Green Bay Packers release their 53-man roster for the 2021 season
Following Tuesday’s deadline, the Green Bay Packers have their 53-man roster for the 2021 season.
The Packers return 20 of 22 preferred starters from the 2020 season. Notably, left tackle David Bakhtiari begins the year on the PUP list as he recovers from a torn left ACL suffered in late December 2020. Tight end Jace Sternberger won’t count on the roster until Week 3 because of his two-game suspension.
The Packers open the 2021 NFL regular season at New Orleans on September 12.
Quarterback: Aaron Rodgers, Jordan Love
Rodgers returns after an eventful offseason for what could likely be his last season in Green Bay. The Packers will look to make one last Super Bowl run with Rodgers at the helm.
Running back: Aaron Jones, AJ Dillon, Kylin Hill
Hill, a rookie from Mississippi State, provides the Packers with another reliable option alongside Jones and Dillon. In four years at Mississippi State, Hill recorded 2,535 rushing yards on 452 carries with 16 touchdowns. Through the air, Hill had 67 receptions for 631 yards with six touchdowns.
Wide reciever: Davante Adams, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, Amari Rodgers, Malik Taylor
The Packers drafted Amari Rodgers in the 2020 NFL Draft from Clemson and Randall Cobb is back on the roster after Cobb spent two seasons in Texas, one in Dallas and one in Houston. The Packers traded for Cobb at the request of Rodgers. Former Notre Dame wide receiver Equanimous St. Brown and former Michigan wide receiver Devin Funchess fail to make the roster. (Funchess was placed on IR)
Tight ends: Robert Tonyan, Marcedes Lewis, Josiah Deguara, Dominique Dafney
No Sternberger on the roster for two games means more snaps for veteran Marcedes Lewis.
Offensive linemen: Elgton Jenkins, Billy Turner, Royce Newman, Lucas Patrick, Josh Myers, Jon Runyan, Yosh Nijman, Dennis Kelly.
Defensive linemen: Kenny Clark, Dean Lowry, Kingsley Keke, Tyler Lancaster, T.J. Slaton
Outside linebackers: Za’Darius Smith, Preston Smith, Rashan Gary, Jonathan Garvin, Chauncey Rivers.
Starting linebacker Za’Darius Smith is battling a back injury and in jeopardy of missing the opener which leaves the need for the Packers to keep five outside linebackers on the roster.
Inside linebackers: Krys Barnes, De’Vondre Campbell, Ty Summers, Oren Burks, Isaiah McDuffie.
Cornerbacks: Jaire Alexander, Kevin King, Eric Stokes, Chandon Sullivan, Shemar Jean-Charles, Isaac Yiadom.
The looming question for the Packers secondary will be who will start in the base defense alongside Alexander between King or 2020 first-round pick Stokes from Georgia.
Safeties: Adrian Amos, Darnell Savage, Vernon Scott, Henry Black.
Specialists: Mason Crosby (K), Corey Bojorquez (P) and a long-snapper to be named later.
Notably, the Packers cut quarterback Kurt Benkert and wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown on offense. Benkert is expected to be brought back on the practice squad if he clears waivers. Other cuts on offense include running backs Dexter Williams and Patrick Taylor, receivers Reggie Begelton and Damon Hazelton, tight end Bronson Kaufusi, linemen Ben Braden, Jacob Capra, Cole Van Lanen, and Coy Crank, and kicker JJ Molson. The Packers acquired punter Corey Bojorquez from the Rams on Tuesday afternoon. The Packers also cut punter JK Scott on Tuesday afternoon.
On defense, the Packers cut linebackers Delontae Scott, Ray Wilborn and Tipa Galeai, linemen Willington Previlon and Abdullah Anderson, corners Stephen Denmark, Rojesterman Farris, and Kabion Ento, and safeties Christian Uphoff and Innis Gaines.