GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Packers announced their initial 53-man roster Tuesday afternoon, emphasis on “initial” since it could change as soon as Wednesday afternoon.
Here are seven observations from the squad.
Any surprises?
The only moderate surprises when it comes to cuts were those of cornerback Kalen King and linebacker Kristian Welch. King, a 2024 seventh-round pick, stood out this preseason and finished strong with a forced fumble and tackle for loss against the Seahawks last Saturday. The Packers want him back on the practice squad, but he must first clear waivers and then choose to re-sign with Green Bay. He could always decide that his best path to an active roster spot is elsewhere. Seventh-round rookie Micah Robinson and Kamal Hadden made it over King at cornerback, which makes head coach Matt LaFleur’s assertion that splash plays only carry so much weight in camp ring even more true.
After the early Tuesday reports of the Packers cutting linebacker Isaiah Simmons, it seemed Welch’s spot was safe as the fifth linebacker. LaFleur recently lauded the sixth-year special teams ace for his abilities on both special teams and defense, but the Packers are rolling with only four linebackers on the initial squad — Edgerrin Cooper, Quay Walker, Isaiah McDuffie and Ty’Ron Hopper. LaFleur said Saturday evening that Hopper is one of the team’s most improved players and has done an “outstanding job.” The Packers drafted Hopper in the third round last year with the pick they received from the Bills in the 2023 Rasul Douglas trade.
Here’s our initial 53-man roster
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) August 26, 2025
New rule
In past years, teams had to carry players on the initial 53 if they wanted to start them on injured reserve but designate them to return during the season. Teams can now designate two players during cuts to return from IR during the season without keeping them on the initial 53 and instead use those active roster spots on healthy players instead of subjecting them to waivers or free agency. Those two will still count toward the eight total slots teams have to designate players to return from IR during the season. The Packers used their two slots on running back MarShawn Lloyd, who suffered a hamstring injury against the Colts in the second preseason game, and offensive lineman Jacob Monk, who suffered a hamstring injury in Indianapolis. Both Lloyd and Monk will be eligible to return in Week 5.
No dice
The Packers’ bargain bin adventure this offseason came up empty. Simmons was a 2020 first-round pick on his third team, but he felt focusing on only linebacker would help him flourish under defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley. While the 27-year-old presented intriguing athleticism and a unique special teams ability given his physical profile, Simmons didn’t play well enough on defense this preseason to earn a spot. After the Colts game, LaFleur complimented Simmons’ athleticism but acknowledged there were “some things that we absolutely need to clean up.”
As for veteran wide receiver Mecole Hardman, it’s worth recalling what special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia said recently. The veteran coach noted that he’s never had a player make the team strictly because of their special teams prowess. Hardman was the team’s primary punt returner this preseason, but he couldn’t crack the top six of a crowded wide receiver room in which the final spot went to third-year receiver Malik Heath. The Packers will have to find a new No. 1 punt returner unless Hardman signs with Green Bay’s practice squad and is elevated for game day.
Injury questions
Speaking of that new primary punt returner, wide receiver Jayden Reed figures to get the nod if he’s healthy. Reed has been dealing with a foot injury for several weeks, however, and his return timeline is unclear. The same goes for wideouts Dontayvion Wicks (calf) and Savion Williams (hamstring). Safety Zayne Anderson (knee), defensive end Barryn Sorrell (knee) and cornerback Nate Hobbs (knee) are in the same boat.
The Packers kept all six players on the initial 53, but that doesn’t confirm they’ll be good to go Week 1. As mentioned, the team only has two spots to use on IR-return designations during cutdown day and used them on Lloyd and Monk. If a player goes on IR during cuts without that designation, they’re done for the season in Green Bay. Could those players suit up against Detroit at Lambeau Field on Sept. 7? Sure. But the Packers could also place one or more on IR on Wednesday afternoon to clear space on the active roster for, say, a waiver claim or one of the players they just cut. They could also keep them on the active roster into the regular season with the expectation they’ll return before the four-game requirement for IR players is up. We might know more Wednesday afternoon if one or some of those players are on the field when the Packers hold the first open practice since cuts.
Making the cut
Two of the best stories on cutdown day were Bo Melton and Nazir Stackhouse. Melton switched positions from wide receiver to cornerback this offseason with flying colors. He’s hardly prime Darrelle Revis, but he doesn’t look like a fish out of water and might be No. 4 on the cornerback depth chart. Packers defensive passing game coordinator Derrick Ansley said he helped Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs switch from wideout to safety to corner at Alabama and Saints cornerback Alontae Taylor do the same at Tennessee during his coaching days at those schools. Melton, Ansley said, is “just as good of an athlete as those guys are.”
Bo Melton has looked like an NFL cornerback in camp after switching from wide receiver. He’ll play the position in a game for the first time on Saturday.
“I’m hyped now. I ain’t gonna lie.” pic.twitter.com/iv79u9ZhQW
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) August 7, 2025
Stackhouse, who deals with narcolepsy, is in line to extend the Packers’ streak of having an undrafted rookie on their Week 1 active roster to 21 years. The former Georgia defensive tackle made a handful of standout plays defending the run this summer and joined college teammate Warren Brinson, a 2025 sixth-round pick, on the 53.
Injury answers
Safety Omar Brown is done for the year in Green Bay after suffering a lung injury in the second preseason game against the Colts. He stayed in an Indiana hospital while the team returned to Green Bay and was placed on season-ending injured reserve Tuesday. The three players who landed on the physically unable to perform list to start the season were wide receiver Christian Watson (knee), rookie fifth-round defensive end Collin Oliver (hamstring) and rookie seventh-round offensive lineman John Williams (back). Players can only be placed on that list if they begin camp on it. All three are eligible to return after the first four games. Brian Gutekunst said Williams will take longer to recover than Oliver, and that Watson will be itching to return from his January torn ACL in Week 5 (that doesn’t mean the team will let him).
Moving pieces
A couple of odds and ends from cutdown day/week. The Packers traded for former Eagles and Chiefs offensive tackle Darian Kinnard, a 2022 fifth-round pick from Kentucky. He’s played in only three career games but is one of two players in NFL history to win three consecutive Super Bowls. He made the initial 53, while offensive lineman Kadeem Telfort did not after doing so last season. The Packers also announced a contract extension for long snapper Matt Orzech. ESPN reported that the three-year deal makes Orzech the third-highest-paid long snapper in the league. The 30-year-old has provided stability at the position and is entering his third year in Green Bay.
(Photo of Kalen King, right, and Isaiah Simmons: Kayla Wolf / Imagn Images)
