The Green Bay Packers navigated through roster cuts on Tuesday, setting their 53-man squad and returning to practice on Wednesday. But the work is far from over.
As the team prepares for its Week 1 clash with the Philadelphia Eagles, lingering questions remain at several positions. Here’s one critical question at each position that must be answered following roster cuts.
Quarterback: Who Will Win the Backup Job?
At least the Packers have clarity at the top with Jordan Love as their starting quarterback—because beyond that, things get murky fast.
Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt spent the preseason battling for the backup spot, only to see both players waived on Tuesday. The day before, Green Bay made a move that added another wrinkle to the situation, trading a 2025 seventh-round pick to the Tennessee Titans for Malik Willis.
Willis, a raw talent with untapped potential, now sits as the primary backup on the 53-man roster. But Clifford, who was brought back on the practice squad after clearing waivers, isn’t out of the picture just yet (Pratt, meanwhile, joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ practice squad).
This doesn’t mean the backup battle is over. Willis still has much to prove, particularly as a player whose talent has yet to fully translate on the field. It’s likely that Clifford will be elevated for Week 1, serving as the de facto backup while Willis familiarizes himself with the playbook and works to earn the coaching staff’s trust.
But this situation is far from settled. In the event of a Love emergency, the Packers need a clear answer at QB2. Right now, that answer is still a mystery, and how this plays out could have significant implications for Green Bay’s season.
Running Back: When Will MarShawn Lloyd Return?
The Packers’ running back room was thrown into disarray on roster cutdown day, leaving more questions than answers as the season opener looms.
Josh Jacobs is firmly entrenched as the starter, but what was once a heated battle between AJ Dillon and MarShawn Lloyd for the backup role has turned into an injury-riddled mystery. Both Dillon and Lloyd had been sidelined for the last couple of weeks with injuries—Lloyd nursing a hamstring issue that was initially thought to be the more serious concern.
However, Dillon’s situation took a surprising turn. What was first believed to be a manageable stinger—his second in less than a year—proved severe enough to land him on season-ending Injured Reserve on Tuesday. The possibility of an injury settlement and subsequent waiver looms for Dillon, signaling that his time in Green Bay may have come to an abrupt end.
Now, the focus shifts to Lloyd, who was once again absent from practice on Wednesday. The question on everyone’s mind: When will he be ready to return? The Packers are suddenly thin at running back, and with Lloyd’s status still up in the air, there’s no clear answer as to who will spell Jacobs when he needs a breather.
Emanuel Wilson remains as the third running back, and while he’s shown flashes of being a serviceable option, there’s still work to be done before he can be trusted with significant snaps. Green Bay might also get creative, mixing in some receivers in the backfield to keep defenses guessing.
Head coach Matt LaFleur has always favored keeping his running backs fresh for the long haul, so don’t expect Jacobs to carry an excessive load in Week 1, regardless of who is behind him on the depth chart. But as the Packers prepare for the season, the urgency to get Lloyd back on the field—or to find another reliable option—continues to grow. The uncertainty surrounding Lloyd’s return could be a critical storyline as Green Bay navigates the early part of their schedule.
Tight End: How Often Will the Packers Play Two Tight Ends?
The Packers have two young, ascending tight ends in Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave, each bringing a unique skill set to the table. The real intrigue this season will be in how LaFleur deploys them in tandem.
Musgrave is the athletic marvel—towering at his position with elite size and speed that can stretch defenses vertically. He’s the straight-line burner who forces defensive backs and linebackers into uncomfortable matchups, using his physical gifts to create mismatches all over the field.
Kraft, on the other hand, is the utility knife in this duo. He excels after the catch, making him a valuable weapon for Love in the short and intermediate passing game. Kraft’s ability to turn quick throws into significant gains complements Musgrave’s field-stretching capabilities, and together, they offer a dynamic one-two punch that could create headaches for opposing defenses.
The question is, how often will LaFleur roll out both tight ends simultaneously? The potential for creative formations and versatile offensive sets is tantalizing. Musgrave and Kraft don’t just complement each other—they can feed off each other, keeping defenses on their heels. How frequently LaFleur chooses to exploit this advantage will be one of the more fascinating storylines to watch as the season unfolds.
Wide Receiver: Who Will Become Jordan Love’s Go-To Receiver?
While the Packers sort out their tight end rotations, the wide receiver room is equally intriguing, with a host of candidates vying to become Love’s go-to target. Let’s avoid the term “number one receiver” and focus instead on who will emerge as Love’s most trusted option when the game is on the line.
Christian Watson, arguably the most talented receiver on the roster, has the physical tools to dominate. But questions about his health, hands, and consistency leave the door open for others to step into that primary role. Enter Romeo Doubs, who has shown flashes of becoming Love’s most reliable target, particularly in critical situations like third downs and red zone opportunities.
