The Green Bay Packers have announced their first depth chart of training camp. While it’s “unofficial,” it’s our first look at how the Packers (or at least their PR team) want us to think about this roster. You can give it a look for yourself below, and I’ll add some of my thoughts.
Offense
The skill positions are pretty chalky. The trio of Christian Watson, Jayden Reed and Matthew Golden is “starting,” with Davion Williams, Bo Melton and Skyy Moore backing them up, and Isaiah Neyor and J. Michael Sturdivant
are on the outside looking in on the two-deep.
Chris Brooks getting the nod over MarShawn Lloyd as the second-string back is semi-interesting, but Brooks has never really been given full drives before, like other Packers backs, as he’s been more of a situational blocker than a ball-carrier in Green Bay.
Where it’s actually newsy is on the offensive line, where Anthony Belton remains as the starting right guard, despite Jager Burton, Jacob Monk and Donovan Jennings pushing for his job. Jennings and second-year lineman John Williams, who is playing all five positions for the Packers in camp, got the nod on the two-deep over Travis Glover, who at this point last year was considered to be a near-roster lock before he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury.
Defense
The big thing that stands out on the starting line of the depth chart is that it’s Devonte Wyatt and Karl Brooks starting on the defensive line, not Javon Hargrave. Hargrave is a second-stringer here, along with Warren Brinson.
On the edge, Barryn Sorrell appears to have a lead to be the Packers’ starter opposite Lukas Van Ness, which isn’t surprising considering that the duo is pretty much getting first-look opportunities every day in camp. Slightly interesting: rookie Dani Dennis-Sutton is being listed as a third-stringer behind Collin Oliver and Brenton Cox Jr., but the whole group will rotate heavily.
Cornerback is another position of intrigue, as Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine are listed as starters over Brandon Cisse and Benjamin St-Juste, despite all four corners getting significant reps with the first-team defense in camp (when healthy). Kamal Hadden, who recently returned to practice, is also listed as the team’s number two slot defender, despite safety Kitan Oladapo playing the role of Javon Bullard’s replacement in practice. Hadden hasn’t played the slot in Green Bay in regular-season action before, so it’ll be interesting to see if he gets some of those looks in the preseason or if the Packers’ two newly signed safeties mean that Oladapo is freed up to play the slot this summer.
Special Teams
Matt Orzech, who is still on the PUP list with a short-term calf issue, is still ahead of veteran Cal Adomitis on the long snapper depth chart. Adomitis was signed at the start of camp due to Orzech’s injury.
Skyy Moore is listed as the starting punt returner and kick returner for the Packers, with Savion Williams and Pierre Strong Jr. backing him up on kicks and Will Sheppard and Jaden Nixon backing him up on punts. My guess: Strong, Sheppard and Nixon don’t make Green Bay’s initial 53-man roster, barring injuries at their offensive positions.
