Green Bay Packers fans nationwide are excited as this year’s training camp is just under three weeks away. The summer practices will take place at Ray Nitschke Field as usual, starting on July 22. The Packers aim to build on last season, where they reached the NFC Divisional Round.
Despite last season’s success, the Packers need to keep improving. Head coach Matt LaFleur and his staff will have to make some tough decisions at camp to finalize the best 53-man roster, essential for winning the franchise’s first Super Bowl since 2011.
With that in mind, here are five Packers on the bubble as training camp approaches.
1. Royce Newman, OG
Royce Newman once seemed poised to be a staple on Green Bay’s offensive line. The former Ole Miss guard, drafted 142nd overall in 2021, started 16 of 17 games as a rookie and performed reasonably well. However, his opportunities have dwindled. Despite not missing a game in his NFL career, Newman started only six games in 2022 and just two last season, with his offensive snaps dropping from 1,084 in his rookie year to 634 over the past two seasons. Pro Football Focus gave him a poor pass block grade of 52.2 after he allowed 10 pressures on 120 passing downs and a career-worst 43.3 run block grade. The Packers could save $3.1 million by cutting or trading him, which might be used to strengthen other roster areas.
2. Emmanuel Wilson, RB
Emmanuel Wilson became a fan favorite last season after being cut by the Denver Broncos and making it onto Green Bay’s initial 53-man roster. He played seven regular-season games, rushing for 85 yards on 14 carries and catching four passes for 23 yards. Despite an impressive average of 6.1 yards per carry, Wilson faces stiff competition. With Aaron Jones gone, the Packers signed three-time 1,000-yard rusher Josh Jacobs and re-signed AJ Dillon. They also drafted USC’s Marshawn Lloyd, who had 1,052 scrimmage yards and nine touchdowns last fall. Wilson will need to outshine either Dillon or Lloyd in training camp to secure his spot.
3. Samori Toure, WR
During the Aaron Rodgers era, the Packers were often criticized for lacking wide receiver talent. However, in 2024, Green Bay boasts one of the NFL’s deepest WR units, giving QB Jordan Love plenty of options. This depth puts lesser-known receivers like Samori Toure on the bubble. A former 2022 seventh-round pick, Toure has played 22 games over two seasons, catching 13 of 28 targets for 160 yards and a touchdown. His passer rating when targeted was a dismal 34.0 in 2023. With Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, and Jayden Reed, along with Malik Heath, Bo Melton, and Dontayvion Wicks ahead of him, Toure needs an exceptional training camp to make the roster.
4. Greg Joseph, K
The Packers’ training camp will feature a three-way kicker competition after 2023 sixth-round pick Anders Carlson struggled with consistency. Veteran kicker Greg Joseph, signed earlier this offseason, will compete against Carlson and undrafted rookie James Turner. Although Joseph is more experienced, his performance has been inconsistent, having played for three teams over five seasons. His 2022 stats were unimpressive, with a 78.8% field goal and 87.0% extra-point percentage. Turner, who is 23 and was named second-team All-Big Ten at Michigan, could be seen as having more potential. Unless both Carlson and Turner falter, it’s unlikely Joseph will make the Packers’ roster next season.
5. Andre Dillard, OT
Andre Dillard, a first-round draft pick by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2019, hasn’t had the career he hoped for. Now with the Packers, his third team in as many years, Dillard is looking to revitalize his career. He showed promise early on, peaking as a quality starter in his second year. However, his performance and playing time have declined over the past two seasons, bottoming out last year with a Pro Football Focus grade of 51, which ranked him 71st out of 81 eligible offensive tackles.
The Packers’ current offensive line setup includes Rasheed Walker expected to start at left tackle and Zach Tom at right tackle, with first-round pick Jordan Morgan also in the mix. Both Tom and Morgan can play inside if necessary, which could give Dillard a chance to compete for playing time. Green Bay has a history of developing offensive linemen effectively, so Dillard will have the opportunity to climb the depth chart and rebuild his value for a potential bigger contract next season. However, he needs to prove himself in training camp to secure his spot on the roster.