Packers 53-man roster prediction: 3 go on IR

Pencils down. After sifting through training camp write-ups, watching preseason games and even charting participation in the Green Bay Packers’ Family Night practice, here’s my final prediction for what the Packers’ 53-man roster will look like on Tuesday. With changes to the injured reserve rules this year, situations across the league will be a little bit more fluid on Wednesday, which is why I’m also predicting a roster move to be made by Green Bay the day after cutdowns.

Follow along with the analysis, and feel free to yell at me in the comment section for cutting your preseason favorite.

Quarterback (2)

• Jordan Love
• Malik Willis

No brainer here.

Running Back (3)

• Josh Jacobs
• Emanuel Wilson
• Chris Brooks
• IR-DFR: MarShawn Lloyd

This was a position of real debate until MarShawn Lloyd went down with a hamstring injury. Based on the consensus of 53-man roster projections out there right now, most people seem to think that he’s going to land on the injured reserve with a designated to return status. Before cutdowns, the Packers can place up to two players on the injured reserve who won’t be subjected to league-wide waivers but can return to the 53-man roster later on in the year. Every other player placed on the injured reserve will be out for the full 2025 season, like tackle Travis Glover.

Receiver (6)

• Romeo Doubs
• Matthew Golden
• Jayden Reed
• Dontayvion Wicks
• Malik Heath
• Savion Williams
• PUP: Christian Watson

As of right now, not only do I think that Malik Heath is higher on the depth chart at receiver than Mecole Hardman, but I think there’s a good chance he sees more reps than Savion Williams early on in the season. Some of that is the fact that Williams has been missing practice and games, while another factor is that Heath seems to have a clear role on special teams. I just don’t think Hardman did enough as a returner this preseason to justify a roster spot, especially if Matt LaFleur wants to use Heath more on offense than Hardman, who was used as a slot-only player.

Tight End (4)

• Tucker Kraft
• Luke Musgrave
• John FitzPatrick
• Ben Sims

This is probably an unpopular pick, but I have Ben Sims making this team as the fourth tight end. I doubt he will get on the field much beyond field goal protection, punt protection and kickoff return, but the Packers have increased his special teams snaps down the stretch of the preseason and need more bodies on the return team in general. Those bodies are going to have to come from somewhere, and as long as Luke Musgrave is a backup tight end who doesn’t contribute to the kicking game, the chance of keeping a fourth tight end is always going to be on the table. With touchbacks on kickoffs now coming out to the 35-yard line, it’s not a good time to have a non-teams contributor playing backup tight end.

Offensive Line (8)

• Rasheed Walker
• Aaron Banks
• Elgton Jenkins
• Sean Rhyan
• Zach Tom
• Jordan Morgan
• Anthony Belton
• Jacob Monk
• IR: Travis Glover
• PUP: John Williams

I’m only going to have eight offensive linemen on the initial 53-man roster because I think the Packers should look at waivers on the day after cuts rather than holding onto one of Kadeem Telfort or Donovan Jennings. Both have had rough stretches this summer. It’s time for the pro personnel department to go put in some work. I’ll talk about how Green Bay is going to make up that extra roster spot in our next paragraph.

Defensive End (6)

• Rashan Gary
• Lukas Van Ness
• Kingsley Enagbare
• Brenton Cox Jr.
• Barryn Sorrell
• Arron Mosby
• PUP: Collin Oliver

This one is simple: Kingsley Enagbare and Arron Mosby are both high-level special teams contributors, and the team seems to like Brenton Cox Jr. as their fourth defensive end. I have Barryn Sorrell, who is currently dealing with a knee injury, making the 53-man roster for one (1) day before being placed on the injured reserve. This will allow the team to designate three total players with the designated to return status a day after cutdowns. That’s where we find the roster space to add a ninth offensive lineman through waivers.

Defensive Tackle (5)

• Kenny Clark
• Devonte Wyatt
• Colby Wooden
• Karl Brooks
• Warren Brinson

Even though hype has built up around the Georgia rookie defensive tackles, the Packers were much more willing to actually give Colby Wooden and Karl Brooks reps with both the first- and second-team defenses throughout the summer. I don’t think there’s enough room for a third and fourth nose tackle on this team, if Wooden is really going to be the next man up at the position behind Kenny Clark. I’m going with Warren Brinson here because he’s a draft pick and got on the field earlier in preseason games than Nazir Stackhouse, who was mostly used as a one-dimensional run-stuffer. I’m sure the Packers will want Stackhouse back on the practice squad, though.

Linebacker (6)

• Quay Walker
• Edgerrin Cooper
• Isaiah McDuffie
• Isaiah Simmons
• Ty’Ron Hopper
• Kristian Welch

I have all six relevant linebackers making the team. I think Isaiah Simmons had the worst preseason of all of these backers, but the team seems to value his upside down the road and his ability to play the punt gunner position at his size. Personally, I wouldn’t pull the trigger, but I think the team will keep him. Meanwhile, Kristian Welch will help across the board on special teams.

Cornerback (6)

• Keisean Nixon
• Nate Hobbs
• Carrington Valentine
• Bo Melton
• Corey Ballentine
• Kalen King

The top four cornerbacks here are roster locks, but I have the Packers keeping both cornerbacks that they tested out in the slot positions, Corey Ballentine and Kalen King, over outside cornerbacks Kamal Hadden and Micah Robinson. Robinson was well behind King and Hadden in the cornerback rotation, so I’m not sure if he really even has a chance to make this team. Ballentine is transitioning to the slot from his usual outside cornerback position and is still getting premier looks on special teams. King has also made some plays in the kicking game and defense in the preseason.

Safety (4)

• Xavier McKinney
• Evan Williams
• Javon Bullard
• Kitan Oladapo
• IR-DFR: Zayne Anderson

The second player I have hitting the injured reserve before cuts is Zayne Anderson, which is why a third player (Barryn Sorrell in this case) would need to be on the 53-man roster for a day before hitting the IR without it ending his entire season. This one’s simple. All five of these guys made the 53-man roster last year. Some people have Omar Brown being an IR-DFR player, but I don’t think the team would call him up to the 53-man roster once healthy unless there were an injury or two at the position. With six cornerbacks, there’s just no need to use one of two IR-DFR spots on the potential of a sixth safety joining the roster. Just end his season, pay him out, keep him around the team and give him another go next year.

Specialists (3)

• K: Brandon McManus
• P: Daniel Whelan
• LS: Matt Orzech

Another no-brainer. The only other specialist in camp is Irish kicker Mark McNamee, who is likely to join the Packers’ practice squad as their international exemption.