We’ve sorted through dozens of articles about the Packers’ latest news, game results, rosters, rumors and other info that’s important to the team and to you. Check it out! By PACKERSWIRE The Green Bay Packers finished the preseason with a final practice on Thursday and the preseason finale on Saturday against the Seattle Seahawks. The final step before the regular season can officially begin is trimming the roster from 90 players down to 53, which has to be completed by Tuesday afternoon. “Obviously, it’s a tough time of the year,” said Matt LaFleur following the Seattle game. “When we have to make some really tough decisions, but that’s because of the effort and type of locker room that we have. Gutey (GM Brian Gutekunst) and his staff have done a nice job of getting a very competitive roster, especially at certain positions. But, it’s on to the regular season now.” Based on what took place in the preseason, along with what I saw during each of the Packers training camp practices, here is my best guess at how the final 53-man roster shakes out. Keep: Jordan Love and Sean Clifford If there was any doubt that Sean Clifford was going to be the backup, LaFleur squashed that earlier in the week when telling the media that Clifford had earned that role. Alex McGough will then head to the practice squad, most likely. With the ability to elevate players from the practice squad, keeping a third quarterback on the roster makes little sense. Keep: Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon I’ve gone back and forth on this one, deciding whether to keep two running backs or three. I have little doubt that Patrick Taylor is the third running back, given his impact on special teams, as a blocker, and in the passing game. He’s not flashy, but he checks the boxes in regards to what the Packers are looking for in the third running back. However, from a roster construction standpoint. the ability to elevate players from the practice squad alleviates the need to carry three running backs. But with that said, this is only a temporary solution. The Packers either have to be fine with adding Taylor to the roster at some point or okay with potentially losing him because after his third elevation, he either has to be signed to the active roster or released, allowing him to potentially sign elsewhere. Keep: Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Samori Toure, Malik Heath, Dontayvion Wicks, Grant DuBose Malik Heath is a lock at this point, following his start against Seattle, where he again impressed as a pass catcher and a blocker. Although he has apparently leapfrogged Samori Toure on the depth chart, I still expect Toure to be on this team. He has seen his fair share of snaps with the starting offense this summer, and if they were willing to roster him in 2022 as the seventh receiver in what was a much more experienced room compared to this one, I have to think they’ll do the same in 2023. The question for me is if the Packers will keep Grant DuBose as the seventh receiver, but in his limited action, he was able to make a few plays in the passing game, show he’s a willing blocker, and took on some special teams contributions as well. Similarly to Toure, another seventh-round pick, I think the Packers keep DuBose. Keep: Luke Musgrave, Tucker Kraft, Josiah Deguara There is the possibility that the Packers add a tight end on the waiver market once roster cutdowns start to take place around the NFL. This is something that Brian Gutekunst said the team would be monitoring. However, LaFleur also mentioned earlier in the week that if need be, the team is comfortable going into the season with just three tight ends, in part because of their depth at receiver, along with also pointing out that they are willing to use a sixth offensive lineman at times as well. So, given the Packers’ tackle depth, and not knowing who will be available on waivers, or even if Green Bay will be able to land the player they want, I’m going light and sticking with three tight ends. Keep: David Bakhtiari, Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Jon Runyan, Zach Tom, Rasheed Walker, Yosh Nijman, Caleb Jones, Sean Rhyan I believe this conversation comes down to Caleb Jones, Sean Rhyan, and Royce Newman competing for two open spots. I don’t think Jones is quite a roster lock, but I do think he’s close–the team just really likes him and his potential, especially with uncertainty around tackle in 2024. As recently as Thursday, Jones was taking some first-team reps at left tackle. When it comes to Rhyan or Newman, Rhyan has been the far more steady player, and at this stage of their careers, as a second-year third-round pick, Rhyan has a higher ceiling. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Packers keep Newman as a 10th offensive lineman, given his versatility and experience – two things the Packers covet – but from a numbers standpoint, coupled with Newman’s play, I couldn’t keep him. Keep: Kenny Clark, TJ Slaton, Devonte Wyatt, Colby Wooden, Karl Brooks, Jonathan Ford It’s taken me a little bit of time to come around to the idea of the Packers keeping six interior defenders, but Jonathan Ford’s play throughout training camp has made him difficult to keep off. As LaFleur said, he’s “upped his game,” and you can see that with his ability to generate push in the run game. Also, a part of my thinking is if the Packers rostered Ford last season knowing he wouldn’t contribute, they’d be willing to do so again, with him potentially able to see playing time on obvious running downs–an area where Green Bay has to improve. Follow all of your favorite Wisconsin teams at Packers Wire, Badgers Wire and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel!
