Final thoughts before Packers preseason matchup with Chiefs

The Green Bay Packers wrap up their 2022 preseason schedule with a trip to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs. This will be the last opportunity for any players who are on the bubble to make a strong impression.

As I always do, here are my final thoughts about the Packers’ upcoming matchup.

– Remember, Matt LaFleur told us that special teams play will determine the third running back position. Tyler Goodson has looked very good on offense, but because of special teams ability, I think this competition is quite close. In my most recent roster prediction, I picked Patrick Taylor as RB3.

– It’s not only the running back position that will be determined by special teams play, but just about every back-end roster spot will be.

– Once again, with Jordan Love, let’s just continue to see progress. Week 1 was better than what we saw a season ago. Week 2 was better than Week 1. Now let’s see him complete a few more of those easier completions this week.

– LaFleur said that the starters — outside of the offensive line — won’t be playing this week either. I know we all remember how Week 1 of last season went, but this is the right decision. It’s just not worth the risk.

– If the Packers are without David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins in that first game, I still think that the best offensive line configuration includes Zach Tom at right tackle and Royce Newman at right guard. The combination of Newman and Jake Hanson on the right side — which LaFleur seems to prefer — hasn’t been overly impressive, particularly against the run.

– Jon Runyan and Josh Myers have looked very good this preseason.

– Caleb Jones is in a position to be the 10th offensive lineman, although the Packers haven’t kept more than nine under LaFleur. With the statuses of Bakhtiari and Jenkins unknown, having a 10th lineman for added depth does make sense. Jones has impressed this summer, but he is still very raw. More than anything, if the Packers keep him on the roster, it may be because they’re worried about losing him to another team if on the practice squad.

– All offseason, I made it quite clear that I didn’t expect the Packers to keep a seventh receiver, but now I’m not sure how they could keep Juwann Winfree off. Aaron Rodgers has spoken highly of him on several occasions, and while he hasn’t flashed a ton in the preseason games, he’s been steady–which is exactly what Rodgers is looking for.

– As rough as it has been for Tyler Davis, based on LaFleur’s comments earlier in the week, he is going to be on this team. Davis also responded with perhaps his best practice of the summer. Now let’s see that carry over to game day.

– A smaller sample size, but Josiah Deguara has looked good this preseason, both as a blocker and a pass catcher. In terms of playing time, this is more like his second season after he missed most of 2020, and we often see tight ends make a big jump in that second or third season. This is a position that often takes more time because of the numerous responsibilities.

– Romeo Doubs continues to make plays, but let’s see if he can find a little more consistency this week. Also, are we going to see Christian Watson? LaFleur left the door open, making it sound like it could be a possibility if he’s healthy.

– Chris Slayton and Jack Heflin have impressed, but my guess is that the Packers keep only five interior defensive linemen. As the sixth defender in 2021, Heflin didn’t see much playing time on defense or special teams. If that is going to be the case again, use that roster spot elsewhere.

– It was a bit of a quieter debut for Devonte Wyatt as it looked like he was adjusting the game speed. Let’s see if he can progress in his second game.

– Based on play in recent weeks, I think Kingsley Enagbare is pretty close to a roster lock. And based on Jonathan Garvin’s lack of playing time in the preseason, I think he is a lock as well. That leaves Kobe Jones, Tipa Galeai, and La’Darius Hamilton battling for that final roster spot. Where things stand among these three is a bit of an unknown. Both Jones and Galeai have been active on special teams, which again, is a must.

– Speaking of Jones and Galeai, this brings up an interesting question. Jones has 64 snap counts to Galeai’s 31 this preseason (Galeai did leave the first game early and played just nine snaps, but if we double his Week 2 snap count, he is still at only 44). Do the Packers just want to see more of Jones as they try to figure out if he should be on the roster? Or, like Garvin, are the Packers comfortable with Galeai being on the team and don’t feel the need to play him late into the game? The answer very well could be a little of both.

– Isaiah McDuffie has looked so much faster this season, as well as more comfortable in Joe Barry’s defense. He locked up that fourth linebacker spot a week or two ago.

– The fifth linebacker spot — which may or may not exist — is still up for grabs between Ray Wilborn and Ty Summers–both of whom are first and second on the team in special teams snaps.

– Kiondre Thomas has very much made a push for that final cornerback spot on the depth chart. He’s been impressive against both the run and the pass while also seeing his share of special teams snaps. With that said, Rico Gafford was still working with the second defense in practice, although he was absent recently with an injury.

– The cornerback depth was a big question mark entering training camp, but I do feel more comfortable with it now after seeing Keisean Nixon and Shemar Jean-Charles in action. Both have played well, with Nixon allowing fewer than 7.0 yards per catch and Jean-Charles not allowing a completion this preseason per PFF ($$).

Although Dallin Leavitt is injured, he will be on the initial 53-man roster and then moved to IR. The reason the Packers have to do this is because if he’s placed on IR now, his season is over. But if placed there after rosters are set, he can come back at some point. So for a player like Micah Abernathy, who has impressed, he may be cut initially but then added back the following day as the fourth safety. Or if the Packers are concerned about another team signing him, they could keep five safeties initially.

– Jack Coco has been steady during the preseason, although he will need to continue to perform well; otherwise, the Packers could still try to replace him. Cincinnati currently has two long-snappers on their roster, and Green Bay had two free agent long-snappers in for workouts a few weeks ago.