Green Bay Packers Roster

August 31, 2014

packers helmets

 

With Training Camp coming to an end, Ted Thompson was faced with the task of constructing a team which will lead the Packers back to the Super Bowl. As the clock ticked down to 3pm CDT yesterday, Packer fans across the world were wondering what this year’s team would look like. Would it have the caliber of talent to get the Packers back on top of the football world this season?

We are about to find out, as the season kicks off a mere 4 days from now.

Ladies and Gentlemen, here are your Green Bay Packers Roster:

Quarterbacks (3) — Aaron Rodgers, Matt Flynn, Scott Tolzien The talk of Training Camp was whether the Packers would keep 2 or 3 QBs. We got the answer yesterday. Perhaps a little surprising as it may have cost another roster spot to someone else, but after the disaster that was the Packers backup QB position last year, keeping both Flynn and Tolzien makes sense. In somewhat of a surprise call, Aaron Rodgers also made the final 53.

Running backs (4) — Eddie Lacy, James Starks, DuJuan Harris, John Kuhn If the trio of Packers RBs don’t get you excited as a Packers fan, not sure what will. All three have started in the past, with Lacy firmly entrenched as the starter for years to come. Starks and Harris add their own skillset to the offense, which Mike McCarthy will seek to use every chance he can. John Kuhn knows the offense better than anyone else on the field who isn’t named Aaron Rodgers and returns to help protect the Packers franchise QB for his 8th season.

Wide receivers (5) — Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Jarrett Boykin, Davante Adams, Jeff Janis Good for Jeff Janis. Already facing an uphill battle as a 7th round draft pick, he started Training Camp by contracting shingles, further delaying his progress. After that, all he did was make plays. Nelson and Cobb are the starters, and Jarrett Boykin looks to continue to develop after his strong 2013 season. Rookie Davante Adams adds yet another weapon for Rodgers to throw to. 

Tight ends (4) — Andrew Quarless, Brandon Bostick, Richard Rodgers, Ryan Taylor Andrew Quarless may be the “starter” on paper when the season starts, but Richard Rodgers is the defacto starter. Ryan Taylor sticks as as core special teams contributor. 

Offensive linemen (8) — David Bakhtiari, Bryan Bulaga, Josh Sitton, T.J. Lang, Corey Linsley, JC Tretter, Derek Sherrod, Lane Taylor The starters are set with Bakhtiari, Sitton, Linsley (until Tretter returns from his injury), Lang and Bulaga. But depth is a huge concern for the o line right now. Free-agent Adam Gettis is already scheduled for a visit today. If he doesn’t sign, expect someone else to sign before Thursday’s game against the Seahawks.

Defensive linemen (5) — Mike Daniels, Datone Jones, Letroy Guion, Josh Boyd, Mike Pennel The number of defensive linemen on the roster is deceiving, as OLB Julius Peppers and Mike Neal can both play with their hand on the ground as well. As it stands right now, the Packers DL consists of: a 3rd year rising star in Daniels; a 2nd year player in Jones who is hoping to justify his first-round selection last year; a free agent signing in Guion who was expected to backup BJ Raji, not start; a second-year player in Boyd, who saw his snap count increase last season because Jones was ineffective; and a rookie UDFA in Pennel. Breathe…

Linebackers (11) — Clay Matthews, Julius Peppers, A.J. Hawk, Brad Jones, Nick Perry, Mike Neal, Jamari Lattimore, Sam Barrington, Andy Mulumba, Jayrone Elliott, Carl Bradford Eleven (!!!) linebackers. The starters are set in Matthews, Hawk, Jones, and Peppers. Perry and Neal are the second group of OLBs, while Lattimore and Barrington add depth on the inside. It will be very interesting to see how Dom Capers utilizes rookie Carl Bradford and Training Camp MVP Jayrone Elliot. This group should be able to provide some definite giddy up while rushing the QB. This will be a fun group to watch.

