4 Packers draft picks who may be playing their last game against the Ravens
The Green Bay Packers have reached the final stop before roster reduction day. Players on the roster bubble have one last opportunity to impress the coaching staff and qualify for a spot on the 53-man roster.
It’s unclear if the Packers’ starters will play in the final preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens, but the remaining unresolved position battles, including backup quarterback and kicker, will be in the spotlight.
With time running out for the Packers to decide the winner, they have some tough decisions to make.
Many talented players will not make it into the 53-man roster, including several former draft picks.
Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt, QB
The battle for the backup quarterback will be decided in the final preseason game. Sean Clifford has played most of the second-team snaps this summer, but Michael Pratt may have finally moved ahead of him in the rankings during a joint practice with the Ravens on Thursday.
Pratt has shown his potential in training camp, but Clifford has a year of experience on offense. Both quarterbacks will need to perform much better than they did in last week’s humiliating loss in Denver. Neither was able to lead the offense to points.
It’s a battle between Clifford, a 2023 fifth-round pick, and Pratt, a 2024 seventh-round pick. One of them will back up Jordan Love, and the other might not even make the roster.
Kalen King, CB
Kalen King has made many impressive plays throughout training camp, but the Packers may not have room for him on the 53-man roster. King is likely just a slot corner in Jeff Hafley’s system, but with Keisean Nixon and Javon Bullard playing ahead of him, it seems increasingly unlikely that he won’t make the initial roster.
The moments were there, including a pick-six from Jordan Love in practice. However, King has lacked consistency, which is understandable for a seventh-round rookie. He didn’t improve his chances in last week’s preseason game. He missed two tackles and earned an overall defensive grade of 47.2, according to Pro Football Focus.
King has to make an impression against the Ravens.
Royce Newman, OL
Actions speak louder than words, and the Packers’ decision to keep Royce Newman in the game well into the fourth quarter last week says a lot. Worse, he struggled with the Broncos’ backups late in the game.
Royce Newman, playing in the fourth quarter of a preseason game, was unable to apply any pressure on this failed fourth down. Everyone else was able to apply some pressure. His man foiled it.
— Zach Kruse (@zachkruse2) 19 August 2024
Elgton Jenkins and Jordan Morgan are the Packers’ projected starting guards, with Sean Rhyan the primary backup. Rookie Jacob Monk appears to have moved ahead of Newman in the rankings, which may have cost him a spot on the roster.
