5 Packers who won't survive the rest of the 2023 season
The Green Bay Packers are at a crossroads. It's crucial to start picking up victories in the next few weeks, or any hopes of competing for a playoff berth will quickly fade.
Green Bay made the best possible start to the season, destroying the Chicago Bears before looking on course to beat the Atlanta Falcons. However, outside of a miracle fourth-quarter comeback win over the New Orleans Saints, the Packers have crashed back down to earth in recent weeks.
The Packers should listen to offers for veteran players before the trade deadline. Selling makes more sense than buying for a young team focusing on its long-term future. Adding draft capital is the way to go, especially if they move on from players not in their plans beyond this season.
Five games in, we have a good idea of which players either won't be part of the team's long-term vision or simply aren't contributing enough this season.
Whether it's via trade or by the Packers releasing them, these five players won't survive the rest of the season.
5. Malik Heath
Malik Heath overcame the odds to make the Packers' 53-man roster in the summer. He led the team in receiving during the preseason with 12 catches for 146 yards.
However, Heath hasn't been able to translate his preseason success into production in the regular season. He played around half of the snaps in Week 1 against the Chicago Bears, with a total of 50 on the season. But despite being targeted four times, Heath is yet to make a catch.
Following Christian Watson's return from injury, Heath has been a healthy scratch for the past two games.
The Packers have good depth at receiver. Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, and Samori Toure are ahead of Heath on the depth chart. Earning snaps ahead of them won't be easy.
And Green Bay could add to the room. According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the Packers are among a handful of teams that have monitored the wide receiver market before the trade deadline. They also have seventh-round rookie Grant DuBose on the practice squad.
With Heath struggling to earn snaps and factoring in the team's wide receiver depth, the Packers could move on before the end of the season to create a roster space.