Tag: Packers 53-man roster

  • Packers Keep Six Receivers and Seven Defensive Linemen on Initial 2026 Roster

    Packers Keep Six Receivers and Seven Defensive Linemen on Initial 2026 Roster

    The Green Bay Packers reduced their roster to 53 players during the NFL’s mandated cuts Sunday evening. The team can begin assembling its practice squad after the waiver process concludes at noon Monday.

    Here is the Packers’ initial 2026 roster, listed by position according to the unofficial depth chart, along with players released, traded or placed on reserve lists.

    Packers 53-Man Roster

    Quarterbacks

    QB (2): Jordan Love, Tyrod Taylor

    Traded to Miami: Kyle McCord

    Running Backs

    RB (3): Chris Brooks, MarShawn Lloyd, Kaleb Johnson

    Acquired via trade with Pittsburgh: Kaleb Johnson

    Commissioner’s exempt list: Josh Jacobs

    Released: Pierre Strong Jr., Damien Martinez, Jaden Nixon

    Wide Receivers

    Injured reserve/designation to return: Savion Williams

    Released: Isaiah Neyor, Will Sheppard, Kaden Prather, Kisean Johnson, Chris Hilton Jr.

    Tight Ends

    Acquired via trade with the Los Angeles Rams: Mark Redman

    Released: Drake Dabney, Messiah Swinson

    Waived/injured: McCallan Castles, Thomas Yassmin

    Physically unable to perform: Luke Musgrave

    Offensive Linemen

    Released: Darian Kinnard, Brant Banks, Dalton Cooper, Josh Gesky, Dylan Barrett, Dillon Wade

    Defensive Linemen

    Physically unable to perform: Micah Parsons

    Injured reserve/designation to return: Collin Oliver

    Released: Arron Mosby, Nyjalik Kelly, Arden Walker, Nazir Stackhouse, Jaden Crumedy

    Physically unable to perform: Jordon Riley

    Linebackers

    Released: Kristian Welch, T.J. Quinn

    Defensive Backs

    Released: Domani Jackson, Jaylin Simpson, Shemar Bartholomew, MJ Devonshire Jr., Mark Perry, Murvin Kenion III

    Waived/injured: Trey Dean III

    Specialists

    Released: Cal Adomitis

    Key Takeaways From Green Bay’s Roster Cuts

    Kyle McCord traded to Miami

    Kyle McCord’s impressive summer in Green Bay ended with the Packers trading the first-year quarterback to the Miami Dolphins for a 2028 sixth-round draft pick.

    The 6-foot-3, 218-pound quarterback entered the NFL as a sixth-round pick, 181st overall, by Philadelphia in 2025. He signed a futures deal with Green Bay in January and beat out Desmond Ridder in the spring and Kyron Drones in the summer for the No. 3 quarterback position.

    McCord completed 46 of 70 passes for 446 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions, producing a 102.5 passer rating in three preseason appearances. He played the entire preseason finale against Arizona and led the Packers to a 42-38 comeback victory after they trailed by 11 points with 3 minutes, 19 seconds remaining. McCord will back up former Packers quarterback Malik Willis in Miami.

    J. Michael Sturdivant keeps undrafted rookie streak alive

    Green Bay is positioned to extend its streak to 22 consecutive years of having an undrafted rookie make the Week 1 roster after retaining Florida wide receiver J. Michael Sturdivant.

    Sturdivant finished the preseason strongly, catching six of seven targets for 112 yards and a touchdown. He is the fourth undrafted rookie receiver to make the Packers’ initial 53-man roster in the past 20 years, joining Malik Heath in 2023, Darius Sheppard in 2019 and Jarrett Boykin in 2012.

    The 6-foot-3, 207-pound receiver posted a 9.96 Relative Athletic Score after running a 4.4-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. He also recorded a 39-inch vertical jump and a 10-foot-11 broad jump.

    Packers acquire running back Kaleb Johnson

    The Packers added backfield depth by acquiring Kaleb Johnson from Pittsburgh. A roster spot became available after the NFL announced Sunday that Josh Jacobs would be placed on the commissioner’s exempt list. Jacobs may remain with the team but cannot practice or attend games.

    Johnson was selected in the third round, No. 83 overall, in 2025 after an All-American season at Iowa. The 6-foot-1, 224-pound running back had a limited role as a rookie with the Steelers, rushing for 69 yards on 28 carries in 10 games. He carried 17 times for 53 yards in Pittsburgh’s crowded backfield during the preseason.

    Mark Redman joins Green Bay’s tight end group

    After signing Jonnu Smith on Saturday, Green Bay made another move at tight end Sunday by acquiring Mark Redman from the Los Angeles Rams for a 2028 seventh-round pick. The Rams still retained five tight ends after the trade.

    Redman spent his entire rookie season on Los Angeles’ practice squad before delivering an impressive preseason, catching six passes for 63 yards. Green Bay has been seeking an in-line blocking tight end since John FitzPatrick tore his Achilles in December. The 6-foot-5, 258-pound Redman fits that profile.

    Five Packers rookies make the roster

    Five members of Green Bay’s six-player rookie class made the 53-man roster. The only exception was sixth-round pick Domani Jackson, who faced an uphill battle after missing the entire offseason program while recovering from core muscle surgery.

    The 6-foot, 194-pound cornerback was cleared for training camp but missed a week because of soreness. Jackson returned for two preseason games and recorded two tackles.

    Kamal Hadden completes comeback

    The fifth cornerback spot went to second-year veteran Kamal Hadden, who completed a remarkable comeback from the broken tibia and fibula he suffered during Green Bay’s Week 17 matchup with Baltimore last December.

    The 6-foot-1, 192-pound cornerback missed the entire offseason program while rehabbing but was cleared during the first week of training camp. Although he never played nickel cornerback at Tennessee, Hadden adapted quickly to the slot while starter Javon Bullard missed several weeks with a foot injury.

    Anthony Campbell earns a roster spot

    Anthony Campbell, arguably one of the best stories of training camp, made the initial 53-man roster. Campbell emerged after signing with Green Bay’s practice squad during the final week of the regular season.

    The 6-foot-6, 307-pound defensive lineman frequently batted passes at the line of scrimmage during training camp and recorded a sack in Friday night’s victory over Arizona.

    Jonathan Ford remains with the Packers

    Jonathan Ford will continue his NFL career with the team that selected him in the seventh round in 2022. The 6-foot-5, 338-pound defensive tackle did not see game action during his first three seasons with the Packers before signing with Chicago’s active roster late in the 2024 season.

    Ford played in 12 games for the Bears before Green Bay claimed him off waivers last December. He made his Packers debut in the regular-season finale against Minnesota and recorded three tackles on 18 snaps against Chicago in the NFC Wild Card playoffs.

    The 27-year-old defensive lineman finished training camp as the nose tackle in the No. 1 base defense.

    Packers update injured and reserve lists

    Green Bay released long snapper Cal Adomitis and activated Matt Orzech from the physically unable to perform list. The seventh-year veteran missed training camp because of a calf injury.

    Edge rusher Micah Parsons, who is dealing with a knee injury, defensive lineman Jordon Riley, who is recovering from an Achilles injury, and tight end Luke Musgrave, who has a neck injury, remain on the physically unable to perform list and will miss at least the first four games.