Packers 53-man roster prediction following first preseason game
By Paul Bretl
Green Bay Packers 53-man roster prediction
Interior defensive line (5): Kenny Clark, Jarran Reed, Dean Lowry, TJ Slaton, and Devonte Wyatt
Previous prediction: Kenny Clark, Jarran Reed, Dean Lowry, TJ Slaton, and Devonte Wyatt
We know that these five will make up the defensive line rotation, but will the Packers keep a sixth? They did in 2021.
That sixth player last season was Jack Heflin, who was very impressive in San Francisco. However, I am choosing to keep him off because even though he was on the roster, Heflin played fewer than 20 defensive and special teams snaps. That roster spot could be used elsewhere.
Edge rusher (5): Rashan Gary, Preston Smith, Jonathan Garvin, Tipa Galeai, and Kingsley Enagbare
Previous prediction: Rashan Gary, Preston Smith, Tipa Galeai, La’Darius Hamilton, and Kingsley Enagbare
This position group may be in the most flux of the bunch, and compared to my previous prediction, I left off Hamilton while adding Garvin.
Hamilton has played well this summer and seen his fair share of time on the second-team defense, but he didn’t play against the 49ers–this was a tough decision. Meanwhile, Garvin and Enagbare have been playing very well as of late, while Galeai made appearances in four different phases of the special teams unit.
Linebacker (4): De’Vondre Campbell, Quay Walker, Isaiah McDuffie, and Krys Barnes
Previous prediction: De’Vondre Campbell, Quay Walker, Isaiah McDuffie, Ray Wilborn, and Krys Barnes
We know that Campbell, Walker, and Barnes will be on the team, and McDuffie has a firm grasp on that fourth role. On my last prediction, I kept Wilborn as my fifth linebacker, but he had a very rough performance in San Francisco.
I also mentioned at that time that if I were to add to another position group, this would be the first place I come to in order to make a subtraction.