Final Green Bay Packers 53-Man Roster Projection: Predictions for Roster, Packers Practice Squad after Preseason
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Who will make the Packers roster? The Green Bay Packers preseason schedule wrapped up on Friday night and training camp is in the rearview mirror. Up next for general manager Brian Gutekunst, the NFL roster cutdown deadline on Sunday, August 30 at 6:00 PM ET. With final decisions looming, we’re taking one final swipe at predicting the Packers roster entering September.
Before doing this exercise, we’ll note that the Packers front office will likely make changes well ahead of Week 1.
Let’s dive into our final Packers 53-man roster projection following the preseason finale. Of note, we’ve included with each prediction who we think makes the Packers practice squad and candidates to be put on the PUP list.
QB (2): Jordan Love and Tyrod Taylor
Jordan Love is the Packers starting quarterback this season with veteran Tyrod Taylor, who signed a one-year deal with the team after the 2026 NFL Draft, serving as his backup. While Kyle McCord outperformed Taylor in preseason action, it was a very different story during Packers training camp and Matt LaFleur will keep the fill-in starter/emergency option who has played in 100 career games. Assuming McCord clears waivers, the former sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft should be the lone QB on the Packers practice squad this season.
- Packers Practice Squad: Kyle McCord
RB (3): Josh Jacobs, MarShawn Lloyd and Chris Brooks
The looming possibility of the NFL handing down a multi-game suspension for Josh Jacobs following two misdemeanor charges, including battery, slightly complicates predicting the Packers roster. It’s been reported that the league may announce discipline before Week 1, but Jacobs’ initial court appearance isn’t until Nov. 17. We’ve been inclined to think the NFL holds off until the legal process unfolds more, but law enforcement having surveillance footage of the alleged battery could change that. For now, we think Green Bay keeps just Jacobs, MarShawn Lloyd and Chris Brooks. Lloyd would be the Packers’ starting running back if Jacobs misses time and Brooks is the third-down back. As for Pierre Strong Jr., he’s an ideal candidate for the Packers practice squad.
- Packers Practice Squad: Pierre Strong Jr
WR (6): Christian Watson, Matthew Golden, Jayden Reed, Savion Williams, Bo Melton and Skyy Moore
Will the Packers roster seven wide receivers? It is certainly on the table. Undrafted free agent J. Michael Sturdivant made a strong case for a spot thanks to his versatile special-teams ability. Will Sheppard is the other viable candidate and his two-touchdown performance, including a punt return for a score, helped his case.However, Green Bay got him onto its practice squad last season and kept him there all season, only promoting him to the active roster once before putting him back on it after he cleared waivers. There is enough receiver depth around the league to believe Green Bay can stash Sheppard there again.
- Packers Practice Squad: Will Sheppard and J. Michael Sturdivant
TE (3): Tucker Kraft, Jonnu Smith and Josh Whyle*
Here is where things get a bit interesting with the Packers roster. The signing of veteran tight end Jonnu Smith makes Josh Whyle replaceable, since they play similar roles. Green Bay is, however, missing a Y/in-line tight end and that is probably going to come off the waiver wire next week. We think Whyle makes the initial 53-man roster, but gets waived when Gutekunst sees a blocking tight end he likes on waivers.
OL (10): Jordan Morgan, Aaron Banks, Sean Rhyan, Jacob Monk, Zach Bako-Bewele, Josh Williams, Jager Burton, Donovan Jennings, Anthony Belton and Darian Kinnard
The Zach Bako-Bewele injury situation has made this an even easier choice for Green Bay. A month after the Packers’ right tackle stated there was no doubt he would play in Week 1, his answer about not being “there quite yet” and needing “a couple weeks” at least raises some questions about his readiness post-surgery from a partially torn patellar tendon. The Packers’ offensive line of Jordan Morgan (John Williams), Aaron Banks (Jager Burton), Sean Rhyan (Burton), Jacob Monk (Donovan Jennings and Burton) and Bako-Bewele (Anthony Belton and Darian Kinnard) will have backup options at each position, depth Green Bay lacked in 2025.
