Where Packers positional battles stand before final preseason game

Packers Cornerback

Competing for a roster spot: Rico Gafford and Kiondre Thomas

This sixth cornerback role has firmly been in Gafford’s grasp for several weeks. He has routinely worked with the second team defense and has been a contributor on multiple special teams phases. But I imagine it’s been difficult for the Packers to ignore Thomas’ recent performances.

In two preseason games, He has allowed just one completion on six targets, and he’s been stout against the run as well. It’s fair to say that Thomas has outperformed Gafford on defense, but once again, special teams will be the deciding factor.

Thomas would out snap Gafford on special teams against the Saints by a fairly wide margin — twelve to three — but for what it’s worth, at Sunday’s practice, it was Gafford still with the second team defense.

Packers Safety

Competing for a roster spot: Micah Abernathy, Innis Gaines, Tariq Carpenter, and De’Vante Cross

This is a very interesting position. Adrian Amos, Darnell Savage, and Shawn Davis will be on the Packers roster, and joining them could be Vernon Scott and Dallin Leavitt, even though both are injured. If these are long-term injuries, but the Packers feel that both can return at some point this season, Green Bay could roster them initially and then move both to IR, so they have the option to return later in the season.

That means that none of the players listed would make the initial 53. Rather they would have to be added the next day. Gaines just returned from an injury of his own while Carpenter is still sidelined. Abernathy had an impressive performance against the Saints and may be the front-runner among this group. Cross was recently signed as well and has brought the juice on special teams.