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Final Packers 53-man roster prediction following the preseason
Quarterback (2)
Running back (2)
Wide Receiver (7)
Tight End (3)
Offensive Line (9)
Interior Defensive Line (6)
Highlighting 3 impressive plays from Jordan Love’s TD drive vs. Patriots
We’ve sorted through dozens of articles about the Packers’ latest news, game results, rosters, rumors and other info that’s important to the team and to you. Check it out! By PACKERSWIRE After a sluggish start over the opening two drives on Saturday night against the New England Patriots, Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love settled in and delivered a confidence-inspiring march down the field to end the first quarter at Lambeau Field. The six-play drive covered 93 yards and tied the game at 7-7. Three plays in particular help highlight the incredible potential of Love as a first-year starter and set the foundation for real optimism as he and the rest of the Packers offense preps for Week 1 against the Chicago Bears. Let’s dig in: The drive took off when Love hit Romeo Doubs for a 42-yard completion that was originally ruled incomplete. Matt LaFleur’s successful challenge made sure this counted as an explosive play. The Patriots brought a difficult pressure look but Love stood tall and decisively found the 1-on-1 matchup down the field to Doubs, who made the catch and got two feet in bounds. The throw, while fading a bit toward the sideline, was still an accurate one that gave his receiver a chance to make the play. Matt LaFleur liked the trajectory, which allowed Doubs to track it and make the catch in traffic. So many scoring drives in the NFL require explosive plays, so hitting these will be very important for the 2023 Packers. Love’s athleticism is an underrated part of his game. He can extend plays and even create with his legs. The nice part of this play is that Love lets the play develop before deciding to take off. When he makes the decision to leave the pocket, there isn’t a Patriots defender within 10 yards of him downfield. Love slipped a tackle at the line of scrimmage and did a nice job identifying the chasing defender before sliding down. A late hit tacked on another 15 yards, making this a 26-yard play. Quarterbacks must be able to create outside of structure, and Love can. There’s so much to like about this play overall from Love. Start with the poise in the pocket. He made subtle moves to buy a little extra time and never looked panicked despite a five-man pressure. His poise led to patience, and allowing rookie Jayden Reed to both run away from his man coverage and get past the linebacker and into the secondary passing window. From there, Love ripped an accurate ball, hitting Reed in stride between defenders. The rookie made the catch, made a man miss and scored. When Matt LaFleur talks about poise and command from Love, this is what he means. Making precision plays like this one is what it takes to score touchdowns in the red zone in the NFL. Follow all of your favorite Wisconsin teams at Packers Wire, Badgers Wire and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel!
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Highlighting 3 impressive plays from Jordan Love’s TD drive vs. Patriots
Love to Doubs, 42 yards
Love scramble, 11 yards (plus 15)
Love to Reed, 19 yards, touchdown
Packers who helped themselves most in preseason win over Bengals
We’ve sorted through dozens of articles about the Packers’ latest news, game results, rosters, rumors and other info that’s important to the team and to you. Check it out! By PACKERSWIRE The Green Bay Packers are a step closer to filling out their 53-man roster after beating the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1 of the preseason. Of course, there is still a ton of practice time and two more exhibitions to go, but Friday’s matchup provided a perfect setting for guys on the bubble or buried on the depth chart to show what they can do. As far as the preseason games go, this one wasn’t too bad to take in. There was a ton of action and excitement, kicking off with Jordan Love making his debut as the starting quarterback. Love looked poised and in command of the offense on his way to completing 7 out of 10 passes for 46 yards with a 9-yard touchdown to Romeo Doubs to cap off his night. While most of the offensive and defensive starters played only a series or two, the intrigue didn’t stop with their departure. In fact, it may have even picked up a bit. Several players aiming to make a strong impression on the coaching staff and personnel department certainly did so, and some may have even made headway in their quest to either make the team or carve out a prominent role during the regular season. The Packers obviously don’t have to make any major decisions just yet, but in the meantime, let’s highlight the players who helped themselves the most in their 36-19 win over the Bengals. Clifford’s outing in Cincinnati was nothing short of a roller coaster. He threw two interceptions, including a pick-six, but also helped facilitate three touchdown drives. Clifford’s highlight of the game was an impressive two-minute drill to close out the first half, which ended with him throwing a five-yard touchdown to tight end Tyler Davis. It wasn’t a perfect night by any means for the fifth-round draft pick, who completed 20 out of 26 passes for 208 yards with a touchdown but also had two turnovers. However, stats are null and void in the preseason. More importantly, Green Bay saw Clifford’s mental toughness while navigating through tough stretches with a strong presence in the pocket and delivering some impressive throws. After the game, head coach Matt LaFleur seemed pleased with his rookie quarterback handled himself. “I do love the fact that he had to battle through some adversity, throwing the two picks, and then coming back and leading us on a two-minute (touchdown drive),” said LaFleur. “So, I thought just to see him not be fazed by those situations, I thought it showed something. You can’t coach that. You can talk about it all you want, but that is intrinsic and he possesses that and just happy that he was able to battle through that and overcome it.” The Packers will want to see more out of Clifford before they name him Love’s backup for the 2023 season, but he’s off to a good start. It was an emotional day for Wilson, who made his NFL debut on the 14th anniversary of his father’s passing. In the best possible way to honor him, the undrafted rookie out of Fort Valley State turned in an incredible performance that saw him rush for 111 yards and two touchdowns on just six carries. During the fourth quarter, Wilson ripped off an 80-yard touchdown using great vision to bounce the run outside and impressive speed to make sure he wasn’t caught. Wilson had been an afterthought in the conversation in RB3, but he is now squarely in the mix following Friday’s heroics. Even if it was just an exhibition, we were able to forget about the inexperience surrounding Green Bay’s wide receivers and appreciate the potential in that room. For starters, Samori Toure showed signs that he is ready for a larger role in Year 2, catching three passes from Clifford for a total of 56 yards. He also added a 44-yard kick return to set up a short touchdown drive in the third quarter. Meanwhile, the rookie trio of Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, and Malik Heath flashed against the Bengals. Reed was handed a jet sweet and hauled in a contested catch over the middle for a pickup of 15. Wicks was the team’s leading receiver with 68 yards and could contribute as a fifth-rounder. Lastly, Heath should be the front runner for the sixth wide receiver spot. He finished with three catches for 36 yards and showed good physicality as a blocker. Follow all of your favorite Wisconsin teams at Packers Wire, Badgers Wire and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel!
