Packers: Predicting 6 surprise cuts for final 53-man roster
As of Monday night, the Green Bay Packers had yet to tip their hand about what they would do on Tuesday–the NFL’s deadline to go from 80 to the 53-man roster every team must operate under throughout the season.
Green Bay has a number of difficult and bold decisions to make about a number of different position battles that took place throughout camp. There’s no saying which way they will go, so here are six players who could be surprise cuts on Tuesday.
These six members of the Green Bay Packers could surprisingly be cut from the team’s 53-man roster that is due on Tuesday.
Kurt Benkert, Quarterback
This is, perhaps, the least surprising of the group. The Packers are solid with Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love atop the depth chart. However, Benkert played well when given the opportunity and could develop into a decent backup down the road. Still, Green Bay has needs at other positions so they’ll likely try to stash him on their practice squad.
Jace Sternberger, Tight End
It’s been a bumpy professional career for Sternberger who has to serve a two-game suspension to begin the season. Despite not counting against the roster if the Packers keep him around, don’t be surprised if they decide to move on from him outright. They’ve seen enough and it’s time for both parties to move forward with their lives.
Tyler Lancaster, Defensive Line
This will be one of the most difficult decisions the Packers will make on cut-down day. Tyler Lancaster has been around the team for years now. Unfortunately, he’s been trending down and there’s a new guy in town who does his job just as good if not better. It will be a great story for undrafted free agent Jack Heflin if he beats out Lancaster.
Isaiah McDuffie, Inside Linebacker
Despite surprisingly releasing Kamal Martin, Green Bay still has fairly solid depth at inside linebacker even if they lack top-end talent. De’Vondre Campbell and Krys Barnes will take the majority of the snaps while Oren Burks and Ty Summers will be the primary backups. Do the Packers really need a fifth? It will be hard to sell McDuffie to the front office considering the best thing he has going for him is that he was a draft pick.
Isaac Yiadom, Cornerback
The Packers traded for Yiadom from the New York Giants, but it’s been more of the same from the former third-round pick who is already on his third NFL team. Yiadom had an opportunity to make a statement in the final preseason game, but neither he nor Kabion Ento capitalized. Expect the Packers to go with the higher ceiling player.
Next. Packers: Predicting last 5 in, first 5 out of final roster. dark
Innis Gaines, Safety
The opposite of the cornerback battle was the heated fight for the fifth safety spot between Gaines and Christian Uphoff. Both are great stories and I’m sure the Packers would love to keep them both around. However, it’s a hard sell to keep six safeties so one of them has to go. Uphoff has been better on special teams and thus gets the edge.