Final Green Bay Packers Packers Roster Prediction before Cutdowns
By Paul Bretl
Green Bay Packers 53-man roster prediction: TE and OL
Tight end (4): Robert Tonyan, Marcedes Lewis, Josiah Deguara, and Tyler Davis
Previous prediction (4): Robert Tonyan, Marcedes Lewis, Josiah Deguara, and Tyler Davis
If there was any doubt about Tyler Davis being on this team, Matt LaFleur put that to rest earlier this week after telling reporters that the team still very much has confidence in him, especially on special teams. Davis went on to have what was called his best practice of the summer. He also had one catch for 16 yards in Kansas City without any severe blunders.
Offensive line (9): David Bakhtiari, Yosh Nijman, Jon Runyan, Josh Myers, Jake Hanson, Royce Newman, Sean Rhyan, Elgton Jenkins, and Zach Tom
Previous prediction (9): David Bakhtiari, Yosh Nijman, Jon Runyan, Josh Myers, Jake Hanson, Royce Newman, Sean Rhyan, Elgton Jenkins, and Zach Tom
The Packers have never rostered 10 offensive linemen under Matt LaFleur, but I do think it’s a possibility this summer because of the unknowns around David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins’ availability for Week 1. This is the big variable in this equation.
But I am going to bank on one of them being able to play — specifically Jenkins — which should give the Packers plenty of depth at offensive tackle, even without Bakhtiari in this example. Green Bay will also utilize practice squad elevations on game day to help with any depth concerns, whether at this position or elsewhere.
I know there may be concern about getting Rasheed Walker or Caleb Jones to the practice squad, and either could get picked up by another team. But more often than not, that doesn’t happen.
The outside organization would have to add that player to the 53-man roster and cut someone who has been there for all of training camp while the incoming player learns a new system on the fly. There’s also very little tape to go off when deciding to make this move.