Green Bay Packers Preseason: Week 3 Stock Report

Another week of the preseason, another shift in the rising and falling of players' stock for the Green Bay Packers. 

This week, we look back at moments from the Packers' second preseason matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers and the practices following and note which players made a positive impression...and which ones hurt their stock. 

As always, this report is a snapshot in time of the past week and is not meant to imply that these players will or won't make the final roster. However, we're getting close to the point in the season when it's hard to recover from stock that's trending down. 

Let's look at five players whose stock is rising or falling this week. 

Rising: CB LaDarius Gunter

Winslow Townson/Associated Press

Undrafted rookie cornerback LaDarius Gunter's stock has been consistently high since OTAs, but the talented defensive back keeps finding ways to impress Packers coaching staff. 

Gunter had a strong showing in the Packers' first preseason outing against the New England Patriots, with the sole interception by Green Bay's defense. He followed that up against the Pittsburgh Steelers; as Ryan Wood of Press-Gazette Media pointed out, "Gunter had three of the Packers' four defended passes Sunday."

Gunter also broke up a pass intended for Martavis Bryant that likely would have led to a score and held the wideout to just one reception overall on three targets.

He earned the highest coverage grade of any defensive back by Pro Football Focus, a 3.7, and it wasn't even close. Pittsburgh quarterbacks had a rating of just 39.6 when throwing into Gunter's coverage, per Pro Football Focus.

With the preseason he's putting together, Gunter's name could end up on this list every week in the "rising" category. There should definitely be a spot for him on the 53-man roster. 

Falling: OL Don Barclay

Morry Gash/Associated Press

Starting left tackle David Bakhtiari did not travel to the Packers' preseason matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, as Wes Hodkiewicz of the Green Bay Press-Gazette reported Sunday. That meant that veteran offensive lineman Don Barclay, who started 15 games at right tackle in 2013, would have to step in. 

It wasn't pretty. 

Barclay allowed two sacks and one hit on Packers quarterbacks against Pittsburgh, per Pro Football Focus: the most pressures allowed by any offensive lineman on the day. His pass-blocking grade was by far the lowest of the team, at minus-3.1.

The worst moment of his performance by far was allowing Aaron Rodgers to be sacked in Green Bay's end zone for a safety. The veteran also had an offensive holding penalty to boot.

Barclay is still working his way back from the season-ending ACL injury he suffered last year, so perhaps it's not surprising that his play was not at a high level. 

Head coach Mike McCarthy remarked Tuesday that Bakhtiari "is improving," per the team's Twitter, but there's no timetable yet for his return. Barclay may get a chance to redeem himself against the Philadelphia Eagles on Aug. 29. 

Rising: WR Ty Montgomery

Winslow Townson/Associated Press

2015 third-round draft selection Ty Montgomery has been doing enough on his own this offseason to see his stock rise.

But the loss of No. 1 wideout Jordy Nelson for the season to a torn ACL, as NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported, means the rookie Montgomery suddenly becomes a lot more important to Green Bay's offense.

Immediately following Nelson's exit from the Packers' preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, second-year player Jeff Janis took over No. 3 receiver duties. However, as ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky reported Tuesday, the Packers receivers working with the first-team offense in practice were Davante Adams and Montgomery on the outside and Randall Cobb in the slot.   

The rookie also worked in the slot during practice and impressed with an over-the-shoulder catch from Brett Hundley near the sideline, as Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette reported. Sound like anyone else's signature move? That's right: Nelson's. 

Montgomery saw special teams action against Pittsburgh, returning one kick and one punt for 13 and 10 yards, respectively. But now that they have a week to game-plan for it, expect the Packers to use the wideout more on Aug. 29 against the Philadelphia Eagles. 

Falling: WR Myles White

Charles Krupa/Associated Press

With Jordy Nelson lost for the season, now would be a good time for veteran receiver Myles White to kick his game into high gear and prove to the Packers that he's worth a spot on the final roster. 

However, if anything, White's play appears to have dipped this week. In fact, he landed the undesirable spot of being named in the "Thumbs Down" category in a recent piece by Ryan Wood of Press-Gazette Media. 

"After struggling with drops in New England, White had two penalties Sunday. On the same play," Wood wrote.  

"Covering a punt, White failed to return to the field after stepping out of bounds. That unsportsmanlike penalty was negated because White also grabbed a facemask, a 15-yard personal foul."

White has been in the league long enough to know how to avoid penalties, especially two on the same play and a personal foul. 

However, White may still be in the running for a fifth or potential sixth wide receiver spot on the final roster; per Packers reporter Mike Clemens, the Packers' current depth chart seems to be Randall Cobb, Davante Adams, Ty Montgomery, White and then Jeff Janis. White will compete with second-year player Jared Abbrederis as well as undrafted rookies Larry Pinkard, Javess Blue and Ed Williams. 

Rising: FB Aaron Ripkowski

Morry Gash/Associated Press

Some eyebrows were raised when general manager Ted Thompson selected fullback Aaron Ripkowski in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL draft. 

After all, the team had just re-signed veteran fullback John Kunn to a one-year deal. 

However, Thompson was looking for a prospect to groom for the future in Ripkowski, and it appears he's got that. While Kuhn demonstrated in the preseason matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers that his lead-blocking ability is critical to Eddie Lacy's success, Ripkowski is proving he can be a worthy successor. 

Though Ripkowski is getting most of his preseason work on special teams, that's likely the role he will play in 2015 if the Packers keep both fullbacks on the roster. And with special teams in need of vast improvement over last year, Ripkowski is part of the solution. 

As Ryan Wood of Press-Gazette Media pointed out, Ripkowski made the tackle on all three kickoffs the Steelers returned on Aug. 23. 

"On the Packers' first kickoff following their game-opening touchdown drive, Ripkowski initially ran past Steelers returner Dri Archer. He was able to peel back around, running down Archer before he reached the 30-yard line," Wood wrote. 

"Ripkowski also had an open-field tackle against the speedy Archer in the open field following the Packers' safety in the first quarter."

Some may think roster spots could used in better ways than for two fullbacks, but Ripkowski would never last on Green Bay's practice squad, and he's the future. Kuhn, meanwhile, can help Ripkowski become a better blocker through the season.