While not garnering the headlines of other off-season transactions, the Green Bay Packers special teams will look vastly different than in 2016. After the loss of return man Micah Hyde in free agency, Ted Thompson added several players that should make an impact on the game’s third phase. The recent release of last year’s starting punter Jacob Schum only adds more intrigue to the unit.
After years where the special teams were viewed as a major weakness, the unit slightly improved last season. The Packers special teams unit will certainly be tested in 2017 and will be relying on several new faces at key positions. Below is a breakdown of Green Bay’s depth at the specialty positions and a look at those competing for possible openings.
Openings on Green Bay Packers Special Teams
Kicker: Mason Crosby
This one is easy. Mason Crosby is entering his 11th season with Green Bay and signed a four-year extension before the 2016 season. He is coming off a season where he converted 29 of a possible 34 field goal attempts, including postseason. His finest moments came in a clutch performance against the Dallas Cowboys in the divisional round where he made two field goals from 50+ yards to finish the game. He remains the rock of the Packers’ special teams and should continue to be one of the league’s premier kickers.
Punter: Justin Vogel vs. Himself?
Justin Vogel was signed by Green Bay as an undrafted free agent out of Miami. He was expected to serve as competition for incumbent Jacob Schum. Schum suffered a minor back injury in early practices but appeared to be returning to full health before he was waived by the organization. Vogel now remains the only punter currently on Green Bay’s roster.
The young punter finds himself in the most ideal position to begin his NFL career. Ted Thompson will almost certainly add competition at some point this off-season, but for the time being, Vogel will be receiving valuable reps with the first team. It is typically difficult for rookie specialists to break the final roster. Green Bay has a reputation for retaining undrafted players, but don’t be surprised if they re-sign a healthy Schum or bring in another veteran before the regular season.
Return Men: Ty Montgomery vs. Jeff Janis vs. Trevor Davis
It would be nice to see a rookie such as Malachi Dupre or Aaron Jones step up and make an impact at one of the return spots, but as it stands now, last year’s holdovers Jeff Janis, Trevor Davis, and Ty Montgomery return as front runners. Although Montgomery currently heads the depth chart at kick returner, his emergence as the Packers’ primary running back may keep him off special teams later in the year. Janis and Davis both have experience and have shown promise in return duties. With two receivers added through this year’s draft, neither is guaranteed a roster spot, however.
Davis also struggled with fielding punts when given the opportunity his rookie year, so it will be interesting to see whether he holds the job until the regular season. Micah Hyde was a stable presence at punt return man over his time with the organization. There will be ample opportunity for young players to fight for the primary return duties in 2017.
The final spots on the 53-man roster will be determined by players making the largest impact on special teams. With depth now at the receiver and cornerback spots, Jeff Janis and Demetri Goodson, two of the team’s top gunners, may be in jeopardy this off-season. Trevor Davis must prove he is still worth a roster spot in just his second year. The battles at return man and gunner join the lack of competition at punter as story lines to keep an eye on during the rest of training camp.
