Green Bay Packers: Tracking Every Final Roster Cut

By 3:00 CST on Tuesday, every NFL team, including your Green Bay Packers, must be at the 53 player maximum—meaning 27 players are going to be cut in the coming hours, many of which will be back on the practice squad, however.

Going into Green Bay’s final preseason game with Buffalo last Saturday, the Packers sat over 30 of their players for the third consecutive week, but there was still plenty to be determined at several positions.

A few of the big battles included the fourth edge rusher role between Jonathan Garvin, Tipa Galeai, and Chauncey Rivers. The safety position with Christian Uphoff and Innis Gaines. Kabion Ento verse Isaac Yiadom at cornerback. As well as along the offensive line at starting guard along with backup tackle position.

Other questions that have to be answered include how many quarterbacks do the Packers keep? Do they stick with four or five linebackers? Has UDFA Jack Heflin done enough to earn a roster spot? And do they still try to upgrade the punter and long-snapper positions?

These difficult decisions have likely already been made, but as of me typing this, the Green Bay Packers are yet to make an official cut. However, that will change soon.

In the coming hours, 27 players are going to be released as the final roster that many of us have speculated on takes shape. Players who are cut and end up on waivers can be claimed by other teams but then they must be placed on the 53-man roster at that point by the team who claimed them.

Then beginning at 3:00 CST on Wednesday, players who went unclaimed over the previous 24 hours can then be signed to the practice squad.

But before practice squads can be constructed, final cuts have to be made. So be sure to save this article or keep it close by for the next 24 hours, that way you can stay up to date on which roster moves have taken place.

Stephen Denmark – CB

First reported by Matt Schneidman, this is not a surprising move whatsoever. Denmark was signed late last week to simply provide needed depth at the cornerback position during Saturday’s game against Buffalo. But just maybe Denmark played his way onto the practice squad.

He had a solid performance, logging four tackles and allowing three receptions on six targets for 20 yards, according to PFF ($$). Denmark also has very good size for a corner, listed at 6’3” – 220 pounds.

Dexter Williams – RB

Dexter Williams was not in the good graces of the Green Bay Packers coaching staff early on in his career with his struggles in pass protection and as a pass catcher. However, this summer, several coaches, including Matt LaFleur, mentioned how much Williams has improved over his short career. As a result, we saw several flashes from him during the preseason.

With that said, it’s still not a surprise that he was cut. By playing time in the preseason it was evident that he was the fifth running back on the roster. He is still a practice squad candidate, however.

First reported by Ryan Wood

Rojesterman Farris – CB

Like Stephen Denmark, Farris was signed late last week to provide needed cornerback depth. However, he didn’t play nearly as well as Denmark did, recording two tackles, along with missing one, and allowing three receptions on five targets for 39 yards. If grades are your thing, he had the lowest defensive grade among Packers by PFF.

My guess is that Farris won’t be a practice squad candidate.

First reported by Bill Huber 

Ben Braden – OL

While this move may come as a surprise, once Matt LaFleur told us that Ben Braden was no longer in the running for the starting guard openings, that should have been a sign to us that the chances of him being cut grew quite a bit.

However, I still did have Braden on my initial 53-man roster prediction because of his versatility and I thought he held up decently well at right tackle the last two games. This move bodes well for Dennis Kelly, Cole Van Lanen, and Yosh Nijman.

I imagine the Packers will want Braden back on the practice squad but a lot of teams are always looking for offensive line upgrades.

First reported by Bill Huber

Christian Uphoff – S 

Christian Uphoff was a popular pick on many final roster predictions for the fifth safety spot. While he did make some plays on special teams, Uphoff also struggled on defense. The potential is certainly there, but he also has just one year of college experience that came in 2019–a year on the practice squad will do him well.

This move could signal that Innis Gaines is the fifth safety or that Green Bay just wants to roster four of them.

First reported by Rob Demovsky 

Kurt Benkert – QB

While Kurt Benkert quickly became a fan favorite, this was always the most likely move for the Packers. For a team with Super Bowl aspirations, that roster spot can be spent elsewhere on someone who will contribute to the special teams unit.

The hope is that Benkert clears waivers and makes his way to the practice squad, but a team like the Atlanta Falcons could look to add him to their 53-man roster.

First reported by Paul Bretl

Jacob Capra – OL

This was another expected move—the offensive line room was just too crowded for the undrafted Jacob Capra to make his way onto the final roster. But having experience at every offensive line position except for center during his college days could make him a practice squad candidate. We all know how much the Green Bay Packers love versatility up front.

First reported by Bill Huber

Tipa Galeai – Edge

Tipa Galeai was in the running with Jonathan Garvin and Chauncey Rivers for the fourth edge rusher role — and who knows, maybe the team keeps 5 — but Galeai won’t be one of them. He’s a raw talent with a lot of potential, but OLB coach Mike Smith told reporters earlier this summer that he needed to add 10 pounds and improve on special teams.

If Galeai can do that, then watch out. However, for the time being, more development needs to take place.

First reported by Ryan Wood

Kabion Ento – CB

This is the biggest surprise up to this point in my opinion. I thought that Ento had flashed enough during training camp and the preseason to earn a roster spot, but ultimately, it was likely that those tackling issues were too much to overcome—which makes sense for someone who will primarily be on special teams duties.

With Ento released, this could open the door for Isaac Yiadom — someone with almost 500 career special teams snaps — to make the roster as the sixth cornerback.

