Training camp is moving at a rapid rate. The Green Bay Packers kick off their preseason against Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers in under a week, and before you know it, BAM, real football is back.
Roster cutdown day will hit us hard on August 30. There's no slow ramp-up anymore. Teams can begin the day with 90-man rosters, but they must end it with 53 players.
While the focus among fans is on which players will and won't make the Packers' roster, the team will also have an eye on roster cuts around the league.
Here are three names to watch. Each of them would fall into the "surprising cut" category, as they all have a chance of making their respective 53-man rosters. But if any of them shake free on cutdown day, the Packers should put in a waiver claim and hope for the best.
Three players the Packers could target if they become available during roster cutdowns
TE Tanner Hudson, Cincinnati Bengals
The Packers are running out of bodies at the tight end position. Tucker Kraft is back on the practice field and ramping up his reps, but that's where the good news ends.
Luke Musgrave is out indefinitely due to a neck injury. The Packers just waived Luke Lachey and RJ Maryland with injury designations. They probably would've re-signed John FitzPatrick, who performed well in a backup role last season, had he not suffered a torn Achilles in December.
The Packers may need to target the waiver wire at the end of the summer to add depth behind Kraft and Josh Whyle.
Tanner Hudson's status is worth monitoring in Cincinnati. It could come down to whether the Bengals keep four or five tight ends on their 53-man roster. If it's the former, Hudson could come into play.
Mike Gesicki tops the depth chart, although he's effectively a wide receiver in the Bengals' offense. Drew Sample and Erick All Jr. will make the roster, which could leave Hudson battling it out with seventh-round rookie Jack Endries.
Hudson would offer a ton of experience, having made 71 NFL appearances for four teams. He's a capable pass-catching tight end and could give Jordan Love another outlet behind Kraft and Whyle. Hudson has caught 77 passes over the past three seasons. In 2023, the veteran hauled in 39 of 50 targets for 352 yards and a touchdown. Not bad for a TE3.
Not-so-fun fact: Hudson did a Lambeau Leap after scoring a touchdown against the Packers last season.
RB Trey Benson, Arizona Cardinals
Trey Benson becoming a free agent would be a dream scenario for the Packers. It would make sense to trade for him before the end of training camp.
Josh Jacobs is dealing with a groin injury, while Chris Brooks remains sidelined on the non-football injury list. That leaves MarShawn Lloyd as the primary running back, and injuries have robbed him of all but one game in two seasons. Neither Jacobs nor Brooks should miss much time, but their absences serve as a warning to the Packers.
Brian Gutekunst should consider adding another running back to the mix, and Benson could fall into Green Bay's lap.
The 2024 third-round pick has fallen out of favor in Arizona, given the team's ridiculous running back depth. Third overall pick Jeremiyah Love will lead the backfield with Tyler Allgeier, with two-time Pro Bowler James Conner the clear favorite for the RB3 job.
It's why various Cardinals 53-man roster predictions have Benson missing out.
His combination of tackle-breaking power and home-run speed would make him the perfect complement for Jacobs and Lloyd in the backfield. Benson averages 4.9 yards per carry from 92 career attempts. If there's any indication that he won't make the 53, Green Bay should send a Day 3 pick to Arizona to risk losing out to another team on waivers.
RB Emanuel Wilson, Seattle Seahawks
The Packers' decision to let Emanuel Wilson walk in free agency never made much sense, especially after he signed a one-year deal worth just $1.6 million with the Seattle Seahawks.
Wilson turned 125 carries into 496 yards and three scores for the Packers last season.
Green Bay could, and the key word here is could, get an opportunity to undo that mistake and bring Wilson back. The problem is that it's out of their hands and would require Wilson not making the Seahawks' 53-man roster.
That part remains to be seen. Seattle's first-round pick Jadarian Price leads the backfield, leaving Wilson to compete with George Holani for backup duties while Zach Charbonnet is sidelined. According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, Charbonnet could be ready to return from a knee injury by Week 1, but it will be a "close call."
Wilson has a good chance of making the Seahawks' 53-man roster, but the Packers should monitor the running back situation in Seattle.
Add us as a preferred source on Google