Who Had Bubble Burst in Packers’ Preseason Finale?
The Green Bay Packers’ preseason is over.
Lambeau Field was treated to a 19-15 victory over the Seattle Seahawks, capped off by a game-winning interception by undrafted free agent Benny Sapp III.
Jordan Love finished his preseason 21-of-33 passing with three touchdown passes, including a touchdown pass to Christian Watson on his final attempt.
The final preseason game is less about the starters, of course, and more about players fighting to make the roster.
Earlier this week, Bill Huber wrote five features on guys fighting for one of the final spots on a competitive 53-man roster. Including those players, here is who helped and hurt their case to make the roster ahead of Tuesday's roster cutdown.
Brenton Cox
Cox is perhaps the most intriguing of the undrafted free agents that Green Bay brought into camp.
He’s got a checkered past, but plenty of promise as a pass rusher.
He said before the game that he was nervous.
If he was, he didn’t play like it.
Cox didn’t sack the quarterback, but he lived in the backfield. He started his day with a tackle for loss on one of his first plays from scrimmage. Later he batted a pass in the air that fell harmlessly to the turf.
That’s the second pass Cox has deflected during preseason games. The first of which led to an interception from teammate Dallin Leavitt at Cincinnati.
The biggest thing working against Cox is the numbers game. The Packers have five outside linebackers ahead of him now that Rashan Gary is back in the fold.
Would they keep six to protect him from getting claimed by another team? Would they even need to do that? Nobody drafted him the first time, and not a lot has changed since then?
That’s one of the more intriguing storylines to watch as cutdown day approaches.
Verdict: Helped
Emanuel Wilson
Wilson is one of the best stories of camp. As a pure runner, he’s probably the best of the players vying for a third running back spot. It’s a matter of the other little things that he has struggled with at times.
Wilson feels like a good candidate for the practice squad after another good showing. He had 49 yards on 17 carries, including a 17-yard run showing off his ability in the open field.
A spot on the initial 53 feels unlikely, but with Tyler Goodson missing the last two games due to injury, a spot on the practice squad feels like it’s there for the taking.
Wilson said he felt like he was home in Green Bay. It feels likely that he’ll be asked to stick around.
Verdict: Helped
Emanuel Wilson (Photo by Jeff Hanisch/USA Today Sports Images)
Patrick Taylor
Taylor had a few nice moments. He finished with 24 yards on six carries. He had a nice carry wiped away by a Royce Newman penalty.
Taylor does everything well, even if he’s unspectacular. He’s almost what the Packers have said they’re looking for in a third running back to a tee.
“A lot of it is going to come down to what else do you have to offer,” coach Matt LaFleur said earlier in camp.
“Certainly, there has to be a certain prerequisite for your ability to run the football, but what are you doing in pass protection? What are you doing on teams? How are you catching the ball out of the backfield?" LaFleur said. "All that plays into it in determining who’s going to be that third back. And when you think about that third back, usually they bring some sort of value to teams."
Taylor continues to play special teams, and show well in pass protection.
Verdict: Helped
Grant DuBose
DuBose is healthy, and that’s probably the biggest feather in his cap at the moment. Despite starting the season on the NFI list due to a back injury, DuBose has played more in the preseason than Dontayvion Wicks, who has struggled with injuries of his own.
He finished the day with one catch for 8 yards. The receiver position has three players that are set to be major contributors. Malik Heath looks to be the team’s fourth receiver. The rest of the room could be ordered in almost any fashion from five to seven.
DuBose is on the field, and a former draft pick. Those are working in his favor.
Verdict: Helped
Innis Gaines
Gaines looked like a sure bet to make the roster before he went down with an injury earlier in camp. He returned to practice this week and played a lot on Saturday. He was a primary contributor on special teams, which helps his case, but he was beaten for a touchdown in the second quarter by Seahawks receiver Jake Bobo.
Gaines’ slot/safety versatility could help him, along with his special teams’ prowess. Today, however, was not his finest hour.
Verdict: Neutral
Anders Carlson
Carlson’s spot on the roster was not in jeopardy. LaFleur, general manager Brian Gutekunst and special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia have preached patience throughout Carlson’s rocky training camp.
Carlson’s last day before the rounds are live was as good as he's had.
The only mistake was by the field goal operation, which resulted in an extra point being blocked.
Otherwise, Carlson made his other three kicks. That included a 57-yard nuke that would have been good from at least 60. Carlson has plenty of leg. He finished the day 3-of-4. The 57-yard bomb has to be a big confidence boost as the team heads into regular season play.
Verdict: Helped
Royce Newman
Newman has started 22 games in two seasons. He was good enough to start those years, but played poorly enough to get benched both of those years, as well.
He entered camp as the first man off the bench for the team’s interior offensive line. It appears those days are over as they’ve rotated players along the interior, and Newman has played deep into the second half of each of the last two preseason games.
He was penalized twice, including a holding penalty that wiped out a nice run by Patrick Taylor.
Newman has been beaten far too often in both phases of blocking. With the surplus of offensive tackles on the roster, that could put Newman on the outside of the roster looking in.
Verdict: Hurt
Eric Wilson
Wilson is the No. 4 linebacker but he might be the team’s best special teams player if you remove Keisean Nixon from consideration. He made a tackle on the team’s first kickoff of the day, which caused a loud gasp from the crowd.
He did OK on defense, as well, which the team would only need in a pinch, but at this stage doesn’t hurt him.
Verdict: Helped
Jadakis Bonds
Bonds came up with the play of the day when he hauled in a 52-yard pass from Alex McGough on the Packers’ final drive.
That drive would finish in a touchdown to give the Packers a 19-15 lead. Bonds has made a few plays lately in camp. He’s unlikely to make the 53-man roster, but with injuries to Bo Melton and Dontayvion Wicks, he might have given himself a chance at the practice squad.
Verdict: Helped.
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