First reported by Ryan Wood

Patrick Taylor – RB

With Dexter Williams released and now Patrick Taylor, it confirms what I’m guessing just about everyone thought, which is that the Packers will roster just three running backs.

Taylor began training camp on the NFI list but I have to imagine that he is a priority for the practice squad. He is just such a good fit for this LaFleur offense, able to contribute as both a pass-blocker and pass-catcher.

First reported by Tom Silverstein 

Reggie Begelton – WR

Reggie Begelton put together an impressive performance against Buffalo — which included lining up against the Bills starting defense for much of the first half — and had an all around steady summer. He also provides special teams help, all of which makes him a likely practice squad candidate.

But when it came to making the initial roster, leap-frogging Malik Taylor never seemed likely given his special teams experience along with how well he played. And with all of the pass-catching options this team as at WR, TE, and RB, keeping seven receivers was never an option.

First reported by Tom Silverstein 

Cole Van Lanen – OL

Ending up on the practice squad always seemed to be the most likely outcome for Cole Van Lanen this season. There he will be able to refine his pass-pro technique and continue to add more muscle.

I imagine with Van Lanen and Braden cut, that Dennis Kelly and Yosh Nijman will be on the final roster.

First reported by Matt Schneidman

JJ Molson – K 

This was inevitable. The kicker spot was always going to belong to Mason Crosby. Maybe they bring Molson back to the practice squad as they did in 2020.

First reported by Ryan Wood 

Equanimeous St. Brown – WR

At the receiver position, St. Brown was at best the eighth option. He missed too much time with injuries this summer, rarely stood out when he was on the field, and hasn’t provided special teams help over his career. Not to mention that Taylor and Begelton were just simply better.

This is a move that should have been expected.

First reported by Tom Pelissero

Innis Gaines – S

Early on, Innis Gaines looked like a prime candidate for that fifth safety spot. He flew around the field on defense and took the second most special teams snaps this preseason, according to PFF ($$). But he also really struggled those final two games, particularly when it came to tackling—an issue for many young players.

Like Ento, that is likely one of the big reasons why he is not on this roster—especially when his primarily role was going to be on special teams. Without Gaines or Uphoff, the Packers are going light at safety, which could mean more players at IDL, LB, or edge rusher.

First reported by Bill Huber

Willington Previlon – IDL

We saw Willington Previlon make some plays this summer both during the preseason as well as in practice. He would finish the preseason with four pressures and five total tackles.

But with four interior defensive line spots locked up, Tyler Lancaster’s experience, and the emergence of Jack Heflin, this was always the most likely outcome. He did improve between last season and this summer, however, and is a practice squad candidate.

First reported by Bill Huber 

Ray Wilborn – LB

Wilborn did play 22 special teams snaps in the preseason, and according to PFF, he had the seventh-highest special teams grade—an important aspect for any young player.

But like Previlon, Wilborn was fighting an uphill battle at the linebacker position. De’Vondre Campbell and Krys Barnes are the starters, and based on playing time, it looks like Oren Burks and Ty Summers will also be on the roster. Meanwhile, rookie Isaiah McDuffie performed very well in the preseason finale, tallying nine tackles.

First reported by Ryan Wood 

Coy Cronk – OL

As an undrafted rookie in a crowded offensive line room, Cronk was always likely to be cut. But as a true offensive tackle with plenty of college experience, there is certainly value in keeping him on the practice squad.

This preseason, Cronk allowed two sacks and two pressures at left tackle, per PFF.

First reported by Bill Huber

Delontae Scott – Edge

Scott saw decent playing time during the preseason as he was on the field for 103 snaps and totaled three pressures and a sack, but the last edge rusher spot(s) was always a battle between Garvin, Galeai, and Rivers once he was claimed.

First reported by Tom Silverstein 

Bronson Kaufusi – TE

The tight end room is quite full and with Kaufusi being a converted defensive end now playing one of the more difficult positions to transition to, he was always going to end up cut because he simply needs more time. But perhaps the Green Bay Packers like his upside enough to keep him on the practice squad.

First reported by Tom Pelissero

Damon Hazelton – WR

A late addition before the second preseason game, Hazelton was added last minute to provide depth at the receiver position. He finished with no targets in two preseason games and five special teams snaps.

First reported by Ryan Wood

Abdullah Anderson – IDL

With only eight interior defensive linemen on the roster last week and several of them not playing, the Green Bay Packers late signing of Anderson was another move made for depth. He tallied one pressure in 39 snaps against Buffalo and was the Packers’ eighth highest graded defensive performer that game by PFF’s metrics.

First reported by Ryan Wood

Juwann Winfree – WR

Winfree stole the show during OTAs and mini-camp and then got off to a strong start during training camp, making what seemed like a big catch or two every practice. Unfortunately, an injury kept him sidelined the last few weeks and took him out of the running for WR6.

I’m guessing that Green Bay would love to get him back on the practice squad.

First reported by Tom Silverstein 

Carlo Kemp – IDL

The undrafted rookie brings good versatility to the defensive front — which is always a plus — but he will need to continue developing his game. In the three preseason games, Kemp tallied one pressure, two tackles, and was okay against the run, according to PFF ($$).

I would consider Kemp a potential practice squad candidate.

First reported by Tom Silverstein 

De’Jon Harris – LB

The final cut of the day was at the linebacker position. Harris was on the field for 79 preseason snaps, recording two pressures and eight tackles. He also saw 31 special teams snaps.

But again, leap-frogging McDuffie, Burks, and Summers was a tall task.

First reported by Zach Kruse 

Stay tuned for more updates.