Green Bay Packers 2022 roster cuts tracker and analysis
By Paul Bretl
With the preseason now concluded, the Green Bay Packers roster needs to be at the 53-player maximum by Tuesday’s 3:00 CST deadline.
As I discussed in a recent article, there will be some difficult roster decisions that have to be made. A few questions that the Packers still have to answer include, who is the third running back—Tyler Goodson or Patrick Taylor? Who is the fifth edge rusher? Do the Packers keep a sixth interior defensive lineman or a 10th offensive lineman?
Also, to be considered, if a player is cut, how likely is it that he will be claimed by another team before being able to be brought back to the practice squad?
These are just a few of the roster decisions that Matt LaFleur and Brian Gutekunst will have to continue to weigh over the next 24-plus hours.
Below you can find a running tracker of each reported cut that the Packers make prior to Tuesday’s deadline, along with analysis of each decision.
Green Bay Packers 2022 roster cuts tracker and analysis
LB Ty Summers
With De’Vondre Campbell returning and the addition of Quay Walker, making the final roster felt like an uphill battle for Summers, who defensively has been limited, particularly in coverage. Summers has been a regular member of the special teams unit in his three seasons, but that may not have carried the same clout this year because of there being a new coordinator with a new system and the Packers’ special teams unit regularly being among the worst in football.
Summers was competing with Ray Wilborn for that fifth linebacker roster spot—although the Packers may choose to only keep four.
(via Rob Demovsky)
S De’Vante Cross
The Packers signed Cross during training camp when they found themselves very thin at the safety position. Cross is a 2022 undrafted rookie from Virginia who was versatile, filling a number of roles on that Cavalier defense. He also was active on special teams.
(via Ryan Wood)
TE Alize Mack
Mack was signed early in the offseason and provided the Packers with a move tight end. He was targeted just once in the preseason, however, and had his ups and downs as a blocker. Mack was on the field for 66 offensive snaps this preseason and another 24 on special teams, according to PFF ($$), but with Robert Tonyan off PUP, making the roster was always a long shot for Mack.
(via Bill Huber)
CB Kiondre Thomas
Thomas put himself in position to make the final roster with his play on defense this summer, allowing only one completion for eight yards, while also being a sound tackler. With Thomas cut, Rico Gafford is the clear front-runner for the sixth cornerback spot, if the Packers keep that many. Thomas is a prime practice squad candidate.
(via Matt Schneidman)
IDL Jack Heflin
Heflin put together another strong preseason, especially against the run where he is at his best. Heflin being cut may come as a surprise, however, as I wrote about recently, if the usage of the sixth IDL was going to be similar to what it was in 2021 — which was minimal on both defense and special teams — that roster spot could be better utilized elsewhere. We will see what happens with Chris Slayton, who impressed as well.
(via Ian Rapoport)
QB Danny Etling
Etling’s ceiling with the Packers was always going to be the practice squad, which I imagine the team is hoping they can sign him to. Etling was an efficient passer and displayed impressive athleticism.
(via Bill Huber)
IDL Chris Slayton
Slayton finished second on the team in pressures this season but as I mentioned with Heflin, with the Packers having their five man rotation set up front, there was likely little playing time available, which means this roster spot can be better utilized at another position.
(via Ryan Wood)
WR Juwann Winfree
The first surprise on cut day. While Winfree was still a bubble player, he felt close to a lock considering how highly Aaron Rodgers spoke of him and that he also started on three different special teams units. This very much opens the door for Samori Toure, who the team may be going with because of his upside and strong performance in Kansas City.
(via Tom Pelissero)
WR Ishmael Hyman
Hyman, who previously played in the USFL, had two receptions for 17 yards this preseason. He had several opportunities in practice as a return man as well.
