Updated 53-Man Roster Projections for Green Bay Packers Post Preseason Week 3

Michelle BrutonAug 30, 2015

With the end of the Green Bay Packers' preseason fast approaching and the deadline for the first round of roster cuts down to 75 players looming on Sept. 1, it's time for another 53-man roster projection.

This projection could be outdated as of 5 p.m. ET on Sept. 1 or could still be 100 percent in play, but the exercise is useful either way because it serves as an appropriate time to evaluate players' performances over the first three games of the preseason.

This projection loosely relies on the Packers' most recent unofficial depth chart, but it of course includes only 53 players rather than the entire offseason roster.

Each positional group receives its own breakdown in the following projection followed by one slide containing the entire 53-man roster by position. Players have been listed multiple times if applicable in the depth charts but only once on the 53-man roster.

Quarterbacks

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Don Wright/Associated Press

First: Aaron Rodgers

Second: Scott Tolzien

Third: Brett Hundley

Aaron Rodgers' role at the helm of this Packers offense becomes more important than ever with the loss of top wideout Jordy Nelson for the season.

Though he'll have veteran receiver Randall Cobb and tight end Andrew Quarless, Rodgers will be primarily working with a group of second-year players and rookie pass-catchers.

Even so, Rodgers' play elevates those around him, and he is supported by a strong ground game led by Eddie Lacy. As long as Rodgers remains healthy, the Packers are contenders.

The Packers typically have only carried two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster. Last season, after Rodgers missed seven games in 2013 with a broken collarbone, they kept three, and they'll likely do the same this season.

Scott Tolzien took the second-team reps throughout OTAs and minicamp, and when the veterans were dismissed early on the last day of minicamp, Tolzien took the first-team reps, per ESPN.com's Rob Demovksy.

Though it's the preseason, he's been the first quarterback in the game when Rodgers comes out and has put together some efficient scoring drives, such as his seven-play, 60-yard scoring drive against New England.

Though Demovsky reported during OTAs that journeyman quarterback Matt Blanchard is "so far ahead of" rookie Brett Hundley, the rookie has been improving during his actual game snaps in the preseason.

Hundley also led a successful scoring drive against the Patriots, culminating in a 10-yard touchdown pass to running back John Crockett.

Wide Receivers

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Mike Roemer/Associated Press

First: Randall Cobb, Davante Adams

Second: Ty Montgomery, Jeff Janis

Third: Myles White

With Jordy Nelson on injured reserve, the Packers' landscape shifts dramatically at wide receiver, particularly their No. 3.

While general manager Ted Thompson likely never expected the rookie Montgomery to be part of the Packers' frequently used 11-man personnel group featuring three receivers, the loss of Nelson opens a large hole. Though second-year player Jeff Janis and veteran Myles White have more experience in the offense than Montgomery, there's no denying the rookie's talent.

In the camp practices since Nelson's injury, Montgomery has been taking reps as the No. 3 wideout behind Cobb and Davante Adams, as ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky reported.

I've speculated this offseason that given how much depth and talent they have at the position, the Packers might choose to keep six wide receivers on the final roster, especially if they were worried they wouldn't be able to stash one of those players on the practice squad.

However, the top candidate for that sixth spot at the start of camp was second-year player Jared Abbrederis, who was eyeing a comeback year after missing his entire rookie season with a torn ACL. But Abbrederis did not dress for the preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles Saturday, as Brian Carriveau of 247Sports reported, and has yet to practice after suffering a concussion on July 30.

If he can return to practice and flash, perhaps that sixth spot opens up for Abbrederis at the expense of a defensive back (likely Chris Banjo).

As for practice-squad candidates, Abbrederis would of course be an option, as well as undrafted rookies Larry Pinkard and Javess Blue.

Running Backs

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Michael Dwyer/Associated Press

Halfbacks

First: Eddie Lacy

Second: James Starks

Third: John Crockett

Fullbacks

First: John Kuhn

Second: Aaron Ripkowski

If the Packers only keep five wide receivers on the 53-man roster, it would help them keep three halfbacks and two fullbacks. While they could certainly get by in 2015 with only Lacy and Starks and Kuhn, it's all about investing in the future of the running game and making sure it stays deep.

"I think your third halfback, third runner is critical," head coach Mike McCarthy said in mid-August, per the Associated Press via FoxSports.com.

The three players competing for that potential third halfback spot are former practice squad player Rajion Neal and undrafted rookies John Crockett and Alonzo Harris.

Crockett had an impressive start to the preseason against the New England Patriots, with a team-high 10 carries for 26 yards and a 10-yard touchdown reception. In the Packers' third preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles, he was the team's leading rusher, carrying the rock six times for 23 yards.

