Packers 17-man Practice Squad Prediction: Depth pieces and developmental projects who could stick after roster cuts
Green Bay builds the PS on Wednesday.
The preseason is over, and the Green Bay Packers have to build their initial 53-man roster until Tuesday. We have made our predictions for that here. But on Wednesday, the team constructs its 17-man practice squad, including 16 regular practice squad pieces and a designated member of the International Pathway Program.
The NFL increased the size of the practice squad during Covid and kept some of the adjusted rules. Of the 16 players, 10 must be players with up to two accrued seasons, and there’s no restrictions for the other six.
Throughout the season, teams can elevate practice squad players for gameday. Each player can be elevated up to three times for the same team without being a member of the active 53-man roster. After the game, the player reverts back to the PS.
Because of all that, the practice squad is an ever bigger part of the roster now. And we will try to project who the Packers will carry to supplement their roster.
Packers practice squad prediction
QB Taylor Elgersma
Elgersma has a real competition with Sean Clifford for the QB3 job, and nobody has clearly won it. But the Canadian rookie has the higher upside, so he should stay. Against the Seattle Seahawks in the preseason finale, Clifford played before, but Elgersma performed at a better level than he had against the Colts, showing he was much more comfortable—pocket presence is still an issue. They rotated throughout the game, so it will be a late-minute decision.
RBs Amar Johnson, Israel Abanikanda
The Packers would be able to keep two different types of backs on the PS. Amar Johnson is a developmental piece with a real shot at eventually becoming a backup running back on the active roster. Meanwhile, Abanikanda is a good depth piece who could be elevated for offense and special teams purposes throughout the season.
WRs Julian Hicks, Will Sheppard
Heath is competing for the WR6 spot with Mecole Hardman, so if he loses it and clears waivers, it’s reasonable to project him here. But since he made our 53-man prediction, it gives two younger guys a chance on the PS. Julian Hicks already spent his rookie season on the PS and is talented. Will Sheppard had a strong preseason and could make a case for it as well.
TE Ben Sims
Sims was TE2 last year while Luke Musgrave was injured. He lost the third spot on the depth to John FitzPatrick, but is still a worthy piece.
OL Kadeem Telfort, Donovan Jennings, Brant Banks
The Packers don’t have great options here, but Telfort is a useful depth piece with playing experience, and Jennings was expected to make the 53-man roster until the team traded for Darian Kinnard. Banks and JJ Lippe are among the undrafted rookies who played well with the threes in the preseason, but Banks gets the priority here.
EDGE Deslin Alexandre
We projected six interior defensive linemen, so there was no reason to keep another one here. But at edge, Desline Alexandre had several good moments on defense and special teams. Arron Mosby has playing experience and could be in consideration as well.
LBs Kristian Welch, Jamon Dumas-Johnson
Welch is fighting with Isaiah Simmons for the fifth linebacker spot. If nobody signs him elsewhere like last year, there’s good reason to keep him for special team purposes. Dumas-Johnson is a developmental player.
DBs Micah Robinson, Corey Ballentine, Johnathan Baldwin, Jaylin Simpson
Ballentine and Kamal Hadden are still battling for a spot on the active roster. Baldwin had a tough preseason, but his guarantees indicate the Packers see upside on him. Simpson was a fifth-round pick last year and arrived in Green Bay this past week, so he deserves more time to show what he’s got.
K Mark McNamee (IPP)
McNamee hasn’t been good, but he doesn’t count towards the PS limit as a member of the International Pathway Program. If Alex Hale gets healthy during the season, it’s possible that they make the switch.