- Packers Practice Squad: Waiver Wire Claim/Street Addition
DL (6): Devonte Wyatt, Javon Hargrave, Karl Brooks, Chris McClellan, Warren Brinson and Anthony Campbell
This is where keeping just two quarterbacks and six wide receivers on the Packers’ 53-man roster can help on the other side of the ball. Green Bay has an unexpected amount of depth on the defensive line right now, thanks to the breakout summer from Anthony Campbell and the offseason additions of Javon Hargrave and Chris McClellan. For the time being, we think Gutekunst will keep Campbell around after a strong summer with Nazir Stackhouse passed through waivers to the practice squad. When Jordon Riley (Achilles) comes off the PUP, Campbell then gets replaced.
- Packers Practice Squad: Nazir Stackhouse, Jonathon Ford
- PUP List: Jordon Riley
EDGE (5): Lukas Van Ness, Barryn Sorrell, Brenton Cox Jr, Dani Dennis-Sutton and Collin Oliver
Set it and forget it. Micah Parsons will start the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list, likely returning in Week 6 versus the Dallas Cowboys. In the meantime, the Packers roster will have five edge rushers with Lukas Van Ness, Barryn Sorrell, Brenton Cox Jr. and Collin Oliver tasked with filling the pass-rushing void until Parsons returns. Green Bay will also hold out hope that, after a training camp derailed by an injury, rookie Dani Dennis-Sutton can develop and make an impact later this year.
- PUP List: Micah Parsons
- Packers Practice Squad: Arron Mosby
LB (5): Edgerrin Cooper, Zaire Franklin, Isaiah McDuffie, Ty’Ron Hopper and Nick Niemann
Similar to edge rusher, this is one of the easiest positions with the final Packers’ 53-man roster projection. Edgerrin Cooper and Zaire Franklin are the starters, with Ty’Ron Hopper and Isaiah McDuffie backing them up at off-ball linebacker in Jonathan Gannon’s system. Nick Niemann, a special-teams standout, takes the fifth linebacker spot, with Kristian Welch landing on the Packers’ practice squad as an insurance plan behind Niemann.
- Packers Practice Squad: Kristian Welch
CB (6): Keisean Nixon, Brandon Cisse, Carrington Valentine, Benjamin St-Juste, Kamal Hadden and Domani Jackson
Veteran Keisean Nixon and rookie Brandon Cisse will be the Packers’ starting cornerbacks in Week 1 with Benjamin St-Juste, Carrington Valentine and Kamal Hadden backing them up. That much seems clear coming out of the summer. What is less certain is if Green Bay decides to roster Domani Jackson, who has overtaken Jaylin Simpson on the depth chart, or if they opt to grab someone they like better off waivers. For now, we have Jackson earning that sixth cornerback spot with Simpson finding employment on the Packers’ practice squad.
- Packers Practice Squad: Jaylin Simpson
Safety (4): Xavier McKinney, Evan Williams, Javon Bullard and Kitan Oladapo
With Javon Bullard’s injury not keeping him out into the regular season, Green Bay should be fine keeping just four safeties and stashing one (Mark Perry) on the practice squad. It will be Xavier McKinney and Evan Williams as the starters with Bullard primarily deployed as the nickel. Kamal Hadden is fine as depth, but the Packers are in real trouble if he needs to play significant snaps.
- Packers Practice Squad: Mark Perry
Special Teams (3): Trey Smack (K), Daniel Whelan (P), Cal Adomitis (Long Snapper)
Matt Orzech, who has spent most of Packers training camp on the physically unable to perform list, wasn’t able to return to the practice field this past week. We think it’s now reached the point where Green Bay will play it safe, keeping him on the PUP list to open the season. He’ll miss the first four regular-season games, but that allows the team to give Cal Adomitis a longer evaluation period at long snapper. When Orzech is fully healthy, Green Bay can decide what it wants to do then.
- PUP List: Matt Orzech
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