Last week, NFL teams cut their rosters down to 53. With active rosters set, attention shifted to putting together teams practice squads. With the world still dealing with COVID, practice squads have become even more important. The NFL will carry over the rules they set last season. Similar to other NFL teams, the players on the Green Bay Packers practice squad could play a vital part in their 2021 season.
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Green Bay Packers Practice Squad Contains Some Familiar Names
Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst didn’t stray too far when he selected players for the Packers practice squad. Out of the 16 players named to the Packers practice squad, 15 of them were with the Packers this training camp.
Several of these players just missed making the Packers 53 man roster. There isn’t much doubt that if an injury occurs, some of those players will be moved up to the active roster. The other players that make up the Packers squad roster look to be developmental prospects. They will use their time on the Packers practice squad to develop their skills for possible future seasons.
Here is a breakdown, by position, of the Packers practice squad for the start of the 2021 season.
Quarterback
With the Packers carrying just two quarterbacks (Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love) on their active roster, Kurt Benkert will be their emergency quarterback. Benkert saw extensive playing time in preseason action for the Packers. He completed 33 passes on 48 attempts, throwing for one touchdown and throwing two interceptions.
Because of Love’s injury in the first preseason game, Benkert saw more action than expected. While his play was uneven, he did show enough talent to stick around. He isn’t expected to develop into a starter. However, he does have enough talent where he could become a possible NFL backup quarterback.
Running Back
The Packers had a battle in this year’s training camp for the number three running back spot behind Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon. Rookie Kylin Hill edged out Dexter Williams and Patrick Taylor for that spot.
While Taylor didn’t make the roster, the Packers did sign him to the practice squad. Taylor sat out last season because of a foot injury. Because of that, this year’s training camp was his first action in the NFL. Taylor is a bigger back and showed some potential when he saw action in preseason games. If any of the three running backs is lost to injury, there isn’t much doubt that Taylor will be elevated to the active roster.
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Wide Receiver
With Randall Cobb coming over in a trade during training camp, that left just one open wide receiver spot on the 53 man roster. That last spot went to Malik Taylor who had a strong showing as a pass catcher and special teams contributor in training camp.
Because of Taylor making the roster, Juwann Winfree was left off the roster. Winfree had a strong showing in OTAs, which had many believing he had a chance to make the 53 man roster. However, an injury forced him out of action for most of the training camp. With his absence, Taylor took advantage of his opportunity. Still, the Packers saw enough of Winfree, and his speed, to sign him to the practice squad.
If you are looking for a developmental prospect at wide receiver on the Packers practice squad, Chris Blair is your guy. The former Alcorn State product didn’t put up gaudy numbers while playing for the Braves, 87 career receptions for 1,460 yards with 13 touchdown receptions. However, he has good size, 6’3″ 200 pounds, and the Packers could develop him into a possible contributor for future seasons.
The one surprise addition from this group for the Packers practice squad is Equanimeous St. Brown. St. Brown, a former draft pick of Gutekunst’s, missed most of training camp because of an injury. This isn’t anything new for St. Brown. The highly gifted wide receiver has a long injury history with the Packers. The Packers should know what they are getting with St. Brown. So bringing him back on the practice squad seems like a curious move. Fellow wide receiver Reggie Begelton outplayed him in training camp. But instead of Begelton being signed to the practice squad, they instead chose St. Brown. St. Brown’s draft status could have played a big part in him returning.
Tight End
Another development prospect signed to the Packer practice squad was tight end Bronson Kaufusi. Kaufusi was a defensive end at BYU who the Packers converted to tight end.
It seemed that Kaufusi’s conversion went pretty well in training camp. His play grabbed the attention of Aaron Rodgers. While his play grabbed the defending NFL MVP’s attention, he still has a ways to go into developing into an NFL tight end.
Still, he showed great promise as a blocking tight end. With the Packers best blocking tight end, Marcedes Lewis, entering what could be his last season in the NFL, Kaufusi could be developed as his replacement.
When the #Packers cut Jake Kumerow, it came a day after Aaron Rodgers praised him. Kumerow ended up in Buffalo.
Rodgers recently praised TE Bronson Kaufusi: "I love him. One of the happiest guys ever."
This happened at Rodgers' presser today.
PRICELESS.
