Packers: 3 roster bubble players to watch at training camp
Three players on the Green Bay Packers roster bubble to watch at training camp.
With the start of training camp less than a month away, plenty of Green Bay Packers will be fighting for roster spots.
Here are three players on the bubble who are worth watching this summer.
Jason Spriggs
Spriggs, selected in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft, was the product of a rare trade-up by Ted Thompson. Entering his third season, he has thus far not come close to meeting expectations.
Scouts valued Spriggs’ footwork, lower body strength, and overall athleticism coming out of Indiana as a four-year starter. It wasn’t immediately obvious where Spriggs could fit into the Packers’ plans on the offensive line, but Josh Sitton, T.J. Lang, and David Bakhtiari were all on the final years of their contracts in 2016. It was expected that Spriggs would likely find himself starting somewhere on the line in 2017.
That, obviously, hasn’t panned out. He tore his hamstring in Week 1 last season, went on injured reserve for nine weeks, and then dislocated his kneecap in Week 16 after starting four games at right tackle due to Bryan Bulaga’s torn ACL. Though not a complete disaster, he was inconsistent and often struggled in both run blocking and pass protection in his time on the field.
Though it’s possible, Bulaga will have a hard time being ready for Week 1. That probably leaves Spriggs, 29-year-old free agent signee Byron Bell, and fellow 2016 draft pick Kyle Murphy competing for the starting role during training camp. Rookie Cole Madison and second-year pro Adam Pankey will likely play some snaps at tackle during camp as well.
The Packers are historically very hesitant to release young, highly drafted players. But the signing of Bell means that Spriggs is firmly on the bubble.
The Packers are likely to keep three or four backups on the offensive line. Murphy, Bell, Madison, Pankey, Lucas Patrick, Kofi Amichia, and Dillon Day will be the primary competitors for those spots.
If Bulaga begins the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list, Spriggs will likely make the opening 53-man roster. But he’ll need to show significant improvement to stick around if/when Bulaga returns.