The NFL preseason can be an interesting time for football fans. The excitement of football being back often clashes with limited playing time for the players they actually know. This is even further magnified in the first and last preseason games. Still, getting to see your team back on TV after a long offseason heals the soul.
One of the most interesting aspects for diehard fans during preseason games, especially as the game goes on, is watching the players on the roster bubble try to play their way onto an NFL roster. Sometimes it can be the team that they are actively playing for. Other times, the talent is present, but the depth at that position is too much to overcome for that team, but the player is still NFL-worthy.
The Green Bay Packers find themselves more towards the latter, with many of the roster spots filled with established players, leaving limited space for players on the bubble.
That said, if a player stands out exceptionally well, it may force some tough conversations in the building, sometimes resulting in a cutdown or trade at another position to accommodate the player.
The Packers offense struggled to score in Thursday's preseason opener against the Steelers. The starting unit only played one drive, which resulted in a field goal from rookie kicker Trey Smack. While the reserve units faced similar struggles, a pair of wide receivers did stand out and could force some interesting conversations ahead of cutdown day.
Isaiah Neyor and J. Michael Sturdivant could sneak their way onto the Packers' roster
The Packers saw Romeo Doubs leave in free agency and traded Dontayvion Wicks to Philadelphia for a 2026 fifth-round pick (which turned into Jager Burton) and a 2027 sixth-round choice. Green Bay did add Skyy Moore in free agency, but he figures to factor more into special teams than the Packers' offense. That leaves Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, and Matthew Golden to do the heavy lifting for the Packers.
Bo Melton could certainly factor in as well, but the receiver-turned-cornerback-turned-receiver has never been one of the "it" guys. Savion Williams is an intriguing piece, but until Matt LaFleur figures out what his role is – wide receiver, gadget guy, wildcat quarterback, or some actual combination of the three – giving him a defined role is tough.
With that in mind, after those top three guys, the Packers seemingly lack a true reserve wide receiver. Especially one with size.
Enter Isaiah Neyor and J. Michael Sturdivant.
Packers fans tuning in to Thursday's game may be familiar with Neyor, as Green Bay brought him in during camp last year, and after waiving him on cutdown day, kept him around on the practice squad. He was activated for the playoff game against the Chicago Bears before signing with the team on a reserve contract.
Sturdivant finds himself in a similar position, just a year later. He joins the Packers after a five-year college career that saw stints with California, UCLA, and lastly, Florida. His best season came as a freshman at Cal, hauling in 65 passes for 755 yards and seven scores. The production may have fallen off a bit over his remaining seasons, but he ended his collegiate career with 27 catches for 406 yards and three touchdowns.
Neyor popped off on Family Night in front of nearly 60,000 fans at Lambeau Field, building on an already impressive training camp. Neyor brought in four catches for 34 yards in Thursday night's game, leading the Packers in receiving yards. Sturdivant wasn't too far behind, with two catches for 26 yards.
In a vacuum, that may not seem like much, but with how limited the Packers' offense was in reserve, they certainly led the way. More importantly, though, they look the part. Neyor stands at 6-foot-4, with Sturdivant slightly smaller at 6-foot-3, but both have 4.40-second 40-yard dash speed, and they each boast an outstanding catch radius.
It may take a drastic move to keep one or the other on the roster. Matt LaFleur loves Bo Melton, and Green Bay typically doesn't move on from drafted guys like Savion Williams after just one year. Especially not early-round players who are incredible athletes. While an injury could force Green Bay's hand, if the team stays healthy, Neyor and Sturdivant could be on the outside looking in.
Both are incredibly talented, and certainly are proving their mettle as NFL talent, whether it be in Green Bay or elsewhere. I never want to advocate for someone to lose their job, but if Neyor and/or Sturdivant keep playing at a high level, Melton could be the one who needs to go.
Players love him, coaches love him, but especially in the event that the Packers' tight ends remain banged up, Green Bay could need impact that the smaller Melton doesn't provide.
Add us as a preferred source on Google