GREEN BAY – The Packers reduced their roster to 53 players during the NFL-mandated roster reduction on Tuesday.
Green Bay can start building its 16-player practice squad after the waiver process concludes at 11 a.m. CT on Wednesday.
Here’s how the initial roster for the 2023 season breaks down, position by position, with players kept, released or placed on reserve lists. More notes are posted below.
QB (2): 8 Sean Clifford, 10 Jordan Love
Released: 17 Alex McGough
RB (3): 28 AJ Dillon, 31 Emanuel Wilson, 33 Aaron Jones
Waived/injured: 32 Lew Nichols, 39 Tyler Goodson
Released: 27 Patrick Taylor, 46 Nate McCrary
WR (6): 9 Christian Watson, 11 Jayden Reed, 13 Dontayvion Wicks, 18 Malik Heath, 83 Samori Toure, 87 Romeo Doubs
Released: 6 Jadakis Bonds, 16 Dre Miller, 22 Duece Watts, 80 Bo Melton, 82 Cody Chrest, 86 Grant DuBose
TE/FB (3): 81 Josiah Deguara, 85 Tucker Kraft, 88 Luke Musgrave
Released: 44 Henry Pearson, 49 Austin Allen
OL (11): 50 Zach Tom, 63 Rasheed Walker, 69 David Bakhtiari, 70 Royce Newman, 71 Josh Myers, 72 Caleb Jones, 73 Yosh Nijman, 74 Elgton Jenkins, 75 Sean Rhyan, 76 Jon Runyan, 78 Luke Tenuta
Released: 61 Cole Schneider, 62 James Empey, 77 Kadeem Telfort, 79 Jean Delance
DL (6): 93 T.J. Slaton, 94 Karl Brooks, 95 Devonte Wyatt, 96 Colby Wooden, 97 Kenny Clark, 99 Jonathan Ford
Released: 60 Jason Lewan, 64 Antonio Moultrie, 98 Chris Slayton
OLB (6): 47 Justin Hollins, 52 Rashan Gary, 55 Kingsley Enagbare, 57 Brenton Cox Jr., 90 Lukas Van Ness, 91 Preston Smith
Released: 51 Keshawn Banks, 53 Arron Mosby, 56 Kenneth Odumegwu
ILB (5): 7 Quay Walker, 24 Tariq Carpenter, 45 Eric Wilson, 58 Isaiah McDuffie, 59 De’Vondre Campbell
Released: 46 Jimmy Phillips Jr., 54 Marvin Pierre
CB (4): 23 Jaire Alexander, 25 Keisean Nixon, 29 Rasul Douglas, 37 Carrington Valentine
Physically unable to perform: 21 Eric Stokes
Released: 19 Elijah Hamilton, 22 Shemar Jean-Charles, 27 William Hooper, 35 Corey Ballentine, 40 Tyrell Ford, 43 Kiondre Thomas
S (5): 6 Dallin Leavitt, 20 Rudy Ford, 26 Darnell Savage, 34 Jonathan Owens, 36 Anthony Johnson Jr.
Injured reserve: 30 Tarvarius Moore
Released: 38 Innis Gaines, 48 Benny Sapp III
Spec. (2): 17 Anders Carlson, 41 Daniel Whelan
Waived/injured:43 Broughton Hatcher
Released: 42 Matt Orzech, 16 Pat O’Donnell (Aug. 28)
Here are some noteworthy items:
- With receiver Malik Heath, linebacker Brenton Cox Jr., and running back Emanuel Wilson all making the initial 53-man roster, the Packers are on the verge of extending their streak to 19 consecutive years with at least one undrafted rookie making the Week 1 roster. It’s the first time since 2018 that multiple undrafted rookies have made the 53.
- Heath is the first undrafted rookie receiver to make Green Bay’s roster since Darrius Shepherd in 2019, while Cox is the first UDFA edge rusher since Chris Odom (2017). Wilson, who signed with Green Bay in May after being released by Denver, led the NFL with 223 rushing yards on 38 preseason carries with two touchdowns. He’s the first running back to make Green Bay’s initial 53 as an undrafted rookie since Jhurell Pressley in 2016. Forty-two undrafted rookies have made the 53-man roster during the Packers’ streak.
- First-year punter Daniel Whelan made the Packers’ initial 53-man roster after veteran Pat O’Donnell was released Monday. If Whelan plays Week 1 against Chicago, he’ll be the first Irish-born player to play in the NFL since Neil O’Donoghue’s final season with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1985. Born in Dublin, Ireland, Whelan moved to the United States at age 13. The 6-foot-5, 214-pound punter made the All-XFL team with the DC Defenders this spring before signing with the Packers in May. Whelan averaged 45.7 yards (37.7 net) on six preseason punts, while dropping three inside the 20-yard line.
- Eric Stokes remained on physically unable to perform, meaning the former first-round pick will miss at least the first four games of the regular season. That also leaves the Packers with just four cornerbacks on the active roster, their fewest entering a season dating back to at least 2008. Since winning Super Bowl XLV, Green Bay has gone into Week 1 with five or fewer cornerbacks on just two occasions (2018 and 2022).
- For the first time since 2016, the Packers didn’t carry a long snapper on their initial 53. It’s still possible Green Bay could retain Matt Orzech and is simply using the extra roster spot for a player who’ll be placed on injured reserve Wednesday. In order to be designated to return off IR during the regular season, players must be carried through to the initial roster. It wouldn’t be an unprecedented move. The Packers previously went that direction after the final roster reduction in 2016, with longtime long snapper Brett Goode filling a roster spot vacated by cornerback Makinton Dorleant’s placement on IR. Dorleant was designated to return later that season. Orzech was one of Green Bay’s two unrestricted free-agent signings this offseason. The Packers’ other UFA signing, former San Francisco safety Tarvarius Moore, was placed on injured reserve.
- The 11 offensive linemen are the most the Packers have carried on their initial roster in at least a decade. Only twice have they carried 10 (2017, 2022).
- Green Bay kept 11 of its 13 rookie draft picks. Seventh-round receiver Grant DuBose was released, while seventh-round running back Lew Nichols waived injured. The former Central Michigan standout spent most of training camp with a shoulder injury.
- All 11 players from the Packers’ 2022 draft class made the roster.
- The Packers’ 53-man roster is comprised of 45 former draft picks and eight undrafted free agents. Thirty-four of the 53 players were drafted by General Manager Brian Gutekunst.
