Paul Bretl | 8/24/2025
GREEN BAY, Wis. — With preseason and training camp now concluded, the Packers and the rest of the NFL have until 3:00 PM CT on Tuesday to trim their rosters from 90 players down to just 53.
Between padded and non-padded training camp practices, two joint practices, and three preseason games, there’s a lot to evaluate and different environments in which those evaluations are going to take place.
But for GM Brian Gutekunst, how players operate in the preseason games and joint practices will always carry the most weight. Also, an important factor is how they conduct themselves around the building throughout the summer.
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“I think everything matters,” Gutekunst said of the roster decisions. “Even the non-practice stuff–how they’re working in the building.” …”That’s part of the evaluation as well. What they’re doing in this building, how they’re handling themselves, studying, taking care of their bodies.
“But for me, it’s always been the preseason games and now these joint practices where the level of competition is amped up a little bit, and quite frankly, in the preseason games, where these guys have to make decisions out on the field without breaks in between each snap when they’re tired. So those things matter to me, and they always weigh a little bit more.”
Following the Packers’ preseason finale against Seattle, Matt LaFleur said he and Gutekunst have spent a lot of time together already discussing the roster. For the most part, he added, there is a “pretty good idea” of where the roster is going.
So before those final decisions are made, here is my one and only 53-man roster prediction for the 2025 Green Bay Packers.
Quarterback (2): Jordan Love, Malik Willis
Under Matt LaFleur, the Packers have typically rostered two quarterbacks rather than three, and have put that roster spot to use elsewhere.
Running back (3): Josh Jacobs, Chris Brooks, Emanuel Wilson
Designated to return from IR: MarShawn Lloyd
There’s some guesswork involved here. I’m not exactly sure what Lloyd’s injury timeline is, but hamstring injuries can be tricky, and with him navigating injuries early on in his career, the best course of action may be to give him extra time to hopefully allow him to get to 100%–or close to it. When it comes to Brooks and Wilson as the second and third running backs, I don’t believe it’s much of a competition at all between them and Israel Abanikanda and Amar Johnson. One reason I think that is because both seem to have work to do in pass protection, which is an important element of playing running back in this offense.
Wide receiver (6): Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Donayvion Wicks, Matthew Golden, Savion Williams, Malik Heath
PUP: Christian Watson
I went with Malik Heath over Mecole Hardman. I thought that throughout the summer, Heath was the more consistent of the two, although Hardman seemed to have more splash plays. I also don’t know that Hardman seized control of the return role either on special teams. Lastly, perhaps I’m reading too much into the Week 3 preseason playing time, but Heath was only on the field for the first few series, and then Hardman took over.
Since Watson began training camp on the PUP list, he can remain there and doesn’t need an IR designation.
Tight end (3): Tucker Kraft, Luke Musgrave, John FitzPatrick
Last season, when without Musgrave for that stretch, the Packers got by with just three tight ends on the roster and supplemented when needed with a game-day practice squad elevation. Ideally, I would like to keep Ben Sims, but the roster math didn’t allow for it, and I thought that FitzPatrick very much established himself as TE3 this summer. Other than depth, the skill sets that Sims can add to this room are already on the roster.
Offensive line (9): Rasheed Walker, Jordan Morgan, Aaron Banks, Elgton Jenkins, Sean Rhyan, Zach Tom, Anthony Belton, Darian Kinnard, Donovan Jennings
Designated to return from IR: Jacob Monk
PUP: John Williams
We’ve updated this position group to reflect the Packers’ trade for Kinnard. As I mentioned originally, an addition along the offensive line, whether via trade or claiming a player on waivers, always made sense. Beyond the Packers’ top six on the depth chart, this position group is inexperienced and underwhelmed over the summer. To make the roster math work, I designated Jacob Monk to return from IR as he works through a recent injury.
Defensive line (11): Rashan Gary, Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt, Lukas Van Ness, Kingsley Enagbare, Brenton Cox, Barryn Sorrell, Colby Wooden, Karl Brooks, Warren Brinson, Nazir Stackhouse
PUP: Collin Oliver
We saw the Packers go heavy last year on the defensive line, and that’s the route I’m once again going. Admittedly, early on in camp, I had my questions about Wooden’s status on the team, but he performed well and was steadily a part of the tackle rotation with Brooks. Sorrell is still dealing with a knee injury and could be a candidate to be placed on IR designated to return.
Linebacker (5): Edgerrin Cooper, Quay Walker, Isaiah McDuffie, Ty’Ron Hopper, Kristian Welch
Welch or Isaiah Simmons? The Packers released Welch last summer, but I don’t think that happens again. When speaking about Welch, Matt LaFleur praised him for his consistency and also mentioned his ability to play all three linebacker positions, which is very valuable. Then, of course, is his ability to help on teams. Simmons was way too up and down overall.
Cornerback (6): Nate Hobbs, Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine, Bo Melton, Kalen King, Kamal Hadden
Based on the rotations during practice, this has clearly been the top six cornerback options throughout most of the summer. The question I debated was whether to keep just five cornerbacks, but Hadden’s play as of late and before his injury made him deserving of a roster spot.
Safety (5): Xavier McKinney, Evan Williams, Javon Bullard, Kitan Oladapo, Zayne Anderson
Anderson is working through a knee injury and, depending on his timeline, could be an IR-designated return candidate. Omar Brown was in the mix for a roster spot but unfortunately suffered an injury against Indianapolis. Without Anderson and McKinney in practice, Bullard and Williams have been the safeties in base, and then in nickel, Bullard moved to the slot, and Oladapo came on the field at safety.
Special teams (3): Brandon McManus, Matt Orzech, Daniel Whelan
No mystery here.