Green Bay Packers roster cuts tracker: Live updates, analysis

GREEN BAY, Wisconsin – The Green Bay Packers must reduce their 91-man roster to 53 players by 3 p.m. Tuesday.

While some teams have already begun the process, the Packers typically wait until cut day to complete their tasks.

Here’s the latest news as we set the table for Tuesday.

Profound, but flawed?

Thanks to some strong draft classes, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst was able to build a deep and talented roster.

But that doesn’t mean he won’t scour the waiver list in hopes of adding experienced players to a roster that’s considered a top-tier player. Super Bowl contenders with the ninth lowest championship odds at FanDuel Sportsbook.

Here are three positions the Packers may want to improve:

Quarterback: Neither of their young quarterbacks, Sean Clifford or Michael Pratt, took on the role of backup during training camp or the preseason.

Of 53 quarterbacks with at least 35 dropbacks in the preseason, Pratt ranked 43rd with 5.1 yards per attempt and Clifford was 48th with 4.8 yards per attempt.

The Packers are a title contender, but there is little room for error. Remember, they barely made the playoffs last season with a 9-8 record. The Packers were lucky to have Jordan Love come through the season unscathed, but that is the exception. Last year, only 11 quarterbacks played over 90 percent of the snaps.

If a seasoned veteran is released on Monday or Tuesday, expect the Packers to be interested.

Offensive line: The starting eleven will be strong, but it lacks depth. Especially in tackling.

Former first-round pick Andre Dillard rebounded nicely after a dismal start to training camp, but his overall record as a potential swing tackle leaves much to be desired. Dillard allowed a league-high 12 sacks despite starting just 10 games. However, he did not allow any pressures in 29 pass protection snaps in the preseason.

The interior defense will be better built with Jordan Morgan (assuming Sean Rhyan starts at right guard) and Jacob Monk, but both are rookies. Veteran Royce Newman could also play a role, but it’s not a good sign that the Packers have had an established player on the field in 146 preseason games.

If Dillard, Morgan and Monk are three backups, will the Packers keep a young player like Kadeem Telfort, Caleb Jones, Lecitus Smith or Travis Glover as their ninth blocker or will they wait to see if a capable veteran is released?

Kickers: Just when it looked like Anders Carlson had crossed the finish line with the win, he missed a 32-yard field goal, ending the preseason.

Several kickers will be released in the next few days, but will any of them be more reliable than Carlson or Greg Joseph?

Joey Slye (82.3 percent in his career), Austin Seibert (80.4 percent), Lucas Havrisik (75.0 percent) and Matthew Wright (85.1 percent, but only one full-time kicker since entering the NFL in 2019) – all of whom could lose their kicking contests – are not exactly leaps and bounds better.

NFL All-Preseason Team

The Sporting News has released its NFL All-Preseason Team. This includes two players who may be on the Packers roster.

Kristian Welch was one of two linebackers selected. Not only did he lead the team with 16 tackles in the preseason, but he was also tied for the NFL leader with two interceptions and finished the tryouts with a takeaway in each game.

“I’m not even sure I had that many takeaways in high school,” the Iola, Wisconsin native said after Saturday’s game. “Thank you also to my teammates and the coaches for putting me in the right position.”

As a running back, Emanuel Wilson was one of the honorable mentions behind Eric Gray of the Giants.

Among running backs, Wilson was second in rushing yards (160; the Bills’ Frank Gore Jr. led with 163) and missed tackles (10; the Jets’ Israel Abanikanda forced 12). Wilson was No. 1 with 132 rushing yards after contact. According to Pro Football Focus, that number alone would have ranked seventh among backs.

“I felt like I did a good job,” he said. “It starts in practice. The coaches always give me a hard time about my padding and hitting the holes when I see them. I try to do that every time I get the ball.”

Speaking of running backs

Wilson’s strong preseason has put him in the running for a roster spot. Pardon the pun. Injuries to AJ Dillon and MarShawn Lloyd could improve his chances.

Dillon sustained a stitch during a joint practice in Denver. Since he missed the final three games of last season due to a stitch, both Dillon and the team will be cautious.

“You only have one body,” Dillon said.

Dillon had a disappointing season as a runner last year, but is an asset in pass defense and as a receiver. Last year, more than 200 players were targeted at least 27 times in the passing game. Dillon ranked third in that group in YAC per catch.

“The good thing is I haven’t missed any OTAs or practices before,” he said. “I know this is a big red flag right now, but I haven’t missed a day of camp. I’ve been healthy the whole time and haven’t taken a day off, so I’m not worried that we’re being cautious and trying to make sure I’m there for the whole season and not just one day in camp.”

Lloyd, the explosive third-round pick, missed the start of training camp with a hip injury and left his preseason debut after two touches with a hamstring injury.

Lloyd said his “goal” is to be on the field for the opening game against the Eagles on Sept. 6.

“I feel pretty good and I’m just talking about my time,” he said. “We have almost two weeks. That’s more than enough time. So we’re taking baby steps and when it’s time to let go, we’ll let go.”

If a player begins the season on the injured list, he cannot play or practice for the first four weeks of the season.

More news about the Green Bay Packers

Kristian Welch tries to stay with his home state team | Winners and losers | Quarterbacks do not make a final statement | Recipients make final statement | Who is the kicker? | Where is the love in the QB levels? | Roster Lock-O-Meter | Seven surprises | The entire Oneida team | The six best players of the training camp