Cornerbacks (6) — Tramon Williams, Sam Shields, Casey Hayward, Davon House, Jarrett Bush, Demetri Goodson Time for head-scratcher number one: the Packers cut CB Jumal Rolle, who had an outstanding Training Camp, and kept Demitri Goodson, who was anything but outstanding. It pays to be a Ted Thompson draft pick. Williams and Shields are your starters, Hayward the Nickel slot CB, House is the 4th CB, and Jarrett Bush returns for his 9th season as special teams ace and 5th CB. 

Safeties (4) — Morgan Burnett, Micah Hyde, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Sean Richardson Head scratcher number 2: S Chris Banjo was released, after being a core special teams contributor all of training camp. While there was no need for the Packers to keep the 5th Safety considering the current depth, it would be interesting to find out if Banjo was cut to make room for all 3 QBs. Ted Thompson will almost certainly inform the world whether this was the case, won’t he? Aside from that, after the mess that 2013 was at this position, isn’t it refreshing to see a group of Safeties that can actually make plays?

Specialists (3) — Mason Crosby, Tim Masthay, Brett Goode This group was set from the start of Training Camp. Let’s just hope the Mason Crosby of 2013 is set for a repeat performance this season, and the Mason Crosby of 2012 never returns again.

Appearances by Green Bay Packers Current and Retired Players

Mayfield Sports Marketing athletes (Green Bay Packers Current and Retired Players)  are committed to each event they attend and raising. Throughout 2013-2014, Mayfield Sports Marketing athletes and celebrities had the opportunity to make numerous appearances. Appearances included nonprofit fundraisers, school visits, motivational speaking engagements, and many other events and programs.

John Rehor is a writer at PackersTalk.com.

He can also be heard as one of the Co-Hosts of Cheesehead Radio.

Matt Flynn selected as backup QB

Mark Hoffman

Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy avoided having to make a decision whether to keep Matt Flynn or Scott Tolzien. But after managing to keep both on his 53-man roster, he had to choose one to be Aaron Rodgers’ backup. He chose Flynn.

10 cut players signed to practice squad

By Tom Silverstein of the Journal Sentinel
Aug. 31, 2014

Green Bay — Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy 

          • avoided having to make a decision whether to keep

Matt 

Flynn

          • or

Scott

Tolzien

But after managing to keep both on his 53-man roster, he had to choose one to be Aaron Rodgers' backup.

He chose Flynn.

McCarthy did not say why, but it's pretty obvious he sided with experience over potential. If he didn't think Tolzien had the ability to be better than Flynn, he probably wouldn't have kept him.

Flynn, however, was solid throughout camp and while he trailed his competition statistically in games (112.0 passer rating to 82.3), he apparently played well enough for McCarthy to think he gave the team the best chance to win if Rodgers gets hurt.

"I feel like I'm playing well. I feel like I'm in control of what I'm doing," Flynn said after practice Sunday. "I'm in control of what I'm doing physically and mentally. I feel good. I've always felt confident and comfortable going into seasons, but each year I feel like I'm getting better and better."

Flynn's chances for a starting job in the NFL have all but expired after failed opportunities in Seattle, Oakland and Buffalo, but the Packers value his play within their offense and the 2-2 record he posted last year while Rodgers was out with a broken collarbone.

Flynn was still dealing with an elbow problem that had popped up in training camp in Oakland when he took over the starting job for Rodgers and it was evident he did not have the arm strength he does now after an off-season of rest and rehab.

Another factor is the backup is instrumental in helping get the starter ready each week and Flynn's experience in the offense and the NFL are valued. Rodgers and Flynn have been together for five seasons and that could have been a factor.

Tolzien's arm strength appeared superior to Flynn's, and while his accuracy wasn't quite as good he showed he belonged on an NFL roster by completing 38 of 56 passes (67.9%) for 477 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions during the exhibition season.

