Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur didn’t mince words when discussing offensive lineman Travis Glover on Thursday. Glover was put on season-ending injured reserve late Wednesday.
He was ascending. He was an ascending player. So, it’s very disappointing that we won’t have him.
With Glover’s season ending before it even started, what position group could get the roster spot that has now opened up?
Naturally, the obvious answer would be to start at the offensive line. With Glover set to miss the season, replacing him with another offensive lineman would keep the Packers at the same number if Glover weren’t injured.
As things stand, there are likely eight locks on the offensive line: Rasheed Walker, Anthony Belton, Jordan Morgan, Aaron Banks, Elgton Jenkins, Jacob Monk, Sean Rhyan, and Zach Tom.
Glover would’ve been in that group, making it nine. Now the Packers could use it for someone like Kadeem Telfort, who’s been with the team since going undrafted in 2023.
If they kept 10 O-linemen, it could be Telford, plus John Williams, who was drafted in the seventh round this April but has missed almost the entire offseason dealing with an injury. At this stage, he’s more likely to be a practice squad fit than land on the final roster. Donovan Jennings, Tyler Cooper, and J.J. Lippe are also possibilities.
It won’t be surprising if the Packers replace Glover’s roster spot with another offensive lineman, but that’s not a foregone conclusion.
Let’s look at wide receiver.
The locks are Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Matthew Golden, and Savion Williams. That’s five immediately, and six once Christian Watson returns. Glover’s roster spot could go to a veteran in Mecole Hardman, who can also be used as a returner, or someone like Malik Heath, who’s been around since 2023. Keeping six wide receivers is a possibility. While seven would be a bit of a stretch, it’s not impossible.
Defensive end and cornerback are where things really get interesting.
Keeping an extra defensive end wouldn’t be the worst idea for Green Bay. What if Lukas Van Ness underwhelms again? What if neither rookie, Barryn Sorrell nor Collin Oliver, catches on quickly enough? And what if there’s an injury somewhere?
Rashan Gary, Van Ness, and the two rookies will absolutely make the final roster. Kingsley Enagbare and Brenton Cox Jr. both should. Cox has been a monster during parts of training camp, and Enagbare brings a reliable presence who knows Jeff Hafley’s system entering its second season and Enagbare’s fourth with the team.
Some have pondered whether Cox or Enagbare should make the roster instead of Cox and Enagbare. Even Arron Mosby is a sneaky under-the-radar name to keep tabs on.
Glover’s roster spot could open the door for Green Bay to comfortably keep six defensive ends and not feel like they’re being forced to do so. It’s a good insurance plan for a position group that has plenty of uncertainty entering the season.
Lastly, let’s pivot towards the cornerbacks.
Nate Hobbs had surgery to clean up his knee, but he’s set to be ready for Week 1 against the Detroit Lions. Hobbs has missed a combined 10 games over the last two seasons, so having an insurance plan in place via an extra roster spot for a cornerback would be wise.
Bo Melton worked with the ones at training camp on Thursday and has steadily become more comfortable transitioning from wide receiver to cornerback.
The Indianapolis Colts released veteran Corey Ballentine last week, and the Packers swiftly signed him. Ballentine is a familiar face with plenty of experience in Green Bay, having spent the last three years with the Packers.
Keisean Nixon, Hobbs, and Carrington Valentine will undoubtedly make the final 53-man roster. Ballentine wasn’t just a filler signing to get a body in camp at cornerback. He’s a legitimate option to make the team and probably will.
Then there’s Melton, Kalen King, Kamal Hadden, Micah Robinson, and others. There’s an awful lot of experience and uncertainty on the back end of the depth chart at cornerback. Green Bay could easily keep five and not think twice about it with Nixon, Hobbs, Valentine, Ballentine, and … Melton?
Six cornerbacks on the final roster feels like a stretch at first. Still, remember that Ballentine and Melton are also significant contributors on special teams, and an undrafted rookie like Johnathan Baldwin can play slot and safety.
Glover’s injury isn’t ideal, especially for a player that LaFleur spoke highly about. After getting tossed into the middle of a playoff game last January and it becoming a nightmare, Glover was able to turn the page quickly this offseason. Now, with his injury likely costing him his 2025 season, someone else will fill his roster spot.
Green Bay could keep it simple and have it go to another offensive lineman, or it could view this as an opportunity to gain more flexibility elsewhere by bolstering another position with an added spot.