(via Zach Jacobson)
RB Tyler Goodson
Goodson displayed a lot of burst and upside with the ball in his hands, which is important. However, as Matt LaFleur said, special teams and pass protection will determine the third running back position—two areas Goodson struggled with. We will see if Patrick Taylor makes the team or the Packers keep two running backs and utilize the practice squad elevations on game day to bring up a third player.
(via Ian Rapoport)
S Shawn Davis
Shawn Davis felt like a roster lock as he was the No. 2 safety in training camp once Vernon Scott was released and with Darnell Savage out. However, it sounds like an injury derailed his chances at the roster. This now opens the door for Micah Abernathy or Tariq Carpenter to make the team, or the Packers could look outside the organization, as several well known safeties around the NFL have been released.
(via Tom Silverstein)
CB Rico Gafford
It looks like the Packers will be rostering only five cornerbacks on the 53-man. Gafford, with 4.22 speed, was routinely with the second-team defense and was utilized on several different special teams units this summer. However, he never consistently stood out on special teams and he was also a part of two big pass plays on defense this preseason.
(via Bill Huber)
Edge La’Darius Hamilton
The edge rusher battle, specifically for that final roster spot, was perhaps the biggest unknown coming into cutdowns. Hamilton saw his share of snaps with the second unit — like the others — and had flashes — again, like the others — but we didn’t see that consistency. He finished the preseason with two pressures in two games and 17 special teams snaps.
(via Ryan Wood)
S Innis Gaines
Gaines came into camp with an opportunity to make the 53-man roster after standing out on special teams last summer—although tackling is one area that needed to improve. He took some slot snaps this summer, in addition to playing safety, but unfortunately, he was unable to stay healthy, missing several practices and two games.
(via Ryan Wood)
IOL Michal Menet
The offensive line room has become quite crowded with the returns of David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins off the PUP list. Perhaps the Packers will look to bring Menet back on the practice squad, given his ability to play guard or center. Menet played only 45 snaps but didn’t allow a pressures per PFF.
(via Bill Huber)
TE Nate Becker
Becker was brought in during the first waive of roster cuts to bolster the tight end depth. He went undrafted in 2019 out of Miami of Ohio where he was utilized more as a blocking tight end. This preseason, Becker caught one pass for two yards. He graded out well as a blocker by PFF’s metrics.
(via Tom Silverstein)
K Ramiz Ahmed
Ahmed has been steady since he joined the Packers a few weeks ago, but his departure tells us that Mason Crosby should be coming off the PUP list and ready for Week 1.
(via Matt Schneidman)
OT Caleb Jones
Jones impressed this summer, which resulted in him working his way up the depth chart, playing both tackle positions. While Jones was released, the Packers are keeping Rasheed Walker, who played very well in the final preseason game and is more technically refined than Jones. With Jones’ rare combination of size and athletics, getting him to the practice squad won’t be easy as he is loaded with potential.
(via Tom Silverstein)
WR Travis Fulgham
Fulgham was brought in when the Packers were very thin at the receiver position. He played 35 offensive snaps over two games. Maybe the Packers try to get him back to the practice squad because of his in-game NFL experience.
(via Tom Silverstein)
Edge Kobe Jones
Jones’ story is much like Hamilton’s. He had moments where he impressed, saw reps with the second unit, and was even a regular on the special teams unit, but he struggled with consistency.
(via Ryan Wood)
RB Patrick Taylor
At the end of the day, Taylor likely didn’t show enough juice on offense to get a roster spot. With only two running backs on the roster, the Packers will utilize the practice squad elevations each week until Kylin Hill returns. Keep in mind, a player can only be elevated three times before having to be added to the roster.
LB Ray Wilborn
The first four linebacker spots were locked up, the question was whether the Packers would keep Ray Wilborn as their fifth linebacker. He finished second on the team in preseason snaps. The recent play of Tariq Carpenter — who is a safety but can fill a similar role — may have tipped the scales out of Wilborn’s favor.
Keep this article close by as it will be updated throughout Tuesday as new reports come in about which players the Green Bay Packers have released.