Crockett also has explosive return skills, another facet of his game that could help him stick on the roster. Crockett had three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons at North Dakota State. In 2013, he averaged 26.2 yards over 11 returns.

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Tight Ends

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Morry Gash/Associated Press

First: Richard Rodgers

Second: Andrew Quarless

Third: Kennard Backman

Second-year tight end Richard Rodgers has played the highest percentage of snaps of any Packers tight end this preseason, with 70, per Pro Football Focus. In three games he's had five receptions for 58 yards and a touchdown.

Though it's not set in stone, the Packers' most recent unofficial depth chart lists Rodgers as the starting tight end ahead of Andrew Quarless.

Rodgers played 543 snaps last season, per Pro Football Focus, and had five starts. Quarless received more snaps than Rodgers last season, with 715, and 11 starts, per Pro Football Focus.

However, Rodgers continued to improve throughout the season, both in blocking and in receiving, while Quarless' ceiling is established by this point in his career. The veteran is also facing a potential suspension as a result of allegedly discharging a firearm in July. As Brian Carriveau of 247Sports reported, however, Quarless' impending trial has been pushed back to Sept. 21.

Quarless enters a contract year in 2015. It's time for the Packers to find out what they really have in Rodgers, and it just might be a top target, especially with the loss of Nelson for the season.

Rookie Kennard Backman scored his first NFL touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles, and has had two receptions in each game of the preseason so far for 44 yards. General manager Ted Thompson tends to keep his first-year draft selections, so expect Backman to round out the unit on the final roster.

Undrafted rookie tight ends Mitchell Henry and Harold Spears are both candidates for the practice squad.

Offensive Line

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Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

Left Tackle

First: David Bakhtiari

Second: JC Tretter

Left Guard

First: Josh Sitton

Second: Don Barclay

Center

First: Corey Linsley

Second: JC Tretter

Right Guard

First: T.J. Lang

Second: Matt Rotheram

Right Tackle

First: Bryan Bulaga

Second: T.J. Lang

Injuries have not been kind to the Packers' offensive line during the preseason.

Left tackle David Bakhtiari (knee), left guard Josh Sitton (ankle) and right guard T.J. Lang were all already sitting out the Packers' preseason matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, as Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

Then, right tackle Bryan Bulaga left the game with an ankle injury, as Wes Hodkiewicz of Press-Gazette Media reported.

It's not yet clear whether the entire starting five is expected to be ready to play Week 1. That would mean veteran Don Barclay, who has taken the field at both left tackle and left guard this preseason in place of Bakhtiari and Sitton, respectively, would be asked to step in at the position of greatest need, and potentially JC Tretter and undrafted rookie Matt Rotheram behind him.

Veteran Lane Taylor, who played at left guard against Philadelphia, did not make this roster projection, but of course that could change if the Packers are down multiple bodies to start the season.

Aaron Rodgers was theoretically heading into 2015 with his entire starting five from the previous season intact, including his first time stringing together consecutive seasons with the same starting center since Scott Wells in 2011.

Defensive Line

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Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Left Defensive End

First: Josh Boyd

Second: Letroy Guion

Third: Datone Jones

Nose Tackle

First: B.J. Raji

Second: Letroy Guion

Third: Mike Pennel

Right Defensive End

First: Mike Daniels

Second: Christian Ringo

The Packers defensive line will be thin to open the season against the Chicago Bears in Week 1.

Letroy Guion's three-game suspension for violating NFL policy this offseason will be upheld, as ESPN's Adam Schefter reported. Datone Jones is also set to miss Week 1.

Now, starting alongside right defensive end Mike Daniels and nose tackle B.J. Raji in Week 1 will likely be third-year player Josh Boyd, though whether he keeps that job once Jones returns in Week 2 is to be determined. Boyd has proven to be a better run defender than Jones, who is more of a situational pass-rusher.

Mike Pennel has been earning praise through the preseason when he has replaced Raji at nose tackle. In fact, he earned the highest overall grade of any Packers defensive player against the Philadelphia Eagles by Pro Football Focus. Because Raji and Guion are both on one-year deals, Pennel will prove to be an important developmental player to retain.

Also expect Ted Thompson to keep his 2015 sixth-round draft selection Christian Ringo. Due to space exigencies, Khyri Thornton, Bruce Gaston and Lavon Hooks don't make the cut, but expect Hooks to land on the practice squad.

