4 Packers players pushing for 53-man roster spots
Training camp in 2022 is winding down for the Green Bay Packers. Matt LaFleur’s team has just one more preseason game (Thursday night in Kansas City) left before the final roster cutdown arrives on Aug. 30.
Many spots on the Packers’ 53-man roster are already locked in, but not all. The next nine days or so will determine how the fringes of the roster look come the start of the regular season.
Here are four players making a real push for a 53-man roster spot coming off the Packers’ preseason win over the Saints:
CB Kiondre Thomas
Could Thomas force his way onto the roster as the sixth cornerback? He competes hard in coverage, as a tackler and on special teams. Through two games, Thomas has allowed one catch on six targets into coverage, broke up two passes, made two stops in the run game and finished two tackles on special teams. There haven’t been any “splash” plays, but it’s hard to argue with his overall production, especially on special teams.
OT Caleb Jones
The 6-9, 370-pounder hasn’t looked at all out of place over 52 snaps at left tackle. In fact, he’s been quite impressive, especially in the run game. Jones has good feet for a big man and can overpower most defenders at the point of attack. Pass protection is a work in progress, but he looked a lot more comfortable sliding his feet and getting into position against the Saints. It’s going to take time, but maybe Jones can be Yosh Nijman 2.0.
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S Micah Abernathy
The NFL is littered with stories of players taking advantage of opportunities created by injuries. That’s been the script of the first nine days for Abernathy (pictured above) in Green Bay. With Darnell Savage, Dallin Leavitt, Innis Gaines and Tariq Carpenter all nursing injuries, and then Vernon Scott going down early against the Saints, Abernathy’s opportunity arrived – and he took full advantage, making an impressive interception and then chopping down a running back for a loss on a screen pass. He looks to be a good mix of physical, athletic and confident playing in space. With so much undecided at safety and special teams, Abernathy could certainly sneak his way onto the roster.
RB Tyler Goodson
Back in the preseason of 2017, a rookie running back named Aaron Jones showed off an impressive blend of patience and burst in the zone running game. The flashes of ability were the perfect precursor to what has been a special career. Goodson’s flashes of burst as a runner aren’t as bright, but they are familiar. The undrafted rookie of Iowa has a good feel for threatening the edge and then knowing when to put his foot in the ground and accelerate upfield. His natural ability as a pass-catcher out of the backfield is an added bonus. Can he contribute on special teams? Because as a pure runner and receiver, Goodson is the third-best healthy running back on the team right now.