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Packers who helped themselves most in preseason win over Bengals
Key observations and takeaways from Packers Family Night practice
We’ve sorted through dozens of articles about the Packers’ latest news, game results, rosters, rumors and other info that’s important to the team and to you. Check it out! By PACKERSWIRE By: paulbretl The Green Bay Packers’ annual Family Night practice took place in front of 65,000-plus fans inside Lambeau Field on Saturday night. In a game-like environment, there were a number of competitive periods. Here are my observations and takeaways from what I saw from the Lambeau Field press box. Throughout the article you’ll find tweets of mind with the outcome from one-on-one reps between the pass catchers and defensive backs: — Injury updates: Rashan Gary and Eric Stokes, who are on the PUP list, did not participate, neither did Grant DuBose who is on the NFI list. David Bakhtiari was still out after dropping out of Tuesday’s practice. Elgton Jenkins did not participate either (note: out with an illness). Lew Nichols was out after taking a big hit on Thursday, as was Josiah Deguara, who left Tuesday’s practice with a calf injury. — Keisean Nixon, Samori and Jayden Reed were returning punts during that period, while Nixon and Reed were the two primary kick returners. It will be interesting to see if Nixon continues to handle both return responsibilities while also playing defense, or if Reed takes over one of them. — Without Bakhtiari or Jenkins on the left side, the Packers starting offensive line was Yosh Nijman at left tackle, followed by Royce Newman, Josh Myers, Jon Runyan, and Zach Tom. Because the Packers were without Bakhtiari and Jenkins, we saw little movement along the offensive line, which meant that Tom only played right tackle. — It’s worth mentioning, the starting kick return unit included Patrick Taylor. Both Brian Gutekunst and Matt LaFleur mentioned this week that special teams would play an important factor in determining the third running back. With that said, Goodson continues to have the larger role within the offense and continues to take snaps ahead of Taylor, but again, that doesn’t sound like it’ll be the deciding factor. — Also on that kick return unit was Tyler Davis, Tucker Kraft, Luke Musgrave, Corey Ballentine, Jonathan Owens, Tariq Carpenter, Innis Gaines, Eric Wilson, and Isaiah McDuffie. — Along with Taylor, also with the starting kick return unit was Innis Gaines. As I’ve discussed before, I’m not sure what his path to the 53 looks like with crowded safety and cornerbacks rooms, but he made some impact plays on special teams in 2022 and has spent time with the second team defense this summer in the slot. — With Wicks likely being the fifth receiving option for much of the season along with how active running backs and tight ends are in the passing game, I don’t expect him to have a big role as a rookie. But with that said, he is such a smooth route runner. He didn’t post an elite 40 time prior to the draft, but he knows how to create separation with his release and refined route running abilities. He can become someone who can win in all parts of the field. — I would say this was Tucker Kraft’s best practice as a pass catcher. Saw his YAC ability on display, something he was known for coming out of South Dakota State. He also made a nice contested catch in the red zone. — Luke Musgrave is going to be such a weapon for this offense and right away will play a big role. During the starting offense’s first possession, Musgrave was targeted twice almost immediately and both with big play potential. One was on an intermediate crosser and another down the seam. This is going to be an element the Packers just didn’t have at this position. Along with playing inline and from the slot, we will see him on the boundary somewhat regularly as well. — For the second practice in a row, Jonathan Owens saw his snaps come with the starting defense. Matt LaFleur said that we would see the safeties continually rotated, but Owens has put together a really nice camp. Last season with Houston he was one of the best tackling safeties in football. — After an up and down week, tonight was a great response from Anders Carlson, who finished the night 8-for-9 on field goals, ranging from 35 yards to 53. His one miss came from 50, but was a product of a high snap, which led to a shaky hold. — On each of Carlson’s field goal attempts, Daniel Whelan and Pat O’Donnell alternated as holder. Whelan has a big leg, but there is some risk that can come with relying on a rookie kicker and a rookie holder, especially when points may be at a premium. With that said, given that Whelan is getting the same holding opportunities as O’Donnell, this competition does seem to be heating up. If the Packers release O’Donnell they save about $1.5 million in cap space. — Throughout training camp, I’ve been really impressed with the play of the linebackers, both on the first and second units. De’Vondre Campbell and Quay Walker, in particular, have done very well against the run, filling gaps and not letting the ball carriers get upfield when trying to go outside. — Speaking of Walker, when the offense was at its own five yard line, I saw him lined up at the line of scrimmage as a pass rusher with Preston Smith and Lukas Van Ness at edge and Kenny Clark in the middle. I really like this wrinkle. We saw Walker used as a pass rusher occasionally last season, but as I wrote here, I do think there is room for that role to expand. However, as LB coach Kirk Olivadotti said, step one is continuing to handle his inside linebacker responsibilities first. — Tyler Davis has done really well as a blocker. He is going to see his fair share of snaps this season at this rate. After practice, LaFleur said that Davis will be relied on more this