Packers: Five observations about the initial 53-man roster
By Jesse Fry
1. Only two running backs
One of the positions the Packers left themselves short on depth was at running back. With only Jamaal Williams and Ty Montgomery on the roster, the Packers are only one injury away from having to rely on someone like Randall Cobb carrying the load.
Compounding to the lack of depth is the decision to cut fullback Aaron Ripkowski. More on that in a bit.
I find it very questionable the Packers only went with two here. An injury to Devante Mays ruined his chances of making the roster.
If Akeem Judd hadn’t retired so suddenly after the second preseason game, this might have been his spot. He ran with elusiveness and showed he could finish. But Judd shocked the Packers with his decision and the team had to move on.
Yes, Aaron Jones will be back in Week 3, but Montgomery doesn’t give confidence he can stay healthy that long. Williams and Montgomery have both suffered injuries this preseason. Both seem to have avoided major injuries, but even minor issues can diminish the effectiveness of a player and linger on for weeks.
Even with the depth at receiver, I doubt the Packers would want one of their top three receivers taking snaps at running back. Especially one with Cobb’s injury history.
I expect the Packers to try and add someone here. Bo Scarbrough or Akrum Wadley would be a nice addition to the roster.