GREEN BAY – The Packers reduced their roster to the NFL-mandated 53-player limit Tuesday.
Here are five takeaways based on where things currently stand:
- Two releases in particular speak to how the Packers feel about their depth at two positions.
Two of GM Brian Gutekunst’s more interesting veteran acquisitions this offseason were receiver Mecole Hardman and linebacker Isaiah Simmons, with Hardman a three-time Super Bowl champion with Kansas City and Simmons a former top 10 draft pick.
But with the groups the Packers possess at those positions, there wasn’t room for either Hardman or Simmons on this roster. Malik Heath beat out Hardman for the sixth receiver spot, and Ty’Ron Hopper‘s progress in Year 2 at linebacker didn’t require another veteran in the group, as Kristian Welch was released as well.
The Packers need to get healthy at receiver, as three of the six on the roster (Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks and rookie Savion Williams) have all missed large portions of training camp with various injuries. Hopefully the prognosis on all of them remains positive as Week 1 approaches.
At linebacker, the quartet of Quay Walker, Edgerrin Cooper, Isaiah McDuffie and Hopper is a group Green Bay clearly feels good about.
- There’s perhaps good news on the injury front hidden within the roster.
In addition to the note about the receivers above, the news is presumably good on the knee injury to veteran cornerback Nate Hobbs, considering how the roster shook out.
Because if Hobbs weren’t on track to return for Week 1, which was his stated goal when he underwent surgery during training camp, the Packers probably wouldn’t have released both Kalen King and Corey Ballentine.
Those moves leave the Packers with only five cornerbacks aside from Hobbs, and three of them – position-switcher Bo Melton, rookie Micah Robinson and former practice-squadder Kamal Hadden – have never played defense in NFL regular-season action before. So the Packers seem to be counting on having Hobbs for the opener vs. the Lions.
- Any additions in the coming days will require immediate corresponding moves.
The Packers are at exactly 53 players, leaving no room for any acquisitions or waiver claims. So if the Packers sign any other players or are awarded any claims, players who made the initial 53 will have to be released or put on a reserve list to make room.
- October promises to be an interesting month of more roster decisions.
The Packers have five players – receiver Christian Watson and rookie draft picks in defensive lineman Collin Oliver and offensive lineman John Williams on PUP, plus running back MarShawn Lloyd and offensive lineman Jacob Monk on IR with the designation to return – who will all miss at least the season’s first four games.
After that four-game absence concludes at the end of September, those players will be eligible to practice if medically cleared. Once a player returns to practice off PUP or IR, a 21-day window opens during which he could be activated to the 53-man roster at any time, but must be before the 21 days expire.
- Some players released Tuesday might still play in a game for the Packers this season.
The Packers traditionally fashion most of their practice squad from players they’ve had in training camp, and it’s become commonplace for players to get elevated from the practice squad and appear in regular-season games.
So while the list of players released is long Tuesday, many will be back as soon as Wednesday when the practice squad is assembled and they still could see the field in green and gold.
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