The Green Bay Packers have just two preseason games and three practices left this training camp. General manager Brian Gutekunst must then decide who stays and who goes as he assembles his 53-man roster by 3 p.m. on Aug. 27.
The Packers still have a number of positional battles that must be decided in the next two weeks. Many of those players hope to make a move this weekend, first in a joint scrimmage with Denver on Friday, then in a preseason game against the Broncos Sunday.
Here’s a look at the Packers’ five biggest positional battles.
Kicker
Greg Joseph vs. Anders Carlson
This has been the most compelling and competitive battle of camp.
Green Bay had the most inconsistent kicking game in the league last season, as Carlson missed more extra points (six) and total kicks (13) than anyone in football.
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The Packers had several chances to move on from Carlson and sign a different kicker for the postseason. Instead, Carlson’s missed 41-yard field goal with 5 minutes left in the NFC divisional playoffs against San Francisco opened the door for the 49ers to rally for a 24-21 win.
Naturally, all eyes have been on the kickers all summer. And after 15 practices, Joseph is 49-of-60 (81.7%), while Carlson is 47-of-59 (79.7%).
Green Bay could still swing a trade or sign a kicker that’s released at the end of training camp. Teams like New England (Joey Slye/Chad Ryland), Pittsburgh (Chris Boswell/Matthew Wright), the New York Jets (Greg Zuerlein/Austin Siebert) and Cleveland (Dustin Hopkins/Cade York) all have kicking competitions going, and the Packers could decide the loser of one of those battles is better than both of the kickers they have in camp.
The bet here, though, is the 30-year old Joseph — who’s made 82.6% of his field goals during his five-year career — beats out Carlson and gets first crack at the job.
Predicted winner: Joseph
No. 2 quarterback
Sean Clifford vs. Michael Pratt
This wasn’t expected to be a battle, but it’s suddenly become extremely heated.
Clifford has struggled with interceptions throughout camp. And after the former Penn State product threw two more picks on Tuesday, Pratt began getting work with the No. 2 offense.
“It’s super-healthy,” Clifford said of his competition with Pratt. “That’s the thing, I’m honored to compete with Mike just because I respect him so much as a quarterback.
“When you come in and you have an opportunity to get better every single day and you know that if you take a day off, he’s not, it raises the level of the competition in the room. I think ultimately, we’re all here to put the best product on the field for the Packers. That’s the only thing that matters.”
Clifford had a solid showing in Green Bay’s preseason opener, leading the Packers to three scoring drives and 13 points during his five series. He finished 10-of-19 for 111 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.
Pratt was solid himself, going 5-of-7 for 46 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.
Both will get plenty of work in the final two preseason games, and their performances in those contests will likely be the deciding factor.
Also, don’t be shocked if the Packers sign or trade for a veteran. Green Bay is too talented to have its season destroyed by subpar play from its No. 2 quarterback if Jordan Love is injured.
Predicted winner: Clifford
Right guard
Sean Rhyan vs. Jordan Morgan
Morgan was a left tackle at Arizona, but the Packers moved him to right guard during training camp. Morgan was off to a solid start, too, before suffering a shoulder injury Aug. 6 and missing a week.
Morgan returned Tuesday, but has done only individual work and is wearing a harness on his left shoulder.
Morgan, a first round draft pick in April, will be given every chance to still win the job. But Morgan isn’t expected to play Sunday and there are no guarantees he’ll be back for the preseason finale on Aug. 24.
“It's frustrating,” Morgan said. “But at the same time, like, I got to get back to 100 percent to be able to play at my best.”
That’s allowed Rhyan — who split snaps at right guard with Jon Runyan the second half of last year — to step back into that role. Rhyan took full advantage, too, with a terrific performance against Cleveland playing both guard and center.
A year ago, Rhyan played 183 snaps and was extremely solid, finishing with no sacks allowed and zero penalties. The Packers averaged 0.78 more yards per rushing attempt with Rhyan on the field versus when he wasn’t in the lineup.
“Sean’s a big, strong kid and showed some really great reps on Saturday,” Packers offensive line coach Luke Butkus said. “Just the consistency right now from Sean, we gotta keep going.”
Predicted winner: Rhyan
Slot corner
Keisean Nixon vs. Javon Bullard vs. Kalen King
Much like backup quarterback position, few expected this to be a fierce competition when training camp began. But that’s just what it’s become.
Nixon was mediocre, at best, in this role last year. But when the Packers signed Nixon to a three-year, $18 million deal with a $6.5 million signing bonus in March, it seemed like a certainty he’d be the nickel corner again.
Instead, rookies Bullard and King have had terrific summers and might have a chance to win the job.
“We'll let it play out and … throughout the course of the season there's going to be competition,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “We're trying to get our best players out there. The guys that give us the best chance to win, and there's nothing to say that you can't have multiple groupings as well.”
Bullard will almost certainly be a starter in base next to fellow safety Xavier McKinney. When the Packers go to their nickel defense, Bullard has the flexibility to move to the slot, which would open up a spot for fellow rookie safety Evan Williams, who has also shined.
King has been one of the surprises this camp, making plays with regularity and displaying the ability to handle slot duties.
“Yeah, he’s just really instinctive,” LaFleur said of King. “He’s a really good football player. The more opportunities he gets the more he seems to show up and make plays.”
The guess here is Nixon opens the year as the nickel, but loses snaps to the younger players as the season progresses.
Predicted winner: Nixon
No. 2 running back
A.J. Dillon vs. Emanuel Wilson
Dillon led the Packers with 613 rushing yards last season, but averaged a career-low 3.4 yards per attempt and had just two total touchdowns. Dillon arrived at training camp in tremendous shape, but has yet to move the needle.
Wilson, the Packers’ No. 3 running back last year, had an impressive preseason debut with 67 yards on 13 carries (5.2) and a touchdown. That came after he led the NFL in rushing yards last preseason, then averaged 6.1 yards per carry during the regular season.
“It feels like they relying on me a little bit,” Wilson said. “Just doing me, being me, being myself. In the offseason, my trainer stayed on me. Got me to do everything I need to work on. That’s really about it. Now I’m just taking it and managing my opportunities the best I can.”
Rookie Marshawn Lloyd could factor in here, as well, but he’s currently out with a hamstring injury.
Predicted winner: Wilson
