It’s time to update our Green Bay Packers roster prediction, now that we’ve seen the team play some real live-action tackle football in the preseason. The starting offense played only nine snaps against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the starting defense got just three reps, but we got a good look at the team’s second- through fourth-string units on Thursday.
Based on all the information we have right now, here’s our best stab at the Packers’ Week 1 roster. If you want to thumb through our previous
predictions, here’s what we had coming out of the draft and Green Bay’s Family Night practice from last week.
Quarterback
- Jordan Love
- Tyrod Taylor
This one seems pretty cut and clear. Ever since Desmond Ridder was cut and veteran quarterback Tyrod Taylor was brought in, it’s been Taylor’s job to lose. While the second-team offense didn’t score against the Steelers, it was Taylor who took the second-team snaps under center, and there’s really been no indication of Kyle McCord, the Packers’ third-stringer, taking away some of those reps during training camp.
Running Back
- Josh Jacobs
- MarShawn Lloyd
- Chris Brooks
Now that Chris Brooks has returned to practice from his hamstring injury and has officially been taken off the non-football injury list, I’m more confident that this trio is going to be the Packers’ backfield going into Week 1. The X-factor here is whether or not Josh Jacobs will face a suspension from the league or not. If so, Pierre Strong Jr. will likely be the next man up in this unit.
Receiver
- Christian Watson
- Matthew Golden
- Jayden Reed
- Savion Williams
- Bo Melton
- Skyy Moore
- J. Michael Sturdivant
For the first time, mostly because of the lack of depth in the secondary, I think seven receivers are really in play for the Packers. J. Michael Sturdivant can help Green Bay as a non-returner on special teams, a role that few receivers have played in Green Bay under head coach Matt LaFleur (notably, Bo Melton and former Packer Malik Heath have been guys that did so). Strudivant’s combo of size and speed, plus history as a special teams contributor in college (he was the lead blocker for Florida’s kick return unit), could be the difference between him and Isaiah Neyor being WR7.
Tight End
- Tucker Kraft
- Josh Whyle
- Drake Dabney
I still think that the way the coaching staff and front office have talked about Luke Musgrave’s neck injury means that it’s going to be tough to assume that Musgrave won’t start the year on the physically unable to perform list, which would mean that he’d be out until at least Week 5. If Musgrave is out, Drake Dabney has been the “starting” Y tight end with Tucker Kraft and Musgrave out of practice. I think he’d be the next man up, if the team answers this issue internally. I wouldn’t be surprised if the team looks for a Dabney replacement on the waiver wire, though.
Offensive Line
- Jordan Morgan (LT)
- Aaron Banks (LG)
- Sean Rhyan (C)
- Anthony Belton (RG/RT)
- Zach Bako-Bewele (RT)
- Jacob Monk (G/C)
- Jager Burton (LG)
- Donovan Jennings (G/C)
- John Williams (LT/G/C)
- Darian Kinnard (RT/RG)
I don’t think anyone’s stock has sunk quite as badly as Travis Glover’s. Going into last summer, when Glover suffered a season-ending shoulder injury, it seemed like he was going to have a big opportunity to be the team’s true swing tackle in 2025. Now, five backup offensive linemen got in with the second-team unit for the Packers in their preseason opener before him. At one point, I had him projected as the 7th offensive lineman on the team. Now, I think he’s probably sitting in the 11th spot, which might not make the 53-man roster.
Darian Kinnard was hurt in Green Bay’s Week 1 preseason game against the Steelers, but we still don’t know what his status is moving forward. If he had a significant injury, I could see Glover taking his spot. Rookie UDFA Dillon Wade is another option.
Defensive Line
- Devonte Wyatt
- Javon Hargrave
- Karl Brooks
- Warren Brinson
- Chris McClellan
- Jonathan Ford
Here’s a change: I think Jonathan Ford makes the roster if it were decided today. He made some plays on both Family Night and in the preseason opener, which he started at the nose tackle position. Yes, Devonte Wyatt and Javon Hargrave were both held out of action in Week 1 of the preseason, but it was Ford who started between Warren Brinson and Karl Brooks, not other options like Nazir Stackhouse or Anthony Campbell.
