GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The Green Bay Packers will cut their roster to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET Saturday. Here’s a projection:
QUARTERBACKS (3): Aaron Rodgers, Tim Boyle, DeShone Kizer
Boyle has outplayed Kizer and should be the No. 2. It’s possible that they could keep only two quarterbacks, but that would mean general manager Brian Gutekunst would have to give up on Kizer less than 18 months after he traded for him.
RUNNING BACKS (3): Aaron Jones, Jamaal Williams, Tra Carson
Carson is far more ready to help the Packers today, which gives him the nod over rookie Dexter Williams. Considering teams passed on Williams until the sixth round and he’s done nothing to distinguish himself in the preseason, there’s little reason to fear another team might claim him, so the Packers can probably get him back on the practice squad.
FULLBACK (1): Danny Vitale
It’s clear Matt LaFleur’s offense includes a fullback and now that Vitale has returned from his calf injury, this position is settled. Vitale also can handle third-down back responsibilities both as a receiver and protector.
RECEIVERS (7): Davante Adams, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Geronimo Allison, Jake Kumerow, Trevor Davis, Allen Lazard, Equanimeous St. Brown
The Packers will have an easier time sneaking the 5-foot-11 Darrius Shepherd, an undrafted and unsigned tryout rookie, through to the practice squad than Lazard, who at 6-foot-5 has size that teams covet. St. Brown could be a candidate for IR-designated to return because of the high ankle sprain he suffered in the third preseason game, but he needs to be on the initial 53 to qualify for that.
TIGHT ENDS (4): Jimmy Graham, Marcedes Lewis, Robert Tonyan, Jace Sternberger
The Packers surprisingly gave Lewis a $500,000 signing bonus to come back, which means there’s a good chance he sticks. He’s the best blocker among the group but at age 35 he’s no threat as a receiver. Sternberger isn’t ready to play, but the Packers can’t cut a third-round pick.
OFFENSIVE LINE (8): David Bakhtiari, Elgton Jenkins, Corey Linsley, Billy Turner, Bryan Bulaga, Alex Light, Lucas Patrick, Justin McCray
If the rookie Jenkins wins the starting left guard job -- and it sure seems like the Packers want him to -- then it’s hard to imagine them keeping Lane Taylor at $3.1 million in salary and bonuses. He might have good trade value, and perhaps he could fetch some help at running back or inside linebacker. Eight is a little light on the line, but they typically only have seven or eight active on game day anyway. Turner could move outside and play tackle, if needed, and Patrick or McCray could take over at guard.
DEFENSIVE LINE (5): Kenny Clark, Dean Lowry, Montravius Adams, Kingsley Keke, Tyler Lancaster
This might be the easiest position to predict. The top three are clear cut, while Keke and Lancaster have stood above the rest of the competition.
INSIDE LINEBACKERS (4): Blake Martinez, Oren Burks, James Crawford, Ty Summers (or someone currently on another team).
It seems like the Packers aren’t yet sold on Summers, a seventh-round pick, even though he leads them in preseason tackles. Undrafted rookie Curtis Bolton has worked ahead of Summers most of the preseason, but his bid was probably ruined by a right knee injury last week. Like St. Brown, Burks (torn pectoral) has to be on the initial 53 in order to qualify for an in-season return. While safety Raven Greene will move down to the dime linebacker spot in that sub package, it sure seems like the starter next to Martinez isn’t on the roster at this point. Tuesday’s trade of Reggie Gilbert opened a spot for rookie Randy Ramsey.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS (5): Preston Smith, Za'Darius Smith, Rashan Gary, Kyler Fackrell, Randy Ramsey
Za'Darius Smith looks like the star of this group, while Gary looks like he’s going to need some time before he can produce.
CORNERBACKS (6): Jaire Alexander, Kevin King, Tramon Williams, Josh Jackson, Tony Brown, Ka'dar Hollman
Brown and Williams have filled in for King during his extended preseason absence because of another hamstring injury, the same malady that ended his 2018 season. Rookie Chandron Sullivan looks like he can play, too, but there’s probably not room for another corner.
SAFETIES (4): Adrian Amos, Darnell Savage Jr., Raven Greene, Will Redmond
Cutting Josh Jones on Sunday cleared a spot for Redmond or Natrell Jamerson. Both finished last season on the active roster, and it’s a close call but special teams might favor Redmond. Ibraheim Campbell was re-signed mid-camp but probably will stay on PUP to start the season because he’s still recovering from December ACL surgery.
SPECIALISTS (3): K Mason Crosby, P JK Scott, LS Hunter Bradley
It will be interesting to see if the Packers try to get Crosby to restructure his contract like he did in 2013, when they reduced his pay but gave him the chance to earn back the money through incentives. Either way, it looks like he will hold off Sam Ficken, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Ficken kick in the NFL this season.