Packers: Projecting the wide receivers that will make the 53-man roster

It’s hard to believe that the Green Bay Packers’ season opener is less than two weeks away.

Before the Packers take the field at Lambeau for week one, they will need to cut down their roster to 53 players. They  currently have 87 players on their active roster.

So from today until Sep. 2 at 4 p.m. ET, the Packers will need to part ways with numerous players that weren’t impressive enough during training camp to make the roster. The roster deadline being on a Saturday is the reason why the Packers are playing their final preseason game on a Thursday night.

The wide receiver position battle continues to be one of the hottest topics covered during Packers training camp.

I believe Packers general manager Ted Thompson and company will have seven wide receivers on their 53-man roster for their season opener against Seattle.

Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, and Davante Adams are obviously making the active roster.

Trevor Davis will be joining them. Yes, he still has a bit of room to improve as a true offensive threat. However, his potential to become a dangerous weapon on special teams is enough to make the Packers hang on to him. He did fumble a punt in Washington, but Davis’ positives outweigh his negatives in terms of the return game.

Jeff Janis will also be wearing the green and gold in Week 1 when the Seahawks visit Lambeau Field. The ‘People’s Champ’ once again has done just enough in the preseason to force the Packers to hang on to him. Hopefully his offensive production will go up this year. Janis could become an offensive weapon if continues to break ankles due to his route-running like he did against Philadelphia earlier this preseason.

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Now we get onto the five rookies competing for a couple spots.

Undrafted receiver Montay Crockett is likely to be cut. In a competition for a job like this, not standing out is one of the worst things that you can do. Crockett really didn’t show many flashes of potential during the preseason, and this will hurt him when the Packers need to make roster cuts.

Undrafted rookie Max McCaffrey has been impressive throughout the preseason and training camp, but is it enough to get him a spot on the 53-man roster? Probably not. He’s likely to end up on the practice squad.

I believe the Packers will keep rookies Malachi Dupre and DeAngelo Yancey. This makes the position seven-deep. Both rookies have had relatively quiet preseasons, but since McCaffrey really has not done much in games, rather than in practice, the draft picks get the benefit of the doubt over the undrafted rookie.

When Geronimo Allison comes back from a suspension in Week 2, it’s a possibility that either Dupre or Yancey are sent to the practice squad.

Michael Clark, a 6-foot-6 undrafted rookie has also made his case. He scored in the inaugural preseason game against the Eagles, and has been a force in training camp practices.

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Clark seems to be destined for a spot on the practice squad due to the already-crowded Packers receiving corp. If he ends up on the practice squad, don’t be surprised if another team picks him up and puts him on their active roster.

Which wide receivers do you think will make the Packers’ 53-man roster?