Linebackers

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Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Left Outside Linebacker

First: Clay Matthews

Second: Nick Perry

Third: Andy Mulumba

Buck Linebacker

First: Sam Barrington

Second: Jake Ryan

Middle Linebacker

First: Nate Palmer

Right Outside Linebacker

First: Julius Peppers

Second: Mike Neal

Third: Jayrone Elliott

Clay Matthews is currently listed at his usual spot of left inside linebacker on the Packers' most recent unofficial depth chart, so we've followed suit here, even though Matthews will likely play inside on first and second downs as he did at the end of the 2014 season.

On third downs, expect the Packers to rush Matthews from the outside. When that happens, inside-linebacker convert Nate Palmer is proving himself to be the best option to slide inside at middle linebacker next to starting Buck linebacker Sam Barrington.

Palmer has been impressing in camp practices despite the fact that he's wearing a club cast on his hand. On Aug. 10, he was able to pick off a Matt Blanchard pass despite wearing the club, as Wes Hodkiewicz of Press Gazette Media reported. Unfortunately, the club has appeared to be more of a hindrance, especially in coverage, during preseason games.

Nick Perry did not play in a preseason game until Saturday against the Philadelphia Eagles, when he had 25 defensive plays per Pro Football Focus. His return was reflected in the Packers' most recent depth chart, where he is listed as the No. 2 behind Matthews.

That moves Jayrone Elliott down to the No. 3 spot among the right outside 'backers behind Julius Peppers and Mike Neal, but expect him to make the cut, along with Andy Mulumba. They are both young, talented players at a position that is primed to see a shake-up in the coming seasons with the expiration of Perry's and Neal's contracts next season and Peppers' age.

Secondary

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Morry Gash/Associated Press

Left Cornerback

First: Casey Hayward

Second: Damarious Randall

Third: Quinten Rollins

Right Cornerback

First: Sam Shields

Second: LaDarius Gunter

Strong Safety

First: Morgan Burnett

Second: Sean Richardson

Third: Chris Banjo

Free Safety

First: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix

Second: Micah Hyde

If we go off the latest practice configurations in the secondary, and less on the preseason—where experimenting is prevalent—Casey Hayward appears to be sticking as an outside corner.

During camp practice on Aug. 25, prior to the preseason matchup with the Eagles, Sam Shields and Hayward were the Packers' outside corners, while defensive back Micah Hyde played nickel. In the dime defense, Damarious Randall played on the edge, per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Green Bay's defense plays in subpackages so frequently that it's not necessarily as important who the starters in the base defense are projected to be so much as it is how coordinator Dom Capers is going to get his talent onto the field.

After all, the above grouping does not get talented rookie Quinten Rollins onto the field, and that's a must. He's flashed skill this preseason, coming out strong in the first matchup against the New England Patriots with two passes defensed.

The Packers will also want to find ways to get undrafted rookie LaDarius Gunter involved. Gunter pushes the more experienced Demetri Goodson off this list because his playmaking ability is too explosive to ignore; he's had four passes defensed and an interception so far this preseason.

The safety group, led by starters Morgan Burnett and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, is essentially locked in except for the fifth spot for Chris Banjo, which could also go to Jean Fanor or which could not exist at all if the Packers decide they can make do with four safeties to add another spot to a different position.

Micah Hyde, who is the top candidate to play in the slot this season currently, was carted off the field Saturday against the Eagles with what head coach Mike McCarthy reported as a neck spasm, as Jason Wilde of ESPN Wisconsin reported. If he misses time, one of the young corners such as Rollins could get snaps there.

Special Teams

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Don Wright/Associated Press

Kicker

Mason Crosby

Punter

Tim Masthay

Long Snapper

Brett Goode

Punt Returner

Micah Hyde

Kick Returner

Ty Montgomery

Mason Crosby is entering the final year of his contract in Green Bay after eight seasons, and he will turn 31 in September. He had a solid year in 2014 and may use his performance this season to push for a contract that allows him to play a few more years, be it in Green Bay or somewhere else.

Punter Tim Masthay felt the heat this offseason when Green Bay signed former Alabama punter Cody Mandell to compete for his spot. In 2014, Masthay posted a career low in net yards per punt with 37 and had two punts blocked.

However, Mandell had repeated issues holding for Crosby, as Ryan Wood of Press-Gazette Media reported at the time, and was ultimately released.

2014 saw Green Bay average only 19.1 yards per kick return, 31st in the league. But the Packers have some exciting options in rookies Ty Montgomery and John Crockett. Montgomery averaged 27.4 yards per kick return at Stanford. As NDSU's primary kick returner in the second half of the 2013 season, Crockett averaged 26.2 yards over 11 returns.