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It's been a long time since we've done a 53-man roster projection, so I figure now is as good of a time as any. The Green Bay Packers play their final preseason game of the year tomorrow, then will be forced to cut down to 53 players less than 24 hours later. A lot has changed since we did our site roster projection, as PA noted two days ago.
Injuries, as well as the signing of Cedric Benson and Reggie Wells have thrown a wrench in things. Below the jump, my guess at what the Packers' active 53-man roster is going to look like come Friday night.
QBs: Aaron Rodgers, Graham Harrell, B.J. Coleman
HBs: Cedric Benson, James Starks, Alex Green
FBs: John Kuhn
WRs: Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, James Jones, Randall Cobb, Donald Driver
TEs: Jermichael Finley, Tom Crabtree, D.J. Williams, Ryan Taylor
OL: Marshall Newhouse, T.J. Lang, Jeff Saturday, Josh Sitton, Bryan Bulaga, Derek Sherrod, Evan Dietrich-Smith, Andrew Datko
DL: B.J. Raji, Ryan Pickett, Jerel Worthy, Mike Daniels, Daniel Muir, C.J. Wilson
OLBs: Clay Matthews, Nick Perry, Erik Walden, Dezman Moses, Brad Jones, Jamari Lattimore
ILBs: A.J. Hawk, D.J. Smith, Robert Francois, Terrell Manning
CBs: Tramon Williams, Jarrett Bush, Sam Shields, Davon House, Casey Hayward
Safeties: Charles Woodson, Morgan Burnett, Anthony Levine, M.D. Jennings, Jerron McMillian
Special Teams: Mason Crosby, Tim Masthay, Brett Goode
Explanations on everyone who just missed out:
Diondre Borel - If he has a huge game on special teams on Thursday, he might sneak onto the team.
Tori Gurley - In a similar situation to Borel. I could see one of the two, but not both, making the team primarily as a special teams player.
Jarrett Boykin - The real deal, or this year's Chastin West? I can't tell, but he was an excellent college player, so maybe his performance this summer is indicative of a great future. Unfortunately, the Packers have five roster locks at WR, and the other two fringe WRs have experience on special teams.
Brandon Saine - Injuries and the signing of Cedric Benson killed him. I don't see the team taking four running backs.
Phillip Merling - A big final game could get him onto the team, but he appears to be well behind C.J. Wilson at the moment.
Vic So'oto - His downfall is Desmond Bishop's injury. Both Lattimore and Jones can play inside linebacker.
Don Barclay - I could see the team putting Derek Sherrod on the PUP list and giving his roster spot to Barclay.
Reggie Wells - I can absolutely see the team going with one less linebacker than I have projected and taking Wells. I can also see the team taking two quarterbacks and hoping Coleman lands on their practice squad. My last decision when making this was between Coleman, Jones and Wells, and he's effectively my 54th man.
Your thoughts? I'm sure you have plenty.
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