season and also complimented him for his special teams abilities. — There were a couple of missed throws early on by Love but overall thought it was an efficient performance. Even when he was off, there were no drive killing mistakes. Matt LaFleur said he settled in well. — I thought this was Malik Heath’s best practice during training camp. Looked really good as a route runner. Him and Bo Melton are fighting for the potential sixth wide receiver role. — Karl Brooks capped off a nice week with another strong performance on Family Night, specifically as a pass rusher. Colby Wooden had some impressive snaps as well. — The offensive line, specifically the perimeter blockers, did a nice job creating running lanes for the ball carriers. The interior defensive line continued to get a steady push, which is a promising development from a season ago. Along with that DeVonte Wyatt continues to flash. Follow all of your favorite Wisconsin teams at Packers Wire, Badgers Wire and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel!
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Key observations and takeaways from Packers Family Night practice
News and highlights from Packers Family Night in 2023
Sound process leads to impressive results for Packers QB Jordan Love
We’ve sorted through dozens of articles about the Packers’ latest news, game results, rosters, rumors and other info that’s important to the team and to you. Check it out! By PACKERSWIRE By: paulbretl As should be expected with a first-time starting quarterback, Jordan Love’s performance through offseason programs and the start of training camp has often been up and down. There has been good, and then there has been not-so-good. However, for Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, his main focus right now with Love is on the process of playing quarterback, not the results. Before Saturday’s practice, LaFleur reiterated this point with the belief that if Love can get the process correct and do so consistently, the results will follow. “Everything that we look at in regards to that position or really all the positions is just the process behind it,” said LaFleur. “I’m not so caught up in the end result right now. Obviously, we are in a results-oriented business, and they are absolutely critical, but I’m just a firm believer philosophically that if these guys have the right process and going through their reads the right way, throwing with the right rhythm and timing, it’s going to lead to a better result. That’s where the sole focus lies with him (Jordan Love) and, frankly, all our players.” The process that LaFleur is referring to includes everything leading up to the ball leaving Love’s hands on a particular play. It means getting in and out of the huddle efficiently, having a good base in the pocket, and of course, sound footwork. It also means going through progressions, playing with timing and rhythm, along with being fundamentally sound from a mechanics standpoint. Put it all together, and the end result should be an accurate pass. Saturday’s training camp practice ended up being by far the best of Love’s summer up to this point and probably the best of his career. From a numbers standpoint, he was very efficient, completing 16-of-22 passes, including 4-of-7 during an end-of-half two-minute drill where the offense put up three points. The play of the day happened during the two-minute drill when Love connected with Samori Toure for a 33-yard gain. The offense had completed a number of out routes prior to this play, and when Toure ran an out-and-up route down the left sideline, he was able to create a foot or two of separation between him and Rasul Douglas, who had been sitting on the out route. Love then dropped the ball in perfectly to Toure. If thrown too far left, Toure may drift out of bounds. If thrown too far right, Darnell Savage, who was closing in from safety, has a chance for a pass breakup. Those overall numbers and that excellent play were the result of a very buttoned-up performance from Love, where, in short, he was repeatedly getting the process right. He was calm in the pocket, even with chaos around him, and decisive, Love let it rip when a window came open during his progressions and knew when to take what the defense gave him and when to push the ball downfield. “I do think in order to be an effective quarterback, you got to play decisively,” said LaFleur on Saturday. “You got to trust what you see. Trust the guys around you, that they’re going to get their job done and just play fast. And I told him, if you go out there and let it rip and you make a mistake, throw a pick, it’s a learning experience. “There are a lot of pluses that go through the tough lessons along the way. I’d rather him stress that in these practices than go out there in a game and do something that’s foreign to him.” Saturday was a great day on the practice field for Love, but as LaFleur often mentions when discussing young players, it’s about day-to-day consistency. Although the quarterback gets much of the attention, the other 10 players around him have to be on the same page for things to work. But if on Sundays, the Packers get the version of Love that we saw over the weekend, they’ll absolutely be able to win some games. “I think it’s exponential,” said LaFleur when talking about the importance of decisiveness at quarterback. “It’s hard to put a value on that. And he’s going to continue to learn and grown and that’s what’s so exciting. We’ve seen the jumps that he’s made but ultimately, you’ve got to go out and do it on Sundays. And it’s not just him. I keep hitting that point, it’s got to be everybody. Show me a good quarterback, and I’ll probably show some good weapons around him.” Follow all of your favorite Wisconsin teams at Packers Wire, Badgers Wire and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel!
