Green Bay Packers: What We've Learned in Week 3 of Preseason

As the Green Bay Packers prepare for their third preseason game of the year against the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday, they also inch closer toward the first round of cuts Sept. 1. 

Players' performances in that game could prove to be the catalyst for their dismissal from the team or their ticket to a roster spot.

In practices leading up to this week's matchup, we've seen everything from season-ending injuries to suspensions to news about contract talks, as well as witnessed roster battles begin to heat up.

Let's break down five things we learned in Week 3 of the preseason. 

Ty Montgomery Will Likely Be the No. 3 Receiver

Winslow Townson/Associated Press

In the practices following Jordy Nelson's ACL injury that will cause him to miss the entire 2015-16 season, rookie wide receiver Ty Montgomery has been taking reps as the No. 3 wideout behind Randall Cobb and Davante Adams, as ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky reported.

Nelson's absence opened a spot for multiple candidates to compete for that spot, which translates to lots of snaps as the Packers run their 11 personnel (one running back, one tight end, three receivers) a majority of the time.

Along with Montgomery, second-year player Jeff Janis and veteran Myles White are additional options, but both receivers have been switching between the No. 4 spot with the first-team offense and the scout team, as Wes Hodkiewicz of the Green Bay Press-Gazette reported.

Montgomery has put together an eye-catching training camp performance, showing off his versatility and athleticism. At Stanford, Montgomery lined up in the slot, out of the backfield and outside.

Head coach Mike McCarthy underscored how important it is for Montgomery to get reps outside during camp, which further suggests the 22-year-old is in the lead to line up as the outside receiver across from Adams. 

"Ty has an ability to play inside and outside," McCarthy said, per Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.

"No question about it."

Aaron Ripkowski Will Boost Special Teams Play

Michael Dwyer/Associated Press

Rookie fullback Aaron Ripkowski was drafted in the sixth round of the 2015 draft in part to boost Green Bay's special teams.

Through two preseason games so far, he's delivered on that potential.

In the Packers' first preseason matchup against New England, Ripkowski made an impact with two flashy open-field tackles.

"Ripkowski’s experience on return and coverage units in college and his apparent aptitude for it at this level make him worth watching as the Packers’ preseason continues Sunday in Pittsburgh," Packers.com's Mike Spofford wrote at the time. 

Those who heeded Spofford's advice were not disappointed with what Ripkowski put on the field in Pittsburgh. 

Ryan Wood of Press-Gazette Media noted that Ripkowski made the tackles on all three of the Steelers' returned kickoffs.

"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."

Expect to see Ripkowski continue to make an impact not only against the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday, but as a special teams regular through the season. 

Rookie LB James Vaughters Will Play Inside and Outside

Morry Gash/Associated Press

Undrafted rookie linebacker James Vaughters, who is attempting to crack the 53-man roster, will be given the opportunity to show his skills at both outside linebacker and inside linebacker, per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 

The next opportunity to witness Vaughters at either of those positions will be in Saturday's game against the Eagles. While the third preseason game is typically when teams play their starters for multiple series, if not the entire first half, it's also one of the last game situations to test out the bubble players. 

Whether he's eyeing the roster as an inside or outside 'backer, Vaughters will face a crowded group at both positions.

Inside, the Packers have many players who could easily make the final roster in Sam Barrington, Nate Palmer, rookie Jake Ryan and Joe Thomas, while outside there's veterans Clay Matthews (who will split time inside, as well), Julius Peppers, Mike Neal, Nick Perry, and former undrafted free agents Andy Mulumba and Jayrone Elliott. 

Vaughters had an impressive senior year at Stanford with 51 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. He played inside linebacker as a sophomore. He had another four sacks as a junior. 

However, it will be difficult for him to displace Mulumba or Elliott, both of whom have had solid showings during camp, for a roster spot. 

Mike Daniels Wants Big Money

Mike Roemer/Associated Press

Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Wednesday that the Packers and defensive lineman Mike Daniels are "far apart" in negotiations about Daniels' new contract. 

"Mindful of the ever-increasing NFL salary cap, Daniels is seeking in the neighborhood of $10 million per year, according to sources, while the Packers have made multiyear proposals averaging several million less per year," McGinn wrote. 

Daniels is set to become a free agent in March, and the Packers would prefer to get a deal done with him prior to the start of the regular season. As McGinn reported, Daniels has indicated that the start of the regular season "would not cause him to suspend negotiations," but the Packers prefer to get those deals done during the summer. 

At this point in time, the Packers have more leverage. Daniels has emerged as a vocal leader on a defense stocked with young talent, as well as one of the league's better interior pass-rushers,but he's only started for one of his three seasons with the team. 

However, if Daniels goes out and has a career year in 2015—topping career-highs of 6.5 sacks, 41 combined tackles and perhaps adding a handful of passes defensed—the Packers will find themselves with less bargaining power.

Come March, some team in the league will be interested in offering Daniels upward of $10 million per year, and the Packers will either have to outbid such team or let one of their best homegrown defensive talents walk.  

The highest paid defensive end in football in 2015 will be J.J. Watt, whose salary averages $16.7 million per year, per Spotrac.com. Players whose average salaries are in the $10 million range that Daniels hopes to reach include New Orleans' Cameron Jordan, Arizona's Calais Campbell, Pittsburgh's Cameron Heyward and Buffalo's Jerry Hughes.

Letroy Guion's Upheld Suspension Means Josh Boyd Needs to Step Up

Mike Roemer/Associated Press

Veteran defensive tackle and starter Letroy Guion's three-game suspension for violating NFL policy this offseason will indeed be upheld, as ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Thursday. 

Though the team has had all of its training camp to prepare for this outcome, it's now a certainty that the team will face the season opener against the Chicago Bears without both Guion and Datone Jones, the two preferred starters on the other side of Mike Daniels in the base defense. 

Now, starting alongside Daniels and nose tackle B.J. Raji in Week 1 will be third-year player Josh Boyd. He's the next man up on the team's most recent unofficial depth chart and had been playing in Daniels' spot while the veteran was out of practice with an injury, per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 

Boyd earned four starts in 2014 after having none his rookie season, and he increased his combined tackles to 21. He has proven himself to be a better run defender than Jones, who is more of a situational pass-rusher.

In the nickel defense, however, Boyd would come off the field in favor of Raji and Daniels, as he still hasn't proven himself to be a solid pass-rusher.