The Green Bay Packers’ training camp kicks off in just a few weeks! More specifically, the Packers first practice is scheduled for July 23rd. Oh boy, it’ll be here before ya know it! Because training camp is coming up so fast, let’s take a look and focus in on each side of the ball and what to expect out of training camp.
This week, we’ll start with the offense.
The offense started fairly fast in Brazil last season just before Jordan Love was injured at the end of the game. After that injury, the offense wasn’t as potent as it was toward the end of 2023. I’m not going to use the Jordan Love injury as the one reason for the dip in production. The wide receivers that everyone was hyped about didn’t necessarily perform. Green Bay was third in the most dropped passes in the NFL. Is it any coincidence that the Eagles, the Super Bowl champions, had the fewest drops?
But I digress.
Not only will we take a look at each side of the ball but we are going to project the initial 53-man roster.
Since 2017, when Brian Gutekunst took over as general manager, the Packers have averaged keeping 24.75 offensive players. This means that more often than not, Gutey will keep more defensive players than offensive. Last year was no different, since the Packers kept 24 players on offense.
Training Camp Quarterbacks
The Packers quarterback room has four players, which is one more than last season at this time! Sean Clifford, Malik Willis, Taylor Elgersma, and Jordan Love make up that quarterback room.
Considering history, the Packers, since 2017, have kept an average of 2.26 quarterbacks on their 53-man roster. This would mean that more than likely Green Bay will only have two quarterbacks make their roster. With players being able to be called up three times from the practice squad, I believe the days of teams having three quarterbacks on the initial roster will be much rarer than in times past.
So, the quarterbacks that will most likely make the roster are Jordan Love and Malik Willis. This of course could change. If a team finds themselves in need of a quarterback due to injury, I could see a trade for Malik Willis. But for the Packers to accept this, they will have to believe in either Sean Clifford or Taylor Elgersma.
Which brings me to the main competition with the quarterbacks: Sean Clifford vs. Taylor Elgersma. The winner of this battle likely gets the practice squad spot while the other will have to move on. This could quickly become the backup quarterback role if the Packers randomly trade Malik Willis.
Running Backs
Green Bay has six running backs on their 90-man roster. Green Bay normally keeps three running backs on their roster after cut downs. They have averaged 3.25 running backs on their initial roster since 2017 and last year they kept three. I would expect there to still be three if they believe they can keep Emmanuel Wilson or Chris Brooks on the practice squad.
The Packers running backs are quite interesting. Josh Jacobs was absolutely elite for Green Bay last season and was a workhorse. Green Bay’s offensive line struggled, to say the least, in opening up running lanes, and yet Jacobs still was top five in rushing yards and made the pro bowl.
But Jacobs wasn’t the only stud in the backfield. Emmanuel Wilson ran for over 500 yards. Chris Brooks wasn’t a push over, either, and performed well on third down situations. On top of those two’s great play, we didn’t get to see much out of MarShawn Lloyd who was injured most of the season.
Lloyd, in last season’s training camp, at times looked like the best running back on the team according to many sources. The Packers running game last season took center stage after Love’s injury. I expect Green Bay to continue that with this stable of running backs.
I believe Josh Jacobs, MarShawn Lloyd, and Emmanuel Wilson will be the three running backs to make the initial 53-man with Chris Brooks making the practice squad. But that really depends on who wins that third spot between Wilson and Brooks.
Training Camp Wide Receivers
The wide receiver room is a little full currently. There are twelve receivers on the Packers roster. Green Bay historically only has six receivers on the initial roster, like they did last year. That means only half of these players will make the team. I guess it’ll be a little more than half since Christian Watson will start the season on IR. But who makes this team at wideout will be interesting to see for sure.
The rookies have a spot on the roster. So Savion Williams and Matthew Golden will make the team. That’s two. Jayden Reed is probably the most dynamic receiver on the team and is also going to receive a spot. That’s three. Romeo Doubs, unless a trade takes place, makes four. The fifth spot will go to Dontayvion Wicks, whom I believe the Packers still very much believe in.
That’ll leave just one spot for the rest, which I believe will be a battle between Malik Heath, Mecole Hardman, and Bo Melton. With Melton’s versatility – I mean the dude has been playing cornerback, wide receiver, and running back during OTA’s and mini camp – I believe he will be the sixth. The others will hopefully come back on the practice squad.
Tight Ends
I think this might be the least competitive position group in this year’s training camp.
Tucker Kraft has all-pro written all over him after last year’s breakout season. Luke Musgrave is still extremely talented and can be a great seam weapon. Those two have a spot on the roster.
There are six tight ends on the roster, and – oh yeah – only three will make the team. Messiah Swinson, Ben Sims, Johnny Lumpkin, and John FitzPatrick will compete for that third spot, and I think Ben Sims has a big lead.
Finally, Offensive Line
Green Bay has averaged 9.62 offensive linemen on their 53-man roster since 2017. So more often than not, the Packers have kept ten on their roster. Last year was no different when they kept ten.
Quick breakdown: the Packers are likely to keep either 24 or 25 offensive players. We currently have two quarterbacks, three running backs, six wide receivers, and three tight ends. That is fourteen of the 24 to 25 spots. I doubt they keep 11 offensive linemen, so either they will go with ten linemen or they keep an additional running or tight end.
So, let’s say they keep ten. Jordan Morgan, Rasheed Walker, Zach Tom, Elgton Jenkins, Sean Rhyan, Aaron Banks, and Anthony Belton are guaranteed. That’ll leave just just three spots left out of eight remaining players. Travis Glover, Jacob Monk, and Donovan Jennings probably have the edge currently, but I could be wrong. We will see.
The other thing of note is that the competition will be fierce amongst this group. Last season, Rasheed Walker and Sean Rhyan were mainstays on the offensive line, but now they have challengers for their spots. They’ll have to win in training camp if they want to maintain their spots.
It should be interesting.
The Most Interesting Competition Is…
But not as interesting as this other position group. On the offensive side of the ball, the competition that is most interesting to me heading into training camp 2025 is that of the wide receivers.
The play by the receiving group last year quite simply wasn’t good enough. There is no doubt in my mind that is why the Packers drafted a receiver in the first and third rounds. This receiving group will look different in 2025 and may look completely different in 2026. There is a chance that the Packers will move on from one of their top guys from last year as early as this training camp.
Like I said, there are six spots open and the two rookies are guaranteed a spot. Jayden Reed is also guaranteed a spot. However, I hesitate when I get to Romeo Doubs’ name. Is he a true lock for this team or could a wide receiver-needy team try and trade for him? Would the Packers let him go?
These are the reasons why I believe that the wide receiver position is the most interesting spot heading into this year’s training camp.
As always,
Go Pack Go!
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Damon is a diehard, fully-immersed cheesehead who currently lives in southern Missouri. He teaches at a local high school and has a family YouTube channel about all things Packers. You can follow him on twitter at @packersfamily and on YouTube at The Packers Family.
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The post Training Camp Primer ’25: Focus on the Packers Offense! first appeared on PackersTalk.com Blog Posts and Podcasts.