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Sound process leads to impressive results for Packers QB Jordan Love
Are the 2023 Packers Being Disrespected?
We’ve sorted through dozens of articles about the Packers’ latest news, game results, rosters, rumors and other info that’s important to the team and to you. Check it out! By CHEESEHEADTV By GilMartin The Green Bay Packers start a new era in 2023, the post-Aaron Rodgers Era. Over the last 15 seasons with Rodgers as their starter, the Packers made the playoffs 11 times, reached five NFC Championship Games, and won one Super Bowl. Even in the years the team didn’t do well, the Packers almost always entered the season favored to be a playoff team and a Super Bowl contender. But now, Rodgers is a New York Jet, and the unproven Jordan Love is the new starting quarterback. The Packers are also coming off a losing season after finishing 8-9 last year and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2018. Most experts are not expecting much from the 2023 Packers. Throughout the offseason, players have remarked that they feel disrespected by the national media who are mostly picking them to finish near the bottom of the NFC North standings and to miss the playoffs. “I like it that way. This has been one of the first offseasons where we ain’t really been getting the credit, getting the love,” defensive lineman Kenny Clark said during an interview on CBS radio earlier this week. “Everybody says Aaron determines whether we win or lose, so we love it. We’re going to embrace it. When it comes to Week 1, when the season gets here, we’ll see how everything stacks up. We’re excited about it.” The feeling runs through the organization. People are questioning whether head coach Matt LaFleur is a good coach, or he only won 13 games in each of his first three seasons with the Packers because he had a Hall of Fame quarterback at the helm who won back-to-back NFL MVPs. On paper, the Packers still have plenty of talent. On offense, Aaron Jones has been to two Pro Bowls and is coming off a season that saw him set a new career-best in rushing yards. The left side of the Packers offensive line features former All Pro David Bakhtiari at tackle and former Pro Bowl guard Elgton Jenkins. The Packers have eight former first-round picks on their roster on defense which stocks every position. There are two along the defensive line, two at edge, one at ILB, two cornerbacks and one at safety. Clark and cornerback Jaire Alexander have been to the Pro Bowl while inside linebacker De’Vondre Campbell earned All-Pro honors in 2021. But the NFL remains a quarterback driven league in 2023. Unless a team has a truly elite defense, it is difficult to compete for a championship without getting good play from your signal caller. The last five Super Bowl winning teams have had elite quarterbacks leading them with Tom Brady winning two, Patrick Mahomes two more and Matthew Stafford winning the other. Stafford tied a career-high with 41 touchdown passes the year his team won the Super Bowl. The bottom line remains that the Packers still don’t know what they have in Love. Management and players have expressed confidence in the fourth-year man out of Utah State, but he still has only one NFL start under his belt. You can talk all you want about how Love has looked in practice or even in the preseason, but he still hasn’t proven he can get the job consistently during actual regular season games. We may not have the answer right away. Almost all starting quarterbacks need time to learn how to win in the NFL. In his first season as the starter in 2008, Rodgers showed he could be the next great starter for the Packers. He threw for 4,038 yards and 28 touchdowns but he also threw a career-high 13 interceptions, a total he almost matched (with 12) last season. The Packers put up some great individual numbers, but still went just 6-10 on the season and lost seven games by four points or less. Head coach Mike McCarthy reminded fans that Rodgers still needed time to improve his decision making in the red zone. A year later, the Packers finished 11-5 and made the playoffs and Rodgers earned a Pro Bowl berth for the first time in his career. Until Love proves he can be a quality NFL starter, having doubts about the 2023 Packers makes sense. There is plenty of talent on the roster, but legitimate questions exist at the most important position on the field. One thing appears certain: the 2023 Packers should be interesting to watch and feature more “unknowns” than the team has had in recent years. The team is using the doubts as motivation. That’s what they’re supposed to do. Now, they need to go out and prove the doubters wrong. You can follow Gil Martin on Twitter @GilPackers
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Are the 2023 Packers Being Disrespected?
