and more about whether Green Bay can find a usable answer before the market closes. [Read more 🡒]