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5 biggest surprises from Packers’ final 53-man roster

By Brian Sampson

August 12, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back JaMycal Hasty (23) runs the football against Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Jack Heflin (96) during the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
August 12, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back JaMycal Hasty (23) runs the football against Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Jack Heflin (96) during the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Green Bay Packers had to get their roster down to 53 players by Tuesday at 3 p.m. CT and what a wild ride it was.

The Packers made many difficult decisions that will shape their future for at least the next year. We still have to see if they put any claims on players and who they’re able to sneak onto their practice squad. For now, here are the five biggest surprises from their initial 53-man roster.

Here are the five craziest surprises from the Green Bay Packers’ 53-man initial roster they revealed on Tuesday afternoon.

Biggest surprises from Packers’ initial 53-man roster: Cut Caleb Jones

Caleb Jones has unique size for the offensive tackle position that will draw a lot of eyes from opposing teams. He also flashed in the preseason by showing the potential to develop into a swing tackle at some point in his career. Green Bay decided to keep seventh-round pick Rasheed Walker over Jones, hoping to slide the latter onto their practice squad.

Biggest surprises from Packers’ initial 53-man roster: Cut Juwann Winfree/Keep Samori Toure

Aaron Rodgers publicly vouched for Juwann Winfree, but it didn’t make a difference in the end. Winfree has been with the Packers for three years and could be a practice squad candidate. In the meantime, Brian Gutekunst seemed to like the seventh-round rookie Samori Toure enough to keep him around.

Biggest surprises from Packers’ initial 53-man roster: Only keep five cornerbacks

The cuts kept coming at cornerback and included Rico Gafford, Kiondre Thomas and Kabian Ento. That gives the Packers just five–Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes, Rasul Douglas, Shemar Jean-Charles and Keisean Nixon. Alexander, Stokes and Douglas form the best cornerback trio in the NFL, but there are plenty of questions behind them on the depth chart. It will be interesting to see if they add someone else or move forward with this five-some.

Biggest surprises from Packers’ initial 53-man roster: Cut Jack Heflin

It was always a numbers game when it came to Jack Heflin. Green Bay’s defensive line is suddenly deep and talented with the additions of free agent Jarran Reed and first-round pick Devonte Wyatt joining Kenny Clark, Dean Lowry and the rising TJ Slaton. If we’re being honest, Heflin outplayed Wyatt in training camp, but there’s no way the Packers were going to part with a 2022 first-round pick. Our best hope now is that Heflin lands on the practice squad.

Biggest surprises from Packers’ initial 53-man roster: Cut Shawn Davis/Keep Micah Abernathy

It’s been a wild ride for safety, as Green Bay has seen the injury bug bite Innis Gaines, Vernon Scott and Darnell Savage. Savage has since returned to practice, but Gaines and Scott have been released. The Packers also parted ways with Shawn Davis–the team’s no. 3 safety for the last part of the preseason–and kept newcomer Micah Abernathy. Abernathy is raw, but super athletic and made enough plays to force the team to keep him.

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