Five Candidates to be the Packers Breakout Player of the Year
We’ve sorted through dozens of articles about the Packers’ latest news, game results, rosters, rumors and other info that’s important to the team and to you. Check it out! By CHEESEHEADTV By GilMartin The Green Bay Packers enter the 2023 season with a lot of unknowns. For the first time in 15 years, they have a new starting quarterback. The team is also much younger than it has been in recent years with veterans like Aaron Rodgers, Marcedes Lewis, Adrian Amos, Allen Lazard, and Dean Lowry no longer with the team. But who will be the team’s breakout player? Who will be the player who was on the team last year but is now taking on a bigger role and makes a big leap in the quality of his play once given the opportunity? This year’s rookie class is not eligible for this list. While there are other players who have a good chance to make a jump, these are my top five. 5. OL Zach Tom Tom is in a battle with Yosh Nijman for the starting right tackle position. The second-year man out of Wake Forest proved his versatility last season, filling in at four positions along the offensive line. Tom started five games as a rookie when injuries struck along the offensive line. Right away in training camp, he made a good first impression and picked up the offense faster than Sean Rhyan who was drafted a round ahead of him. Now Tom has a chance to establish himself as a starter and a quality one at that. His first step is winning a starting job somewhere along the offensive line. 4. DL Devonte Wyatt The Packers selected Wyatt with their second pick in the first round in 2022. The former Georgia star was only a minor part of the defensive line rotation in his first NFL season. In the final three games, Wyatt saw more playing time after Dean Lowry was injured and lost for the season. He showed flashes of talent and made some plays by penetrating the offensive line and disrupting ball carriers. While playing only 23 percent of the Packers defensive snaps, Wyatt recorded 1.5 sacks and showed his potential once he got more comfortable in the defense. Now with Lowry and Jarran Reed departed as free agents, Wyatt is expected to be a starter along the line. He has a big opportunity to show he can live up to his draft position and become a solid contributor on defense. 3. ILB Quay Walker Walker started 16 games and played all 17 as a rookie but the Georgia alum had his struggles, especially early in the season. While Walker led the Packers with 121 total tackles, he had issues taking the proper angles on running plays and just reading plays in general. By the end of the season, Walker had improved in those areas. He has elite speed for an off-ball linebacker and he and De’Vondre Campbell could be the most dynamic starters the Packers have had in a long time if Walker starts to realize his potential. Walker will also have to control his temper which got him ejected from two games last season. The talent is there. If Walker makes a second-year jump, he could be the team’s breakout player in 2023 2. WR Christian Watson Watson got off to a slow start last season due in part to nagging injuries. He dropped a sure touchdown on the Packers first offensive play from scrimmage in Week 1 and struggled to get on the field early in the season. But the former North Dakota State star had a breakout game against Dallas in Week 10 and never looked back. He finished the season with 41 catches for 611 yards and seven receiving touchdowns. Watson has a rare combination of size and speed that give him the potential to become a strong WR1 in this league. He needs to improve his consistency and his hands to take his game to the next level and prove he can be the primary weapon in the passing game. Watson showed his potential as a rookie, now he needs to show he can consistently get the job done. 1. QB Jordan Love Love is finally getting a chance to start after sitting behind Aaron Rodgers for the first three years of his career. With Rodgers now with the Jets, the Packers have put their faith and their future in the hands of their 2020 first-round pick. The coaching staff and many teammates said they saw Love make a lot of progress last season. He showed some of that ability in his limited game action last season especially in a late-game fill-in for an injured Rodgers in Philadelphia. Love will have to play with an inexperienced group of receivers and tight ends but that also gives the unit a chance to mature and grow together. All eyes will be on Love who now has a two-year window to show he can be the next quality quarterback in Green Bay after signing an extension over the offseason. There will likely be growing pains but by the end of the season, can Love prove he is a quality NFL starter? We’ll find out starting in Week 1 in Chicago. You can follow Gil Martin on Twitter @GilPackers
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Five Candidates to be the Packers Breakout Player of the Year
Should the Packers sign a veteran backup quarterback?