Then there are the second-year players, Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks, both hungry to build on impressive rookie campaigns. Reed’s quickness and route-running, combined with Wicks’ ability to make plays in traffic, add even more depth to a receiver group loaded with potential.
The possibilities are nearly endless, and while depth is a luxury, the Packers need someone to emerge as Love’s preferred target in high-pressure moments. Who steps up in those situations could significantly impact Love’s development and the overall success of the Packers’ passing game this season.
Offensive Line: Who Will Start at Right Guard?
When everyone’s healthy, the Packers’ offensive line looks like a solid, cohesive unit: Rasheed Walker holding down left tackle, Elgton Jenkins as the reliable left guard, Josh Myers anchoring at center, Jordan Morgan stepping in at right guard, and Zach Tom locking down the right tackle spot.
Unfortunately, the offensive line is one of the most grueling, injury-prone positions in the NFL, and the Packers are already feeling that pressure. Rookie Jordan Morgan, the team’s first-round pick, was slated to start at right guard but has been sidelined with various injuries. The door is now open for Sean Rhyan to stake his claim.
Rhyan, who found himself in a rotation with Jon Runyan Jr. as last season wore on, could be in line for a similar role this year, especially if Morgan’s health remains an issue.
The Packers have to hope they can find some stability at this position, but the reality is that this battle may be ongoing throughout the season. It’s one of those situations that could have ripple effects across the entire offense, particularly in pass protection and the run game. How this competition plays out could be critical to the Packers’ offensive success.
Defensive Line: Can They Generate Natural Pressure?
On the defensive side, the Packers’ big men up front are chomping at the bit, eager to unleash their full potential under new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, who’s given them the green light to hunt quarterbacks.
On paper, this defensive line boasts a lot of talent. Rashan Gary, Kenny Clark, and Preston Smith are the headliners, each with the ability to wreak havoc in the backfield. Meanwhile, young guns like Lukas Van Ness, Devonte Wyatt, and TJ Slaton are primed to take the next steps in their development. The potential is there for this group to be a game-changing force.
They’ve shown constant dominance in training camp and preseason, but the real test comes when the regular season kicks off. The question is whether this unit can consistently generate natural pressure without the need for exotic blitzes or schemed-up pressures. If they can carry their preseason momentum into the games that count, it could transform the Packers’ defense from good to elite.
Linebackers: Can the Rookies Earn Playing Time?
Quay Walker is locked in as the Packers’ linebacker centerpiece, but who lines up next to him in various formations remains a bit of a puzzle.
This offseason, the Packers invested two draft picks—Edgerrin Cooper and Ty’ron Hopper—to bolster their linebacker corps. The hope was that these rookies would quickly acclimate and push for significant snaps alongside Walker. Unfortunately, neither has fully risen to the occasion thus far. Instead, it’s been the veterans, Isaiah McDuffie and Eric Wilson, who have stepped up to play alongside Walker.
The Packers are undoubtedly hoping their rookies can find their footing sooner rather than later. If Cooper and Hopper can develop quickly, it would give the defense more flexibility and depth at a position that often flies under the radar but is crucial for maintaining balance, especially against modern, versatile offenses. Whether the rookies can close the gap and earn playing time will be something to watch closely as the season progresses.
Secondary: Who Will Play in the Slot?
The Packers’ secondary is gearing up for what could be a standout year, especially following an offseason overhaul at the safety position. Xavier McKinney, the team’s prized free-agent acquisition, is set to anchor the backend, with rookies Javon Bullard and/or Evan Williams likely lining up next to him.
Jaire Alexander and Eric Stokes are expected to hold down the outside cornerback spots, while Keisean Nixon is penciled in as the starter in the slot. But there’s an intriguing twist in this secondary storyline: Bullard has shown a knack for making plays from the slot, and he could challenge Nixon for snaps as the season wears on.
The idea of deploying three safeties on the field at once—especially with Bullard in a hybrid slot role—adds another layer of versatility to this defense. It’s a strategy that could pay dividends against pass-heavy offenses, and it will be fascinating to see how Hafley mixes and matches his personnel to keep opposing quarterbacks guessing.
Special Teams: Do They Have a Kicker?
The Packers’ search for a reliable kicker has been nothing short of a saga. They’ve cycled through six kickers since the start of the offseason, as they tried to find a solution to their post-Mason Crosby woes.
After eventually parting ways with both Anders Carlson and Greg Joseph, the Packers have turned to undrafted free agent Brayden Narveson, whom they claimed from the Titans. Narveson now appears to be the front-runner to handle kicking duties in Week 1.
But the question remains: Can Narveson finally put an end to the Packers’ kicking carousel? Special teams have been a thorn in Green Bay’s side for years, and stabilizing the kicker position is crucial if they hope to avoid costly miscues in close games. All eyes will be on Narveson to see if he can bring some much-needed consistency to the Packers’ special teams unit.