Packers Players Who Need Impressive Camp to Avoid Being Cut

Training camp might be a formality for the biggest names on an NFL roster, but it's crunch time for those on the fringes.

The influx of talent that occurs over the offseason is fun to watch. Between the draft and free agency, the Packers have undergone plenty of renovations. But all those additions mean someone has to go.

As of now, the Packers roster has 88 players, per Spotrac. By the time they break camp, that number will have to be whittled down to 53 on the active roster.

That means some hard decisions are coming, and some players are going to be playing for their spot.

Here's a look at three who are going to have a lot to prove if they want to remain on the roster.

WR Samori Toure

AP Photo/Morry Gash

Green Bay Packers' Samori Toure runs a drill during an NFL football rookie minicamp Friday, May 6, 2022, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Most of the talk about the Green Bay Packers and the wide receiver position has revolved around whether they'll sign or trade for a veteran.

So far, it doesn't seem like that's the case. The Packers have been patient at the position while adding several options throughout the offseason.

At some point, though, you have to start looking at who is going to emerge. Green Bay has taken up to seven receivers on its initial 53-man roster in the past but six is the norm.

The obvious choices are Randall Cobb, Allen Lazard, Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs given Cobb and Lazard's contracts and the draft picks used to acquire Watson and Doubs.

Sammy Watkins is likely to be next on the priority list. He's a proven veteran when healthy.

So that leaves one to two spots for a wide assortment of young guys, including Juwann Winfree, Amari Rodgers and Malik Taylor.

For seventh-round pick Samori Toure to overcome them and earn a spot, he's going to have to look really impressive in camp. B/R NFL Scout Derrik Klassen noted his energy as a blocker within the Nebraska offense.

Showing that energy and proving he can be a special teams contributor is going to be a must if the 24-year-old wants a roster spot.

LB Ty Summers

Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

GREEN BAY, WI - JUNE 12: Green Bay Packers inside linebacker Ty Summers (44) looks for a ball during Green Bay Packers minicamp at the Don Hutson Center on June 12, 2019 in Green Bay, WI. (Photo by Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

All things considered, Ty Summers has done pretty well for himself in Green Bay. He was a seventh-round pick in 2019 and has managed to stay on the roster this long, mostly as a special teams contributor.

That's a lot more than most seventh-round picks. But as he enters the final year of his contract, the Packers could be looking for more from the roster spot.

Summers briefly filled in at linebacker in 2020 due to injury. He registered 176 defensive snaps in his second season but didn't do well enough to warrant another look in 2021 and played just 29 defensive snaps.

Entering camp, the 26-year-old has just one more shot at proving he can contribute as a linebacker and special teams ace.

The Packers have re-signed De'Vondre Campbell, and first-round pick Quay Walker is likely to start alongside him. That pushes everyone down the depth chart at least one spot.

Isaiah McDuffie could be Summers' primary competition. He was a sixth-round pick in 2021 and also contributed on special teams but didn't play any defense.

If the 22-year-old proves he can be valuable as a backup defender, Summers could be in trouble.

WR Sammy Watkins

Joe Sargent/Getty Images

PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 05: Sammy Watkins #14 of the Baltimore Ravens in action during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on December 5, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

If someone like Samori Toure shows up to camp and performs well, the Packers could have a tough decision to make.

Sammy Watkins has great upside in this offense. When healthy, he's a productive receiver with proven skills. But that "healthy" caveat is a big one for the 29-year-old. He hasn't played a full season since his rookie year in 2014.

Last year, the Clemson product played in 13 games on a Baltimore team that was in desperate need of receivers but only registered 49 percent of the offensive snaps.

Effectively, Watkins has only proved he can handle being a part-time player at this point in his career.

As the Packers go about rebuilding the receiving corps, it's fair to wonder if they are willing to deal with those durability issues.

With several younger and, presumably, healthier options to choose from, the Packers could opt to give Watkins' roster spot to a more hungry younger player willing to also chip in on special teams.