We’ve sorted through dozens of articles about the Packers’ latest news, game results, rosters, rumors and other info that’s important to the team and to you. Check it out! By PACKERSWIRE Zach Kruse, paulbretl, Brennen Rupp and Brandon Carwile The Green Bay Packers might have one of the least experienced quarterback groups entering training camp in NFL history: Starter Jordan Love has exactly one regular-season start, and backups Danny Etling and Sean Clifford (2023 fifth-round pick) have never appeared in an NFL game. Earlier this month, former NFL general manager Rick Spielman suggested the Packers should sign Teddy Bridgewater, who has extensive experience both as a starter and backup. In a shallow pool of available quarterbacks, Bridgewater is likely the best option. This question has hovered all offseason: Should the Packers sign a veteran to be the backup behind Love? The staff at Packers Wire provided their own answers: I think, when picturing an ideal situation, every team would want a quarterback room featuring an undisputed starter, a quality backup who can play in a pinch, and a developmental option. The Packers check two of the three boxes with Jordan Love as the starter and fifth-round pick Sean Clifford as the young quarterback to develop long-term. Do the Packers think Etling can come in and play quality regular-season snaps if something happened to Love? I can’t imagine they do, and going into the season with Clifford as the top backup would be playing with fire. Matt LaFleur doesn’t like splitting reps between four quarterbacks, so eventually swapping out Etling for a quarterback with legitimate NFL experience is probably the right move. I’d guess the Packers start camp with Love, Etling and Clifford but end it with Love, Clifford and a veteran. Then again, Aaron Rodgers had rookies Matt Flynn and Brian Brohm as his backups in 2008 and everything turned out fine. If Clifford shows capability during camp and the preseason, maybe he can emerge as Matt Flynn 2.0. I think signing a veteran backup quarterback makes a lot of sense for the Packers. Having that experience on the sidelines, in the film room, and on the practice field as an extra set of eyes to share what they see and the why behind it with Jordan Love could be quite valuable in his first season as a starter. A few of the remaining free agent options include Teddy Bridgewater, Joe Flacco, and Nick Foles. However, there is always give and take with these decisions. Any addition would have to be willing to sign for a very modest contract. According to Ken Ingalls, who independently tracks the Packers salary cap situation, Green Bay’s effective cap space — or what they have to spend — is just $1.2 million. I’ll also guess that signing a veteran backup would mean the Packers are going to keep three quarterbacks on the 53-man in order to roster Sean Clifford, which means one less roster spot at another position. Green Bay spent a fifth-round pick on Clifford, have spoken highly of him since the draft, and want to develop him as well, so I’m assuming they wouldn’t be willing to put him on the practice squad, where another team could sign him. While it would be a prudent signing to make, for the reasons mentioned, I think the Packers stay put with their current quarterback room. It couldn’t hurt, right? As it stands right now Green Bay’s quarterback room collectively has one career start to their name. The Packers could use a veteran in that room and Teddy Bridgewater is still out there looking for work. Bridgewater has started 65 games in his career and could spot start and keep the Packers “afloat” if something were to happen to Jordan Love. Teddy Ballgame is just two years removed from throwing 18 touchdowns and throwing for 3,000-plus yards in 14 starts for the Denver Broncos. The Broncos went 7-7 during his 14 starts. There is value in having a quarterback that’s been there and done that sitting on the sideline. Sign Bridgewater and hope that he never sees the field. It’s a difficult question to answer without seeing either Danny Etling or Sean Clifford in action. Both did fine during the offseason program, but everything is going to ramp up once training camp starts. Etling went through the process last year and was good enough to earn a spot on the practice squad. While he does have a year in the system under his belt, he is a 28-year-old journeyman without much of a ceiling. Meanwhile, Clifford is a fifth-round pick who doesn’t have a great arm and had accuracy concerns coming out of Penn State. Brian Gutekunst does tend so favor his draft picks so you would think it’s Clifford’s job to lose. Initially, it was believed that a veteran could help Jordan Love in his first season as a mentor while offering more stability as the No. 2. But to this point, the Packers haven’t seen it that way and may boil down to what Etling and Clifford do in the preseason. If they don’t make the necessary strides, bringing in a veteran will make sense. Follow all of your favorite Wisconsin teams at Packers Wire, Badgers Wireand the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel!
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Should the Packers sign a veteran backup quarterback?
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Who Will Be Jordan Love’s Security Blanket?
We’ve sorted through dozens of articles about the Packers’ latest news, game results, rosters, rumors and other info that’s important to the team and to you. Check it out! By PACKERS TALK Many first year starting Quarterbacks have an easier time adjusting when they have that go-to target. A reliable receiver that’s always open for that easy pitch and catch when nothing else seems to be going right. For the Green Bay Packers and Jordan Love entering 2023, there are plenty of “Security Blanket” options. When you think security blanket, Linus van Pelt of Peanuts fame might come to mind. Linus was always tormented by thoughts of insecurity. So, his blanket always helped calm him down and bring him back down to earth. But of all the Peanuts characters, Linus might have been the brightest and most hopeful. Having that security blanket to calm you down, perhaps frees your mind to tackle bigger issues. So, a security blanket for Jordan Love could mean a pass catcher that’s always open for that 5-yard strike. Therefore, helping him better cycle through progressions for the bigger play, knowing that blanket will be there at the end if nothing else. But who could fill this role? There may be no greater asset to Jordan Love in 2023 than Aaron Jones. Jones’ 5.1 career average yardage per carry will surely help shorten that line to gain each drive. Imagine the confidence boost giving a young Quarterback a Running Back that can gain 4-5 yards or more. The QB only has to