Latest news with #Brian Gutekunst
Yahoo
03-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Way-too-early Packers 17-man practice squad prediction includes a QB surprise and some brutally tough roster decisions
Way-too-early Packers 17-man practice squad prediction includes a QB surprise and some brutally tough roster decisions originally appeared on A to Z Sports. The training camp starts for the Green Bay Packers in two weeks. Before that, it's hard to precisely project everything that will happen over the course of the next two months, until general manager Brian Gutekunst has to round out the 53-man roster and the 17-man practice squad. However, it's already viable to make some analysis without definitive make this exercise of the 17-man roster practice squad, there are some reasonable premises. First, we used our own 53-man roster projection to see who will or won't be available. Second, we are not considering scenarios where other teams claim Packers players off waivers, because that would take it too far. Also, the 17th practice squad spot is reserved to a member of the International Pathway Program, and the Packers' player with that designation is Australian kicker Alex Hale. Quarterback competition Currently, the third-string quarterback is former fifth-round pick Sean Clifford, who spent his rookie year on the active roster and almost all of last season on the PS. However, the Packers did bring competition by signing Canadian undrafted rookie Taylor Elgersma. The rookie has a higher ceiling and a stronger arm. Because the Packers have a comfortable backup situation with Malik Willis, it makes sense to keep a player with better tools to develop, and not necessarily a high-ceiling reserve. So, Elgersma is the option here. Skill position pieces Bo Melton got in, but he also has a realistic chance of making the 53-man roster once again—especially with his versatility to play special teams and even defense as a cornerback. Cornelius Johnson had some flashes and probably jumped over Julian Hicks for another wide receiver running backs, Chris Brooks is another solid candidate to make the team, but the competition is hard. He's the perfect veteran type to have on the PS and elevate for gamedays whenever it's needed. The other running back would be Amar Johnson, an undrafted rookie with developmental potential. The tight end option is Ben Sims, who doesn't bring the same value as John FitzPatrick on special teams, but is a viable backup offensive piece. Offensive line development The Packers have invested a lot in the offensive line throughout Brian Gutekunst's tenure as a GM, and you can see the results on the team's depth. Even if the Packers decide to keep 10 offensive linemen on the 53-man roster, which they have done in the past, there will be good options this exercise, we decided to maintain three linemen on the practice squad, and all of them have developmental potential. Last year's sixth-round pick Travis Glover failed to play at a good level at guard, but he's a tackle. Donovan Jennings may be a surprising name on the active roster and had reps with the ones in the minicamp. Meanwhile, the third name is undrafted rookie guard Tyler Cooper. Defensive front Nose tackle Nazir Stackhouse is the undrafted player with the highest chance of making the roster, but it's still a hard proposition. On the edge, Arron Mosby has significant experience and spent last year on the active roster, with real playing time down the stretch, after Preston Smith got traded. At linebacker, two players with two different profiles. Jamon Dumas-Johnson is a developmental rookie with a higher ceiling, while Kristian Welch is an established veteran with special teams acumen. Secondary full of talent The Packers don't have big answers at cornerback on the top of the depth chart, but Gutekunst made sure to have bodies to compete for roster spots. This means someone won't make it, and the practice squad will be there for them. Last year's seventh-round pick Kalen King and this year's seventh-round pick Micah Robinson are some of the options, considering they lose the battle to Kamal Hadden. Cornerback/safety hybrid Johnathan Baldwin is also a great PS alternative due to his versatility, and the Packers guaranteed him $115k as an undrafted free agent. Full 17-man practice squad projection QB Taylor Elgersma RB Chris Brooks RB Amar Johnson WR Cornelius Johnson WR Bo Melton TE Ben Sims T Travis Glover G Donovan Jennings G Tyler Cooper DT Nazir Stackhouse EDGE Arron Mosby LB Kristian Welch LB Jamon Dumas-Johnson CB Kalen King CB Micah Robinson CB Johnathan Baldwin K Alex Hale (IPP)View the to see embedded media. This story was originally reported by A to Z Sports on Jul 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
03-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Packers hope one key move creates a domino effect that finally unlocks a position group that underperformed last season
Packers hope one key move creates a domino effect that finally unlocks a position group that underperformed last season originally appeared on A to Z Sports. There's always a difference between what a general manager says and what he really thinks. That's basically part of his job description. Right after picking Matthew Golden in the first round of the draft three months ago, the first wide receiver selected in the first round by the Green Bay Packers since 2002, Brian Gutekunst said the team didn't need to add players to the room."I really didn't think we needed to at all," he affirmed. Well, they did. First, because the wide receiver group was extremely disappointing in 2024, leading (in a bad sense) the NFL in mistakes. Second, because only Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks had contracts beyond 2025. Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Mecole Hardman, and Malik Heath are all in contract seasons in 2025."Certainly it's nice when you add as much talent and competition to that room as we can," Gutekunst added. "I felt really good about our room prior, and if we would've gone in a different direction, I would've had no problem doing that. We had a couple guys on the board that we really, really liked, and he won us over. Not only because of his play on the field, but who [Matthew Golden] was."This is another article in our positional breakdown series for the Packers ahead of the 2025 season. View the to see embedded media. Why the Packers added to the WR room With Golden, and third-round pick Savion Williams to a lesser extent, the Packers are trying to create an offensive domino effect. If the first-rounder established himself as a de facto WR1, it allowed Reed to be a productive WR2 in the slot, Doubs can be a role WR3 in the X, Wicks is a good separator coming from the bench, and Watson can be an explosive deep threat as soon as he returns from not a given that everything will happen from the jump, but that's why they took a polished receiver in the first round. Even though Golden is smaller, the team perceives an ability to play outside, which makes it viable for the Packers to use Golden and Reed on the field at the same time."Versatility is always great," Gutekunst mentioned. "With the way