It's the most heartbreaking day on the NFL calendar. With training camp and the preseason now in the books, the Green Bay Packers have one final hurdle to clear before beginning their 2026 campaign: Roster cutdown day.
By 5 p.m. CT on August 30, the Packers must trim their roster from 90 players to 53. General manager Brian Gutekunst could have sleepless nights as he puts the finishing touches on the initial roster. It requires some big decisions.
Most of the roster writes itself, but it's those final positions that come down to fine margins. Three Packers, in particular, may have fallen just short, with their stock plummeting at the wrong time.
3 Packers whose roster spots are fading before cutdown day
Darian Kinnard, T
Darian Kinnard started four games for the Packers last season as the primary backup to tackles Rasheed Waker and Zach Bako-Bewele.
The veteran has completely fallen out of favor on the depth chart this summer. He played deep into the preseason finale on Friday night, a role reserved only for those on the roster bubble. Anthony Belton is the projected swing tackle this season, while second-year John Williams may have also moved ahead of Kinnard.
Any remaining hopes likely faded against the Arizona Cardinals. Per Pro Football Focus, Kinnard allowed a sack and a pressure in the preseason finale, receiving a team-low pass-block grade of 29.2.
Jordan Morgan and Bako-Bewele will start at tackle, with Belton and Williams likely next up. The writing is on the wall for Kinnard.
Drake Dabney, TE
Injuries have decimated the Packers' tight end room this summer, which opened the door for Drake Dabney to take the TE3 spot.
Then the Packers signed former Pro Bowler Jonnu Smith, which changes the calculus significantly. He will take the No. 2 job behind Tucker Kraft, who is now 100 percent and ready for a full-time role after recovering from a torn ACL. Josh Whyle has enjoyed a good summer as a backup option, and he'll move into the TE3 spot.
It likely leaves Dabney on the outside looking in.
He didn't help his chances in the final preseason game, either. Dabney caught one pass for four yards and struggled in pass protection. Per PFF, he allowed a QB hit and a pressure on just four pass-block snaps.
Domani Jackson, CB
The Packers don't usually cut draft picks so soon, but a year on the practice squad might be exactly what sixth-round rookie Domani Jackson needs.
Jackson was already behind the eight ball after missing time due to a core muscle injury that required surgery in the offseason. His performance against the Cardinals couldn't have gone much worse. He gave up five catches, including a 41-yard touchdown, and missed two tackles.
Second-round rookie Brandon Cisse is already a starter alongside Keisean Nixon, and the Packers have plenty of experience with Carrington Valentine and Benjamin St-Juste.
Gutekunst likes to keep his draft picks on the 53-man roster, but Jackson likely needs a year of development. He hasn't looked ready to play meaningful snaps.
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