hand the ball off, and boom, 5 yards closer to moving the chains. It opens their eyes that it’s not all on them. Relaxation sets in, it’s like hugging a warm blanket. But that’s not all Aaron Jones can do. Jones also averages 7 yards per catch. He had five total receiving touchdowns last season. Sure, Aaron Jones could just take the ball right out of Jordan Love’s hands. But Love can also throw it to him too. Wheel routes, screen passes, and even the occasional deep ball, Jones can catch it all. Don’t be surprised to see Aaron Jones hanging out close to Jordan Love early in the season so he can bail him out if all else fails. This might come as a surprise to some. But I think Josiah Deguara is primed for a breakout season in 2023. Deguara is a versatile tight end that can line up anywhere on the field. Honestly, I think he was under-utilized by Aaron Rodgers just because he didn’t really fit Rodgers’s style. Aaron Rodgers admitted as much that he didn’t like how much motion Matt LaFleur put in his offense. Aaron Rodgers likes to have as much time as possible to force a defense to tip their hand. If there’s a last second’s pre-snap motion that’s supposed to cause surprise, chances are Rodgers wasn’t interested. He could see how the defense would adjust, so he didn’t want it in there. Josiah Deguara could start a play in the backfield and easily move out to slot receiver or tight end. This quick movement could leave Deguara wide open to start a play. Or even lurking in the area when Love needs him. I reluctantly put the team’s likely number one receiver on this list. But then I look at Aaron Rodgers’ favoritism towards Davante Adams and realize, it’s not so far-fetched. Christian Watson can do it all. Screen pass, jet sweep, quick pass, deep ball, he’s a threat with each of them. So, it’s a no-brainer that Jordan Love will be looking his way. Watson’s speed could help him create separation from defenders at will. Especially if Love is in a jam. If Love needs to start creating plays with his legs buying time, Christian Watson could shine. His speed and ability to change direction could get him open and into the eyes of Jordan Love for a first down or more. Rodgers trusted Adams. Rodgers trusted Nelson. So, it’s not far fetched that Love and Watson could develop that trust and Watson could be the security blanket. If I had to choose, I’d pick Aaron Jones. I think Jones will be the easier dump-off if something doesn’t go right. If Jordan Love can get his security blanket to take some of the pressure off him, look out NFL. Go Pack Go. Greg Meinholz is a 24/7/365 Packers fan. When he’s not spending time with his family, he can be found meditating in his Packers shrine with a good beer. You can follow him on twitter at @gmeinholz.
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The Green Bay Packers have been a model of consistency
We’ve sorted through dozens of articles about the Packers’ latest news, game results, rosters, rumors and other info that’s important to the team and to you. Check it out! By CHEESEHEADTV Would more Super Bowl appearances over the last 20-plus years have been nice? Yes, but the Packers have consistently been in the mix, a feat that should be appreciated. The New England Patriots’ dynastic run with head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady, which resulted in six Lombardi Trophies and nine Super Bowl appearances, distorted fans’ reality of how difficult it is to win a Super Bowl. NFL fans, including those that rock the green and gold every Sunday during the NFL season, consistently point out how much of a travesty it is that the Packers only won two Super Bowl titles, with three total Super Bowl appearances, in roughly 30 years with two Hall of Fame quarterbacks. I think a lot of fanbases, especially those of the Packers’ NFC North rivals, would take that success. Is it frustrating that the franchise could not have hoisted the Lombardi Trophy at least once more over the last 30 years, or even made a second trip to the Super Bowl with Aaron Rodgers under center? Yes. However, I cannot stress enough how difficult it is to make it to the Super Bowl, let alone to win the Big Game. Consistency from season to season is underrated within the NFL discourse. And the Packers have been one of the most consistent teams over the last 20-plus years. Each season, minus a few here and there, the Packers have had a legitimate shot to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. Case in point, they have the third-most regular season wins (231) in the NFL since the turn of the century, trailing only the Pittsburgh Steelers (235) and the Patriots (262). Moreover, Green Bay is tied with the Seattle Seahawks for the fifth-most playoff wins (14) since 2000. Since 2000, the franchise has won 12 NFC North crowns, including three separate stretches of winning at least three-consecutive division titles (2002-04, 2011-14, 2019-2021), and posted a winning record 17 times. The Minnesota Vikings have won six division titles over that span; Chicago Bears have won five; and the Detroit Lions have won zero. Since the turn of the century, the Packers have also made six appearances in the NFC Championship game, tied for second with the San Francisco 49ers. The Philadelphia Eagles are first with seven appearances. The rest of the NFC North has combined for five appearances. To put things into proper perspective, the Packers registered one playoff victory from 1968 until 1992. During that same stretch, they won one NFC Central crown (1972), with only six seasons ending with a winning record. In the 1980s specifically, the Packers were 65-84-3. The future in Green Bay is unknown, perhaps even cloudy, if for no other reason than it is undetermined how well quarterback Jordan Love will play. The Packers might enjoy the same type of success going forward as the franchise did during the 1980s. They might join a whole host of NFL teams in coming to grips with the fact that it is not easy finding and developing a star NFL quarterback, leaving them as a fringe playoff team without any threat of making noise during the most important stretch of the season. Alternatively, Jordan Love might turn out to be a top-ten quarterback, if not better, for the next ten or so seasons, and as a result, the Packers will continue to be a model team in terms of producing consistent results on the field. Who knows, at the end of the day. But I do know that being in the mix year after year, season after season, should not be ho-hummed. Rex is a lifelong Packers fan but was sick of the cold, so he moved to the heart of Cowboys country. Follow him on Twitter (@Sheild92) and Instagram (@rex.sheild).
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The Green Bay Packers have been a model of consistency