Matt (LaFleur) and his staff are able to be creative and use these guys, that gives me a lot of flexibility with what I'm looking at too. They do such a good job of scheming some of these guys up, and using them to their best ability. It does make it easier for me. So we don't feel like we have to do this, or we have to do that, Matt and his staff will find a way to make these guys productive and fit them into what they're trying to do. The guys on our offensive staff are pretty fired up right now." Depth chart expectations Besides Golden and Williams and barring a trade, Doubs, Reed, and Wicks are locks to make the 53-man roster and will be an important part of the rotation. Watson is in a more complicated situation, because he tore his ACL on January 5. Presumably, he will start the regular season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, missing at least four games—that means he doesn't count towards the 53-man roster early teams keep something between five and seven wide receivers on the team. Therefore, the other six receivers will battle for one, maybe two roster spots, plus two or three at most on the practice frontrunners are Mecole Hardman, the only veteran addition to the group, and holdover Malik Heath. Bo Melton, who added more value to his profile practicing at cornerback during the offseason program, was moved to the defense for the training camp but could play some offense as well. The other names on the 90-man roster are Julian Hicks and Cornelius Johnson, who spent most of last season on the PS, and undrafted rookie Samuel Brown. Right before camp, the Packers also added rookie Will three years without a real WR1, and saying out loud they didn't need one, the Packers felt the need to make it happen after seeing how last season shook out. It's good to have multiple and versatile pieces, but it's better when their roles are not bigger than their the to see embedded media. This story was originally reported by A to Z Sports on Jul 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Packers' Elgton Jenkins dealing with back issue while adapting to position switch
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Now that Green Bay has signed right tackle Zach Tom to a lucrative contract extension, the focus on the Packers' offensive line shifts to veteran guard-turned-center Elgton Jenkins. Jenkins was present for the Packers' first training camp workout Wednesday but didn't participate in drills as he recovers from what general manager Brian Gutekunst described as a back issue that has the 29-year-old on the non-football injury list. Jenkins also was present but didn't practice at the Packers' mandatory minicamp last month after skipping the Packers' organized team activities. The Packers plan to move Jenkins from left guard to center as he enters the third season of the four-year, $68 million extension he signed in December 2022. ESPN reported that Jenkins skipped OTAs because of concerns about how his position switch might impact his future earnings. 'Elgton hasn't missed anything mandatory for us,' Gutekunst said. 'He's here and he's working through a back thing. Contractually, listen, there's all kind of guys on our team and throughout the National Football League that would like different circumstances with that, so that's normal. It's just a part of the National Football League, but Elgton's always done right by us. We've always done right by him.' Gutekunst was asked directly if he expects Jenkins to start practicing once he's recovered from his back problem. 'Yeah, absolutely,' Gutekunst replied. The Packers want Jenkins to fill the vacancy at center that was created when Josh Myers, who started 56 games over the past four seasons, signed with the New York Jets. The Packers signed former San Francisco 49ers lineman Aaron Banks to a four-year, $77 million contract and plan to start him at left guard, where Jenkins had made 67 starts and earned Pro Bowl honors in 2020 and 2022. Green Bay's offensive line also figures to include either incumbent starter Rasheed Walker or 2024 first-round pick Jordan Morgan at left tackle, Sean Rhyan at right guard and Tom at right tackle. Tom signed a four-year, $88 million contract extension earlier this week. 'Obviously, it feels good to know that the team believes in me and knows what I can do in the future,' Tom said. 'It's also a testament to everybody that's been there for me in the past, my coaches, family, teammates, friends. Just everybody. Yeah, I'm excited for sure.' The Packers believe Jenkins' versatility should make him an ideal fit at center. He has started games at every offensive line position other than right guard in the NFL, including four at center. He primarily played center during his college career at Mississippi State. But the Packers acknowledge they'd like to have him working out at center and snapping the ball to Jordan Love as much as possible over the next couple of months so that they've established some cohesiveness by the start of the season. 'Once he gets back from injury, it'll be great to have him back out there because it's one of those things you want to be feeling as comfortable as possible and get as many banked reps in with our relationship and make sure there's no issues with snaps, no balls on the ground, things like that,' Love said. 'So (it will) definitely be nice to get him back out there.' NOTES: Former Denver Broncos head coach and New York Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett was at Packers camp Wednesday to consult with Green Bay's defense, playing the same advisory role that former Jets coach Robert Saleh had in helping out Green Bay's offense last year. Hackett was the Packers' offensive coordinator from 2019-21. … Gutekunst said wide receiver Bo Melton will primarily work at cornerback during training camp, continuing a process that began in minicamp. That transition includes a change in uniform number, from No. 80 to No. 16. … Gutekunst said linebacker Quay Walker is 'probably a week or so away' from practicing after undergoing a 'cleanup' on his ankle in the offseason. … The opening day of training camp also marked the unveiling of the Packers' new locker room. 'It's amazing,' running back Josh Jacobs said. 'It's a lot different, man. It just makes coming to work, even on them harder days, it makes it feel not as hard. You're coming into something where you feel comfortable.' ___ AP NFL:
Washington Post
23-07-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Packers' Elgton Jenkins dealing with back issue while adapting to position switch
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Now that Green Bay has signed right tackle Zach Tom to a lucrative contract extension, the focus on the Packers' offensive line shifts to veteran guard-turned-center Elgton Jenkins. Jenkins was present for the Packers' first training camp workout Wednesday but didn't participate in drills as he recovers from what general manager Brian Gutekunst described as a back issue that has the 29-year-old on the non-football injury list. Jenkins also was present but didn't practice at the Packers' mandatory minicamp last month after skipping the Packers' organized team activities.
