Breaking down the Packers' initial 53-man roster for the 2023 season

Roster cuts have come and gone and as a result, we have the Green Bay Packers' initial 53-man roster for the 2023 season. Now, it's important to remember that this roster is nowhere even close to set in stone. A perfect way to back that up is the fact that the Packers reportedly will re-sign […]

Evan Winter — NFL Managing Editor

Aug 29, 2023 4:32 PM EDT

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) and running back Patrick Taylor (27) react after a Christian Watson (9) touchdown reception against Seattle Seahawks' during their preseason football game Saturday, August 26, 2023, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Green Bay defeated Seattle 19-15. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Roster cuts have come and gone and as a result, we have the Green Bay Packers' initial 53-man roster for the 2023 season.

Now, it's important to remember that this roster is nowhere even close to set in stone. A perfect way to back that up is the fact that the Packers reportedly will re-sign longsnapper Matt Orzech back to the 53-man roster on Wednesday after they place a player on short-term IR.

So, while a good portion of these jobs are locked up, there are still a couple that could open up by the end of Wednesday. Note: Players with a single asterisk (*) are 2023 draft picks and players with double asterisks (**) are 2023 undrafted free agents.

Quarterback (2)

IN: Jordan Love, Sean Clifford*
OUT: Alex McGough

The skinny: This was pretty obvious. The NFL's new third quarterback rule is vastly overblown and teams likely won't utilize it until later in the season when the injuries start to pile up.

Love is the obvious starter, while Clifford showed a ton of potential during the preseason. If the Packers need the rookie to step in for Love, the moment won't be too big – but he'll still have to adjust to the NFL's regular season. It won't be anywhere near the same as the preseason.

Running back (3)

IN: Aaron Jones, A.J. Dillon, Emanuel Wilson**
OUT: Lew Nichols III*, Patrick Taylor, Tyler Goodson, Nate McCrary, Henry Pearson** (FB)

The skinny: It's honestly surprising to see Wilson make the team. Matt LaFleur mentioned a need to improve his conditioning and he didn't play much on special teams and he only logged three pass blocking reps, per Pro Football Focus.

Obviously, the Packers won't need to rely on a third running back with Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon leading the way. At the same time, choosing the undrafted rookie over more experienced -and proven- guys is interesting. No matter how good Wilson looked during the preseason.

Wide receiver (6)

IN: Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed*, Samori Toure, Dontayvion Wicks*, Malik Heath**
OUT: Grant DuBose*, Deuce Watts**, Bo Melton, Dre Miller, Cody Chrest**, Jadakis Bonds**

The skinny: It was a coin-toss between Heath and DuBose and a lot of people had the Packers carrying seven receivers on the initial 53. This certainly won't be the end of DuBose. The seventh-round rookie really started to heat up once he got on the practice field and that should bode well for his future.

Tight end (3)

IN: Luke Musgrave*, Tucker Kraft*, Josiah Deguara (H-back)
OUT: Austin Allen

The skinny: If Tyler Davis didn't tear his ACL then Allen wouldn't have made the team, anyway. It's been reported that the Packers are interested in bringing him back on the practice squad, so his time with the team doesn't seem to be over.

Offensive line (11)

IN: David Bakhtiari, Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Jon Runyan Jr., Zach Tom, Rasheed Walker, Sean Rhyan, Yosh Nijman, Caleb Jones, Luke Tenuta, Royce Newman
OUT: Jean Delance, James Empey, Cole Schneider, Kadeem Telfort

The skinny: The Packers have a ton of reserve tackles, but they didn't have much interior depth outside of Sean Rhyan. Even with Zach Tom's ability to play center or guard. So, it makes sense for them to carry Newman. Per reports, Tenuta will go on IR Wednesday, so he'll miss the first four games of the year, at minimum. That will open up the roster spot needed to re-sign longsnapper, Matt Orzech.

Defensive line (6)

IN: Kenny Clark, T.J. Slaton, Devonte Wyatt, Karl Brooks*, Colby Wooden*, Jonathan Ford
OUT: Antonio Moultrie**, Chris Slayton, Jason Lewan**

The skinny: I had Ford not making final cuts, but it makes sense to carry him on the 53. The Packers defense needs a true nose tackle behind T.J. Slaton in case any injury were to occur. Without a backup, the Packers run defense would be extremely susceptible due to lack of size in the middle.

Outside linebacker (6)

IN: Preston Smith, Rashan Gary, Lukas Van Ness*, JJ Enagbare, Justin Hollins, Brenton Cox Jr.**
OUT: Arron Mosby**, Keshawn Banks**, Kenneth Odumegwu

The skinny: It's going to be very interesting to see how the Packers manage the playing time between these six guys. Regardless, the pass rush unit is one of the NFL's best and deepest units.

Inside linebacker (5)

IN: De'Vondre Campbell, Quay Walker, Eric Wilson, Isaiah McDuffie, Tariq Carpenter
OUT: Marvin Pierre**, Jimmy Phillips Jr.**

The skinny: No surprise, here. It's been clear the Packers want Carpenter on the 53, or else they would've let him continue to compete in a crowded safety room. The team loves what he can do on special teams, which is the main reason why he survived cuts.

Cornerback (4)

IN: Jaire Alexander, Rasul Douglas, Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine*
OUT: Innis Gaines, Kiondre Thomas, Shemar Jean-Charles, William Hooper**, Corey Ballentine, Tyrell Ford, Elijah Hamilton

The skinny: Eric Stokes will officially start the season on PUP, so the Packers cornerback room isn't as small as it seems. Ballentine, SJC, and possibly Gaines should all be on the practice squad, so the Packers will have guys to call on in case someone goes down before Stokes returns.

Safety (5)

IN: Darnell Savage, Jonathan Owens, Rudy Ford, Dallin Leavitt, Anthony Johnson Jr.*
OUT: Tarvarius Moore, Benny Sapp III**

The skinny: Moore will be released with an injury settlement, which means he'll sit for however many weeks/games dictated by the agreement. There's certainly a chance where he can re-join the team on the practice squad or even the 53 – depending on what happens between now and then.

Moore's release opens up the door for Johnson Jr., who really turned it up throughout the preseason. It was assumed, for the most part, that everyone else would make the initial 53.

Special Teams (2)

IN: Anders Carlson (K), Daniel Whelan (P)
OUT: Broughton Hatcher**, Pat O'Donnell, Matt Orzech

The skinny: Whelan beat out O'Donnell and should be the first Irish-born player since 1985 to play in the NFL. Orzech will be added back onto the Packers' 53-man roster after the waiver period ends at 12pm ET on Wednesday, per multiple reports.

Per the team's website, the following players were released or waived with an injury designation:

RB Lew Nichols
RB Tyler Goodson
S Tarvarius Moore
LS Broughton Hatcher

Honestly, the biggest surprise of the Packers' roster cuts is O'Donnell. Even if the Packers are in a "youth movement", it's surprising to see them let go of a veteran who can hit big kicks, accurate kicks, and can hold the ball effectively. Whelan has zero real-game experience with all of the above, so the decision can certainly be chalked up as a risk. If the Packers don't add another punter, obviously, (and it doesn't seem like they will).

It's going to be a lot of fun keeping tabs on the roster's growth over the next few months. If it can mirror what it did in the preseason, then 2023 will definitely be a fun year for the Packers.