Green Bay Packers: Key Position Struggles to Monitor as Training Camp Nears Its End
The Green Bay Packers are gearing up for the final stretch of their training camp, with two practices this week and a preseason game against Seattle on Saturday. As the team prepares to set their 53-man roster one week from now, several positional battles and roster spots remain undecided.
One of the most intriguing competitions is the battle for the left tackle position. Rasheed Walker and Jordan Morgan are currently vying for the spot, with coach Matt LaFleur confirming that the position is, indeed, a competition. Rasheed Walker, who has made 35 starts (including playoffs) over the last two seasons, will be looking to solidify his position, while Jordan Morgan, a 2024 first-round draft pick of the Packers, has been impressing during training camp.
In the wide receiver competition, Malik Heath is a nice blocker but lacks the explosiveness that the Packers are searching for. Mecole Hardman, on the other hand, brings ability in the return game and has two Super Bowl rings from his time in Kansas City.
The Green Bay Packers' linebacker roster is starting to take shape, with Edgerrin Cooper, Quay Walker, Isaiah McDuffie, and Ty'Ron Hopper all looking like locks. Cooper, who showed strong potential as a rookie with 87 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks in 14 games, is seen as poised to take the next step in 2025. The fifth and final spot for the linebacker roster is a competition between Isaiah Simmons and Kristian Welch. Welch, who was released on cutdown day last year but has been solid all summer and is a standout on special teams, could secure a roster spot.
The No. 3 quarterback position is a battle between Sean Clifford and Taylor Elgersma. Clifford, who led a 13-play, 68-yard drive and scored a touchdown in the Packers' preseason game against Indianapolis, and Elgersma, a Canadian quarterback who had a solid performance in the same game, completing 7-of-11 passes for 109 yards, are both fighting for the spot.
Chris Brooks is the No. 3 running back for the Packers, with Emanuel Wilson expected to keep his role as the primary backup to Josh Jacobs. Israel Abanikanda, a fifth-round draft pick by the Jets in 2023, has had a solid performance during training camp, both as a runner and a kick returner. Abanikanda, who grew up with parents of Nigerian descent and has a mindset of never letting anything break him, could potentially be a wild card in the running back competition.
As the Packers prepare for the final week of training camp, these positional battles and roster decisions will be closely watched. The team will be looking to finalise their roster and head into the regular season with a strong, cohesive squad.
