Packers’ receiver battle heats up, rookies offer good and bad signs, and QB dilemma emerges after preseason finale
Exhibition game against the Arizona Cardinals offered an electric end and final clues before the 53-man roster cuts on Sunday.
The Green Bay Packers closed their preseason schedule Friday night with a cool 42-38 comeback win over the Arizona Cardinals at Lambeau Field, and the game served as the last audition before Sunday’s 53-man roster deadline. The Packers rested their starters, with 37 of the 90 players on the roster sitting out because of either their established roster standing or injuries.
That left the backups and third-stringers to make their final case in a game environment, and several young players delivered meaningful tape for the coaching staff and general manager Brian Gutekunst to evaluate.
Young wide receivers show up
Wide receiver depth was one of the biggest questions entering the 2026 training camp. Green Bay allowed Romeo Doubs to walk in free agency and traded Dontayvion Wicks to the Philadelphia Eagles, leaving a thin group behind the top options. The preseason answered some of those questions in an encouraging way.
Undrafted rookie J. Michael Sturdivant made several impressive catches, including a touchdown reception from quarterback Kyle McCord. He finished the game with six receptions for 112 yards. Will Sheppard scored twice, once on a reception and once on a punt return, building on a strong outing against the Denver Broncos in the second preseason game. Isaiah Neyor also flashed with some quality plays, even though he also had an unfortunate drop in the third quarter. Last but not least, Kisean Johnson had two big TD catches late, including a game-winning touchdown reception.
The Packers have six locks at the position: Christian Watson, Matthew Golden, Jayden Reed, Savion Williams, Skyy Moore, and Bo Melton. The question now is whether Gutekunst keeps a seventh receiver, and if so, which of Sturdivant, Sheppard, or Neyor earns the spot. If the front office cuts all three, the goal would be to stash them on the practice squad. That decision will be one of the headlines on roster cutdown day.
Quarterback dilemma
Kyle McCord played the entire game against the Arizona Cardinals, once again displaying his strong arm and solid ability to process the game. He finished the game with an 119.5 passer rating and four touchdown passes, leading the Packers to a game-winning TD drive at the end.
We usually fear players will get claimed off waivers and almost nobody actually gets claimed. But based on McCord’s tape and the position he plays, the risk is real. Because Tyrod Taylor is older and under a one-year contract, keeping McCord as a third-stringer on the 53-man roster as a potential long-term backup could make some sense, but it’s a tough decision with some special teams contributors fighting for spots elsewhere on the roster.
Domani Jackson’s rough night raises roster questions
Sixth-round pick Domani Jackson had a truly complicated game. The cornerback is still working back from a core muscle surgery that cost him significant time in training camp and kept him out of the preseason opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Friday was only his second game action after debuting against the Broncos last week.
The results were tough to watch. Jackson allowed a big touchdown in the first half, gave up several other catches, and had at least one play with a poor tackling effort. His PFF coverage grade at halftime sat at 26.5, following a 48.9 coverage grade against Denver.
The Packers have four cornerback locks in Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine, Brandon Cisse, and Benjamin St-Juste. Kamal Hadden is also now expected to make the roster after serving as the starting slot defender with Javon Bullard sidelined. Jackson, in theory, should be the sixth cornerback, but his performance Friday did not make a strong case for keeping the job. Green Bay could opt to carry only five corners and allocate the roster spot elsewhere.
First flash for Dani Dennis-Sutton
The rookie edge defender made his preseason debut Friday after missing the first two games, and he delivered a promising performance. Dennis-Sutton recorded a sack on Arizona Cardinals quarterback Gardner Minshew and generated additional pressures throughout the night. There were rough moments too, including an offside penalty immediately after the sack and some struggles setting the edge, but overall it was a solid showing for the rookie.
Dennis-Sutton could earn a meaningful role in the edge rotation early in the season. With Micah Parsons expected to miss the first four to six games, Dennis-Sutton could see regular gameday snaps right away.
Other edge defenders also made some noise. Undrafted rookie Nyjalik Kelly hauled in an interception while dropping into coverage, and recently acquired Arden Walker generated pressures as well. Neither player is guaranteed a roster spot, but both could land on the practice squad.
Offensive line and linebacker notes
The coaching staff tipped its hand at right guard. Jacob Monk sat with the starters while Jager Burton (center) and Anthony Belton (right tackle) both played, a clear sign that Monk will be the starting right guard for Green Bay early this season.
Former seventh-round pick John Williams had a solid night at left tackle. Williams missed his entire rookie season because of an injury and is now proving his worth, potentially securing a roster spot.
At off-ball linebacker, Ty’Ron Hopper provided quality depth with some good early plays. Nick Niemann remains a special-teams-only contributor without much defensive value, but the Packers will likely keep him because of those special teams contributions. Kristian Welch profiles as a better defender, though Niemann’s role on coverage units could be enough to earn him the edge.
