Packers Roster Bubble: Underappreciated Veteran

Tyler Goodson is the explosive threat. Emanuel Wilson is the surprise star. But in the race to be the Packers’ No. 3 back, Patrick Taylor remains in the lead.

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Gone but not forgotten? How about forgotten but not gone.

That’s Patrick Taylor. In the race to be the Green Bay Packers’ No. 3 running back, Taylor – at least in the court of public opinion – is the forgotten man. Rookie Emanuel Wilson leads the NFL in rushing. Tyler Goodson is dynamic with the ball. Taylor? Well, he’s solid.

If the Packers needed a 100-yard rusher to guarantee a victory over the Bears in Week 1, they might go with Wilson. If the Packers needed to gain 10 yards on a third-down screen to clinch that Week 1 win, they might go with Goodson.

The X-factors for Taylor are that he can do everything at a credible level. That includes special teams, which will make up the bulk of any No. 3 back’s snaps. At Thursday’s practice, Taylor was a No. 1 on punt, kickoff and kickoff return. Meanwhile, Wilson was getting action with the second and third units and Goodson was working on the side alongside seventh-round rookie running back Lew Nichols as they battle back from shoulder injuries.

“I think that’s a big deal because that shows how much Rich (Bisaccia) has trust in me to do my job on all phases of special teams,” Taylor said. “That’s a big deal being able to contribute on all four special teams.”

Taylor went undrafted out of Memphis in 2019. Because of a foot injury – the same Lisfranc injury that’s kept cornerback Eric Stokes on the sideline – he spent his rookie season on the non-football injury list. Taylor played in nine games in 2021 and 14 games in 2022 for the same reason why he might be the third back at Chicago in two weeks.

Because he’s a hard-nosed runner with the ability to make a man miss, like he did on the touchdown run vs. New England that he dedicated to his late grandmother, Lillie Mae. Because he knows how to pick up the blitz. Because he’s got experience on special teams.

Patrick Taylor (Photo by Tork Mason/USA Today Sports Images)

The Packers have obvious confidence in Taylor, and Taylor has confidence that he can flourish in whatever role that’s thrust upon him.

“You definitely have to have confidence in yourself that you’re that type of guy, especially being in this league,” he said. “If you’re not confident in yourself, who’s going to be confident in you? Your parents can’t give you confidence. Your coaches can’t give you confidence. Your teammates can’t give you confidence.

“I’m confident in myself that I’m putting the stuff on tape that’s good enough to make this team.”

Saturday’s preseason finale will be the last chance for Taylor to show he’s worthy of a spot on the 53-man roster.

It will be an interesting decision. General manager Brian Gutekunst pointed to everything but running the ball when discussing the No. 3 back during training camp. On the other hand, he’s made a point of churning over the bottom of the roster.

“Focus on controlling what I can control,” Taylor said of handling Tuesday’s roster cutdown. “I can’t control what they’re thinking upstairs or anything like that. The main thing that I can control is my play on the field, whether that’s making plays on offense, making plays on special teams.

“I’m not just interviewing for the Packers. I’m interviewing for 31 other teams out there. If the opportunity presents itself where I’m here this upcoming year, then I’m happy. But if not, then I’ll be somewhere else.”

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