None of the backups played very well against the Chiefs, which was evident when Thompson trimmed the active roster from 75 to 53 earlier today cutting the following 22 players:
Much like I did the last three years (2010, 2011, and 2012), here is my first look at The 53 for the 2013 Green Bay Packers:
QBs (2): B.J. Coleman and Aaron Rodgers
RBs (4): Jonathan Franklin, John Kuhn, Eddy Lacy, and James Starks
WRs (5): Jarrett Boykin, Randall Cobb, James Jones, Jordy Nelson, and Jeremy Ross
TEs (4): Brandon Bostick, Jermichael Finley, Andrew Quarless, and Ryan Taylor
OLs (8): David Bakhtiari, Don Barclay, Evan Dietrich-Smith, T.J. Lang, Marshall Newhouse, Josh Sitton, Lane Taylor, and Greg Van Roten
DLs (8): Josh Boyd, Mike Daniels, Johnny Jolly, Datone Jones, Mike Neal, B.J. Raji, Ryan Pickett, and C.J. Wilson
LBs (9): Sam Barrington, Robert Francois, Brad Jones, A.J. Hawk, Jamari Lattimore, Clay Matthews, Andy Mulamba, Nate Palmer, and Nick Perry
DBs (10): Chris Banjo, Morgan Burnett, Jarrett Bush, Casey Hayward, Davon House, Micah Hyde, M.D. Jennings, Jerron McMillian, Sam Shields, and Tramon Williams
STs (3): Mason Crosby, Brett Goode, and Tim Masthay
Besides the initial 53-man roster, the Packers have a number of other players still affiliated with the organization even before they sign eight players to their practice squad. Here is a breakdown of those players:
Injured Reserve (5): Bryan Bulaga (T), Sederrik Cunningham (WR), Kevin Dorsey (WR), DuJuan Harris (RB), and Jarvis Reed (LB). Look for Bulaga and Harris to stay with the team for the rest of the season but don't be surprised if the Packers attempt sign the rest of the players to injury settlements so they can continue their NFL careers elsewhere.
PUP (4): Sean Richardson (S), Derek Sherrod (T), JC Tretter (G/C), and Jerel Worthy (DL). After the Packers finish their 6th game of the season, if they do not reach an injury settlement, they have three weeks to let the players left on the list start practicing. From the first day one of those guys start practicing, the Packers have three weeks to add them to the active roster (in place of someone on The 53), cut them, or place them on injured reserve.
Here are a few things that stood out to me about the roster moves:
- For the first time in a number of years I was mildly surprised at some of the guys cut. On the offensive side of the ball I was mildly surprised the Packers cut: Green, Mulligan, Walker, Williams, and Young. On the defensive side of the ball I was mildly surprised the Packers cut: Manning, Miller, and Moses.
- The last three guys cut were probably: Terrell Manning, Tyrone Walker, and D.J. Williams.
- The last three guys kept were probably: Chris Banjo, Brandon Bostick, and Lane Taylor.
- The last two years the Packers kept 24 offensive players, 26 defensive players, and 3 special teams players. This year the Packers mixed it up by keeping 23 offensive players, 27 defensive players, and 3 special teams players.
- Of the 53 players kept on the initial roster in 2010, only 23 of them are on the current 53-man roster: 9 offensive players, 11 defensive players, and 3 special teams players. Of the 53 players kept on the initial roster in 2011, only 31 of them are on the current 53-man roster: 13 offensive players, 15 defensive players, and 3 special teams players. Of the 53 players kept on the initial roster in 2012, only 35 of them are on the current 53-man roster: 14 offensive players, 18 defensive players, and 3 special teams players. That means more than half of the roster has been overhauled in just the last three years.
If I had to pick an 8 player practice squad based solely on the players cut by the Packers today I would pick the following guys: Johnson, Lewis, Manning, Savage, Stonerburner, Smith, Walker, and White.
Make sure to check over the next week because there will be a ton of Packers content leading up to the season opener on the road against the San Francisco 49ers.