(h/t @mattschneidman) pic.twitter.com/M1Z61d2Wu8
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) August 18, 2021
Offensive Line
After a strong showing in OTAs, Ben Braden was talked about as a dark horse to make the Packers 53 man roster. Braden became a favorite of offensive line coach Adam Stenavich. So much so, he saw time at left tackle with the first-team offense in OTAs. However, Braden struggled in training camp and in preseason action.
Those struggles were enough to make the Packers decide to cut him. It appears that they haven’t given up on him. If he can get back to where he was in OTAs, he could be an in-season call-up.
Jacob Capra and Cole Van Lanen are seen as possible developmental prospects. Both players have the ability to line up at tackle as well as guard. It is doubtful either would be called up if the Packers suffer an injury on the offensive line. However, the Packers could be grooming them for the future.
Defensive Line
Abdullah Anderson was a late addition to the Packers in this year’s training camp. While he didn’t make the roster, he did show enough to return to the Packers practice squad.
Anderson has regular-season experience. He played in six games for the Chicago Bears in 2019, registering a sack for the Bears. In 2020, he played in one game for the Minnesota Vikings, but didn’t register a stat.
The Packers aren’t overly deep at defensive tackle. If he does well while on the practice squad, he could be brought up if one of the Packers defensive linemen goes down.
Inside Linebacker
The Packers are carrying five inside linebackers on their active roster going into 2021. So, depth isn’t expected to be an issue. But signing Ray Wilborn to the practice squad gives the Packers a developmental prospect at the position.
After finishing up his college ball at Ball State, some had Wilborn pegged as a safety coming into the NFL. Today’s NFL defenses utilize hybrid linebackers who can play both as a linebacker and as a safety. Wilborn could develop into one of those types of players.
OBLB is actually going to be kinda fascinating. Campbell's on the team, they're not even playing him. Burks is making a helluva case, Barnes is on the team. Martin is a one-year-old promising draft pick, and Ray Wilborn flashes for me *constantly*
Oh, and McDuffie is a '21 pick. pic.twitter.com/raptH6TEvi
— Ross Uglem (@RossUglem) August 22, 2021
Outside Linebacker
When doing our positional breakdowns for the Packers, we projected that Tipa Galeai would make the Packers 53 man roster. While he didn’t make the roster, bringing him back to the practice squad seems like a good move by the Packers.
The Packers are carrying five outside linebackers entering the 2021 roster. While they are deep at the position, standout outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith is dealing with a back injury. If he were to miss time, it would be expected that Galeai would get a call-up. Galeai has good potential as a special team player.
Cornerback
It came as a surprise to some that cornerback Kabion Ento didn’t make the 53 man roster. The converted wide receiver had a decent showing in coverage in training camp but struggled with tackling. That shouldn’t come as a surprise since he is still learning to play on defense.
But not making the roster and instead getting re-signed to the Packer practice squad could benefit Ento. He will get needed practice time to adjust to cornerback and will be allowed to learn under one of the best secondary coaches in Jerry Gray.
Safety
Innis Gaines grabbed the attention of some with his play in training camp. The former TCU product showed some glimpses but did have some struggles in preseason action. He was beaten out for the last safety spot by Henry Black.
Nothing against Gaines, but it seems curious that he was signed to the Packers squad over fellow undrafted free agent Christian Uphoff. Uphoff outplayed Gaines in preseason games and displayed superior ability on special teams. Brining back Uphoff over Gaines seemed like the more logical decision.
Special Teams
Packers kicker Mason Crosby just turned 37 years old. While he is still kicking at a high level, you have to be concerned about how much longer he can do it. Especially when you factor in kicking in Green Bay weather.
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Kicker JJ Molson was signed to the practice squad. Not only is he an insurance policy if something were to happen to Crosby, but the Packers might see him as a possible replacement for Crosby. He showed a big leg in training camp, something that is needed when kicking in Green Bay.
The Packers parted ways with inconsistent punter JK Scott. The former fifth-round pick of Gutekunst’s never lived up to his draft status. His release wasn’t overly shocking. While cutting Scott wasn’t surprising, the Packers keeping long snapper Hunter Bradley was. Bradley has struggled, especially in this year’s training camp. Another failed late-round pick by Gutekunst, it was curious that he was kept.
But he will have needed in-season competition. Gutekunst signed long snapper Steven Wirtel to the Packers practice squad. The signing appears to mean that Bradley is on a very short leash. If Bradley struggles, and Wirtel shows he is capable, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Packers change long snappers very early in the season.
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