His 112.0 pass rating was just under Rodgers' 116.6.

Had the Packers released Tolzien, there's little question he would have wound up with another NFL team. So, even though he could have used the roster spot somewhere else, McCarthy chose to keep Tolzien so he can keep developing him and see where things go.

It would not be unusual for Tolzien to eventually move ahead of Flynn this year based on his play in practice. But for now, Flynn is the backup and Tolzien is No. 3.

"Excited for them, playing so well," Rodgers said. "They both deserve to be on the roster, and it's good to have them both in the room."

We hardly missed you: The Packers didn't have to go very far to fill their practice squad.

They brought back 10 players they had cut Saturday and had passed through waivers Sunday.

The 10 were: safety Chris Banjo, receiver Kevin Dorsey, center Garth Gerhart, receiver Alex Gillett, running back MichaelHill, linebacker Adrian Hubbard, tight end Justin Perillo, defensive end LutherRobinson, tackle Jeremy Vujnovich and receiver Myles White.

All 10 participated in the team's practice Sunday.

No one the Packers cut was picked up on waivers by another team.

In other transactions, the Packers reached injury settlements with running back Rajion Neal, linebackerJoe Thomas and guard Andrew Tiller, all of whom were waived injured on the cutdown to 75. All of the players are free agents now.

The Packers did not waive linebacker Nate Palmer and defensive tackle Khyri Thornton injured, which means both will remain on injured reserve the entire year and be back next season. Tight end JakeStoneburner and tackle Aaron Adams were moved to reserve injured from waived injured.

Stoneburner is expected to reach an injury settlement and be let go.

Tryouts: More than likely it was just to update their emergency list, but the Packers had three recently released quarterbacks in for tryouts Sunday.

They were Pat Devlin, Jon Jennings and Jeff Mathews.

Devlin was cut by the Miami Dolphins on Aug. 19. The Dolphins originally signed him as a rookie free agent in 2011 and he was off and on their roster over the past three years. He has not played in a regular-season game and did not attempt a pass this preseason.

Jennings, an undrafted free agent this year, was released by the Kansas City Chiefs this summer. He did not attempt a pass in the preseason.

Mathews, an undrafted free agent from Cornell, was released on the first cut by the Atlanta Falcons. He completed 1-of-3 passes for 8 yards in the preseason.

In addition, the Packers worked out tackles Michael Bamiro and Manase Foketi, guard Adam Gettisand cornerback Robert Steeples.

All were cut in the last two weeks. Bamiro was with Philadelphia, Foketi was with New Orleans, Gettis was with Washington and Steeples was with Minnesota.

Injury report: Linebacker Brad Jones returned from a thigh injury that kept him out of practice and the Kansas City game last week.

There was no official injury report so it's not known whether Jones was limited or took part in the full padded practice.

Missing the workout were tight end Brandon Bostick (leg), cornerback Demetri Goodson (concussion) and center JC Tretter (knee).

The Packers practice Monday and Wednesday before leaving for Seattle.

Middle ground: Relieved to still be on the roster, linebacker Carl Bradford picked up where he left off last week on a position change.

Ineffective as an outside linebacker, the fourth-round pick was moved inside. He played considerably there against the Chiefs and was back inside for practice Sunday.

Bradford said he watched tape of the Kansas City game and said he knows what things he did wrong.

"I saw where I do feel pretty comfortable at it," Bradford said. "But you could tell it's a new position. Just little things, like my alignments, lining up in the right gap. Just attacking the offensive line with the right shoulder. Just little things you have to perfect."

Appearances by Green Bay Packers Current and Retired Players

Mayfield Sports Marketing athletes (Green Bay Packers Current and Retired Players)  are committed to each event they attend and raising . Throughout 2013-2014, Mayfield Sports Marketing athletes and celebrities had the opportunity to make numerous appearances. Appearances included nonprofit fundraisers, school visits, motivational speaking engagements and many other events and programs.

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