Malik Heath (18) may have jumped back on the roster. (Photo: Jeff Hanisch , USA TODAY Sports)
By Mark Eckel
Between the time you're reading this and Tuesday afternoon the Green Bay Packers braintrust will have some decisions to make.
It might not be as tough as some other years, and for the most part a lot of those decisions have likely already been made.
Still there will be a few close calls as the team gets down to the mandatory 53-man roster limit.
Here's a position by position look at some of those decisions.
Quarterback: It appears rookie Tyler Elgersma outperformed veteran Sean Clifford for the No. 3 spot, which means a place on the practice squad. But do the Packers see it the same way?
Running Back: The decision here is whether to place Marshawn Lloyd on injured reserve. Most people think that saves Emmanuel Wilson's job. I always thought they were going to keep four backs and go light somewhere else if Lloyd didn't get hurt.
Wide Receiver: Two guys with the same initials Mecole Hardman and Malik Heath for the final spot. Unless the decision is to keep both and go with seven. And then one goes when Christian Watson is healthy.
Tight End: John FitzPatrick moved ahead of Ben Sims by the end of last season and stayed ahead of him. The decision is whether to keep four. Do you think Brian Gutekunst could get anything for Sims? He did get a seventh for Cole Van Lanen a few years ago.
Offensive Line:
One decision has already been made after the team acquired Darian Kinnard from the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday night. Kinnard, who could play guard or right tackle, will fill the eighth spot on the line. That final spot could go to Donovan Jennings.
Defensive End: Aaron Mosby made it last year. It's going to be really tough to keep him again this year. But it is likely they could get him on the practice though.
Defensive Tackle: I still think there's the possibility of Colby Wooden getting traded to a team that plays a 3-4 defense. Wooden's good preseason only increased his value. If that happens it would open a spot somewhere else (maybe Mosby sticks in that case). If not the team is keeping six here. Those rookies from Georgia played too well to let go.
Linebacker: This is how you know your roster is pretty good when the big decision is who is going to be your fifth linebacker. Kristian Welch is better than Isaiah Simmons. But football people fall in love with Simmons' athletic potential.
Cornerback: Kalen King or Corey Ballentine for the final spot. If the team likes Ballentine as much as some think, why did they let him leave in the first place?
Safety: The only decision here is whether Zayne Anderson is hurt enough to go on injured reserve. If that's the case it would open a spot somewhere else.