Packers 53-man roster predictions following preseason opener

Tight ends (4)

Jimmy Graham, Robert Tonyan, Jace Sternberger, Marcedes Lewis

Not much has changed at the tight end position. Right now, it’s hard to imagine the Packers won’t keep four tight ends as it would be difficult to cut any of them.

Jimmy Graham and Marcedes Lewis were both rested on Thursday evening, while rookie Jace Sternberger didn’t play due to an injury he suffered at practice earlier in the week.

Robert Tonyan did play, however, and he finished with a 23-yard reception. There’s something about Tonyan making one great catch in a game. Tonyan continues to show why he can play an important role in Matt LaFleur’s offense, and he may even do so as the number two tight end to start the season.

In Thursday’s game, Evan Baylis caught one pass for 12 yards, and Pharoah McKever had one target but zero receptions.

There are a number of positional battles taking place this summer, but the Packers look set with their top four tight ends. The only competition will be to determine who is the backup behind Jimmy Graham. But that won’t matter too much, as all four players will be important to this offense in 2019.

The only real question moving forward is whether LaFleur wants Graham or Lewis to play in any of the remaining three preseason games.