Campbell left the Steelers game with a lower body injury, but it appears that he will be okay. Campbell lingers in the roster bubble conversation, but it should worry Stackhouse more that Ford, a true nose tackle, is passing him up in that role. Also, I assume that Jordon Riley (coming off an Achilles tear) will start the season on the PUP list.
Edge Rusher
- Lukas Van Ness
- Barryn Sorrell
- Brenton Cox Jr.
- Dani Dennis-Sutton
- Collin Oliver
This is pretty much basically what everyone is going to expect the pass-rusher room to be, barring injuries, now that everyone has accepted that Micah Parsons will start the year on the PUP list. Arron Mosby, a special teams stud, has the chance to get called up from the practice squad at some point during 2026, but I doubt that he’ll make the team in Week 1. As a vested veteran, Mosby would be guaranteed his full salary for the 2026 season if he makes the initial 53-man roster, even if he’s later released by the team.
Linebacker
- Zaire Franklin
- Edgerrin Cooper
- Isaiah McDuffie
- Ty’Ron Hopper
- Nick Niemann
Again, this is another chalk position. Zaire Franklin is the starting Mike, and Isaiah McDuffie is the backup Mike. Edgerrin Cooper is the starting Will, and Ty’Ron Hopper is the backup Will. Nick Niemann is a special teams ace, and both McDuffie and Hopper will contribute on special teams, too. The next man up will be Kristian Welch, another primary special teamer, if there’s an injury at the position.
Cornerback
- Keisean Nixon
- Carrington Valentine
- Brandon Cisse
- Benjamin St-Juste
- Domani Jackson
I’m keeping Kamal Hadden off this list for now, just because of his post-injury performance (he broke two bones and has dealt with two dislocations since December 27th) being a question mark. Domani Jackson and Carrington Valentine are both expected to return to team drills soon, which means that Hadden will likely get buried even further down the depth chart soon.
There’s been some buzz on a potential Carrington Valentine trade as of late, but I don’t think the Packers are too interested in moving off of a cheap, young cornerback. Jaylin Simpson, who has been the next cornerback up while Valentine, Jackson and Hadden have been banged up, put up some bad tape at both outside cornerback and in the slot against the Steelers on Thursday.
Safety
- Xavier McKinney
- Evan Williams
- Javon Bullard
- Kitan Oladapo
Generally, the Packers like to keep five safeties on the team because they rely on the position heavily on special teams. With Chris Brooks, J. Michael Sturdivant, Benjamin St-Juste and Domani Jackson all being safety-like body types who can contribute on teams, though, I’m not sure Green Bay will be forced to keep five at the position this year.
Johnathan Baldwin injuring his knee and being waived with an injury designation was a huge moment for the safety room. Baldwin was set to be the team’s fifth safety, backup slot defender and an occasional special teams contributor. Without Baldwin, I’m not sure that the Packers have another roster-worthy safety.
Right now, their options are Mark Perry, who is on his sixth team after going undrafted in 2024, Murvin Kenion III, a 25-year-old undrafted rookie, and two UFL players that the team just signed this past week following the Baldwin injury.
For what it’s worth, the Packers’ backup slots against the Steelers were Kitan Oladapo, who struggled at the position after performing well in previous shots at true safety, and cornerback Jaylin Simpson. I would not be shocked if the team looked at the waiver wire for a safety who can play the slot position as we get closer to roster cutdowns. Keeping only nine defensive backs may end up benefitting Green Bay’s receiver room, though, as they would then have the option to keep a seventh player at that position.
Specialists
- K: Trey Smack
- P: Daniel Whelan
- LS: Cal Adomitis
There’s only one kicker and one punter in camp, so those are locks. Right now, I’m going to put long snapper Cal Adomitis ahead of Matt Orzech, who is still on the PUP list at the moment with a calf injury. The fact that Orzech is still not practicing going into Week 2 of the preseason is not a good sign when the team is going to want to try to get a battery together for a rookie kicker. Adomitis is a veteran who has started at multiple spots, too. For what it’s worth, PFF has consistently graded Adomitis ahead of Orzech.
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Tell me what you would change on my 53-man roster projection in the comments section.
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