Associated Press
23-07-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Packers' Elgton Jenkins dealing with back issue while adapting to position switch
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Now that Green Bay has signed right tackle Zach Tom to a lucrative contract extension, the focus on the Packers' offensive line shifts to veteran guard-turned-center Elgton Jenkins. Jenkins was present for the Packers' first training camp workout Wednesday but didn't participate in drills as he recovers from what general manager Brian Gutekunst described as a back issue that has the 29-year-old on the non-football injury list. Jenkins also was present but didn't practice at the Packers' mandatory minicamp last month after skipping the Packers' organized team activities. The Packers plan to move Jenkins from left guard to center as he enters the third season of the four-year, $68 million extension he signed in December 2022. ESPN reported that Jenkins skipped OTAs because of concerns about how his position switch might impact his future earnings. 'Elgton hasn't missed anything mandatory for us,' Gutekunst said. 'He's here and he's working through a back thing. Contractually, listen, there's all kind of guys on our team and throughout the National Football League that would like different circumstances with that, so that's normal. It's just a part of the National Football League, but Elgton's always done right by us. We've always done right by him.' Gutekunst was asked directly if he expects Jenkins to start practicing once he's recovered from his back problem. 'Yeah, absolutely,' Gutekunst replied. The Packers want Jenkins to fill the vacancy at center that was created when Josh Myers, who started 56 games over the past four seasons, signed with the New York Jets. The Packers signed former San Francisco 49ers lineman Aaron Banks to a four-year, $77 million contract and plan to start him at left guard, where Jenkins had made 67 starts and earned Pro Bowl honors in 2020 and 2022. Green Bay's offensive line also figures to include either incumbent starter Rasheed Walker or 2024 first-round pick Jordan Morgan at left tackle, Sean Rhyan at right guard and Tom at right tackle. Tom signed a four-year, $88 million contract extension earlier this week. 'Obviously, it feels good to know that the team believes in me and knows what I can do in the future,' Tom said. 'It's also a testament to everybody that's been there for me in the past, my coaches, family, teammates, friends. Just everybody. Yeah, I'm excited for sure.' The Packers believe Jenkins' versatility should make him an ideal fit at center. He has started games at every offensive line position other than right guard in the NFL, including four at center. He primarily played center during his college career at Mississippi State. But the Packers acknowledge they'd like to have him working out at center and snapping the ball to Jordan Love as much as possible over the next couple of months so that they've established some cohesiveness by the start of the season. 'Once he gets back from injury, it'll be great to have him back out there because it's one of those things you want to be feeling as comfortable as possible and get as many banked reps in with our relationship and make sure there's no issues with snaps, no balls on the ground, things like that,' Love said. 'So (it will) definitely be nice to get him back out there.' NOTES: Former Denver Broncos head coach and New York Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett was at Packers camp Wednesday to consult with Green Bay's defense, playing the same advisory role that former Jets coach Robert Saleh had in helping out Green Bay's offense last year. Hackett was the Packers' offensive coordinator from 2019-21. … Gutekunst said wide receiver Bo Melton will primarily work at cornerback during training camp, continuing a process that began in minicamp. That transition includes a change in uniform number, from No. 80 to No. 16. … Gutekunst said linebacker Quay Walker is 'probably a week or so away' from practicing after undergoing a 'cleanup' on his ankle in the offseason. … The opening day of training camp also marked the unveiling of the Packers' new locker room. 'It's amazing,' running back Josh Jacobs said. 'It's a lot different, man. It just makes coming to work, even on them harder days, it makes it feel not as hard. You're coming into something where you feel comfortable.' ___ AP NFL:
