Preseason football is primarily about one thing, figuring out which players are going to make the roster. It makes the job tough for Head Coach Mike McCarthy and General Manager Ted Thompson as it is not easy to determine just who exactly is going to have the biggest impact on their NFL team or where they may need extra depth due to injuries during the season. But the choices have indeed been made and it is time to examine the 53 men that the Packers organization have chosen to keep on their roster.
Quarterback (3): Aaron Rodgers, Scott Tolzein, and Brett Hundley.
This was never really in doubt, as of course the reigning NFL MVP was going to make the roster as long as he wasn't injured. Tolzein had made the roster as he continues to show improvement in his knowledge of it from when he had played back in the 2013 NFL season when Rodgers was out with a broken collarbone. Hundley looked wonderful in the preseason and they had already cut their fourth quarterback in Matt Blanchard when they were making their cuts to 75.
Running Backs (5): Eddie Lacy, James Starks, John Kuhn, Aaron Ripkowski, and Alonzo Harris.
Everyone has gotten familiar with the two headed monster at running back in the past few years as Lacy and Starks have been the main men at running back the past few seasons. Kuhn has been on the Packers roster for years as the primary fullback. Ripkowski makes a second running back on the roster for the first time in years. Harris won a training camp battle and beat out second year undrafted free agent in Raijon Neal and John Crockett as well. Sometimes there is just one spot to keep someone and that was the case for the Packers at running back this season.
Wide Receivers (5): Randall Cobb, Davante Adams, Ty Montgomery, Jeff Janis, and Myles White.
After the injury to Jordy Nelson, this position was certainly going to get interesting as more are going to be kept then what you would have typically expected. Cobb and Adams will be considered the permanent starters to begin the season with Montgomery and Janis still battling to see who is going to play in the slot. White finally begins the season on the Packers roster instead of being placed on the practice squad like he was the past few seasons. Jared Abbrederis did not make the roster as he only was able to make a brief impression and the Packers will probably try to sneak him onto the practice squad this year. Meanwhile, Larry Pinkard, was injured/released as he got hurt in the final preseason game or he might have beaten out White for that final spot.
Tight Ends (3): Richard Rodgers, Andrew Quarless, and Kennard Backman.
There was no doubt that Richard Rodgers was also going to make the team after being drafted in the third round last season and showing improvement over the year. Andrew Quarless has been a roster veteran for years out of Penn State. Kennard Backman would likely be considered the main surprise here at this time as the rookie from the UAB Blazers beat out Justin Perillo and Mitchell Henry to get the final tight end spot.
Offensive Line (9): David Bakhtiari, Josh Sitton, Corey Linsley, T.J. Lang, Bryan Bulaga, Don Barclay, JC Tretter, Lane Taylor, and Josh Walker.
With 5 starters and 4 bench players, 9 is a pretty common amount to see for offensive lineman kept. Going from left tackle to right tackle, the starting lineman are Bakhtiari, Sitton, Linsley, Lang, and Bulaga. Don Barclay is once again the Packers swing tackle to backup Bakhtiari and Bulaga. Tretter is the primary backup to Linsley, and Taylor would be the backup to Sitton and Lang. Walker was initially on the Packers practice squad for a lot of last year after being cut by the Indianapolis Colts practice squad. He is listed on the roster as a backup guard as well.
Defensive Line (5): Mike Daniels, B.J. Raji, Mike Pennel, Josh Boyd, and Bruce Gaston.
Probably two notable names you would immediately see missing here are Datone Jones and Letroy Guion. They are both suspended to start the season and so they are listed as having to serve their suspension. The other notable name that is missing is Khyri Thornton, who was cut as the Packers decided to part ways with their other 2014 third round pick. He just never lived up to expectations. Daniels, Raji, and Pennel will likely all start on opening day. Boyd was on the roster last year stay on the team again. There's a possibility though that Gaston is just on the roster to keep depth until Jones and Guion return.
Linebackers (9): Clay Matthews, Sam Barrington, Jake Ryan, Julius Peppers, Mike Neal, Nick Perry, Jayrone Elliott, Andy Mulumba, and Nate Palmer.
This appears that the fourth round pick from the Michigan Wolverines in Jake Ryan will officially start the season as a middle linebacker next to Barrington. Matthews and Peppers will be the primary pass rushers from the outside, but expect a lot of energy from the backups in Neal and Perry. Elliott and Mulumba would also be considered outside pass rushers, with Palmer being considered the only backup on the inside linebackers. That is probably due to the fact that Matthews can play there in a pinch and don' t be surprised if he is moving both inside and outside during the season.
Cornerbacks (7): Sam Shields, Casey Hayward, Damarious Randall, Quinten Rollins, Micah Hyde, LaDarius Gunter, and Demetri Goodson.
Shields and Hayward will be holding down the fort on the outside as Tramon Williams and Davon House are no longer on the roster. Randall and Rollins will jump into the slot. Hyde can play both corner and safety so of course they are going to keep him. Goodson is still developing after only playing a few years at Baylor after being the point guard for the Gonzaga Bulldogs. Gunter was an undrafted free agent after playing last year for the Miami Hurricanes. He might be considered a bit of a surprise to make the team.
Safeties (4): Morgan Burnett, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Sean Richardson, and Chris Banjo.
This is plain and simple. Burnett starts at strong safety and Clinton-Dix starts at free safety. Richardson and Banjo are the backups and have both been on the roster for a couple of years. With Hyde able to play back here too it definitely provides more roster flexibility.
Specialists (3): Mason Crosby, Tim Masthay, and Brett Goode.
These remain the same again this season as Crosby is the kicker, Masthay is the punter, and Goode will be the long snapper. Not really much of a surprise at all.
There is a 24 hour waiver period where the Packers could in theory add someone who has been cut from another team, like potentially a James Jones who was cut by the New York Giants. But the Packers usually stand put on who has been with the team throughout training camp, and it would be a upset at this point if they signed someone from another team.
