The Green Bay Packers have to reduce their active roster by 37 players this weekend, cutting down from 90 to 53 by 4:00 PM Eastern on Saturday to meet the NFL’s deadline. General manager Brian Gutekunst is at the helm of this process for the first time, having served under Ted Thompson for years, and his approach to roster construction will be an intriguing storyline for Packers fans to watch. Throughout Friday and Saturday, keep your browsers locked here as we bring you news from throughout the weekend. First, here are a few quick notes about NFL cuts and the Packers’ roster construction: The trade of Brett Hundley for a draft pick freed up one spot from the full 90-man roster, putting the Packers at 89. That means that the team needs to clear 36 players. The Packers can also place suspended running back Aaron Jones on the reserve/suspended list at the deadline, which removes him from the 53-man roster. That takes the cut number down to 35. on the reserve/suspended list at the deadline, which removes him from the 53-man roster. That takes the cut number down to 35. Players can be placed on injured reserve in order to help get down to 53 as well. In past years, players put on IR at or before the deadline were not eligible to return during the same season. The Packers have no players on the active/Physically Unable to Perform list. This means that they cannot put any players on reserve/PUP at the deadline to free up active roster spots. Here we go. Reported Cuts (32) Released with injury settlement* (3) * These players were initially reported to have been placed on Injured Reserve, but the NFL transaction list shows that they have been waived/injured. To be placed on reserve/suspended (1) RB Aaron Jones (suspended for first two games) Bubble players who are reportedly “safe” on the 53 Other news Bears agree to trade for Raiders DE Khalil Mack Packers reportedly looking for depth at outside linebacker from other teams' cuts or via trade (link) APC Staff Twitter Feed Click here if you cannot see the feed below.<doc-sep>Cutdown Saturday started with bombshell. Khalil Mack will be at Lambeau Field for Week 1. Mack, however, will be trying to sack Aaron Rodgers. The Chicago Bears have acquired one of the NFL’s premier defenders from the Oakland Raiders for two first-round draft picks and additional assets, according to reports from NFL Network and ESPN. The cost is right in line with what five executives forecast. Meanwhile, first-year Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst deleted 36 players from his roster to get down to the 53-man limit by the 3 p.m. deadline. The big names to be released were outside linebacker Vince Biegel and fullback Aaron Ripkowski. The team kept four undrafted free agents: quarterback Tim Boyle, safety Raven Greene, offensive tackle Alex Light and linebacker James Crawford. Plus, receiver Jake Kumerow made it. Here is the full list of cuts, made official by the team. Additionally, running back Devante Mays (hamstring), offensive tackle Kyle Murphy (ankle) and cornerback Quinten Rollins (hamstring) were placed on injured reserve, and running back Aaron Jones was placed on the reserve-suspended list. WHO MADE IT? OUR ANALYSIS OF THE NOT-SO-FINAL 53 (VIPs) Quarterback: None. Running back: Joel Bouagnon, LeShun Daniels and Bronson Hill. Mays, a seventh-round pick last year who had more fumbles (two) than rushing yards (1), was placed on injured reserve and will be released with an injury settlement, according to the Green Bay Press-Gazette's Ryan Wood. Mays couldn't get healthy in time after injuring a hamstring during the first week of training camp. With Jones serving a two-game suspension, the only backs on the roster are Jamaal Williams and Ty Montgomery. Fullback: Aaron Ripkowski and Joe Kerridge. In one of the surprise moves of the day, the Packers released Ripkowski. In 2016, due to injuries that forced him into more of a playmaking role, Ripkowski played 288 snaps. He carried 34 times for 150 yards and added nine receptions for 46 yards. In 2017, Ripkowski played 180 snaps, carried five times for 13 yards and caught seven passes for 39 yards. He was entering the final season under contract and he offered little on special teams as a No. 1 only on the punt team. With the release of Ripkowski and with Rollins and linebacker Jake Ryan on injured reserve, only Montgomery remains on the roster from the 2015 draft class. Wide receiver: DeAngelo Yancey, Kyle Lewis and Adonis Jennings. A fifth-round pick last year, Yancey spent his rookie season on the practice squad. Receiver is one of the team's most crowded spots, thanks to the addition of three draft picks. In that light, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Tom Silverstein said the Packers have been shopping receiver/returner Trevor Davis. Eight receivers made it, including all three draft picks and Jake Kumerow. Tight end: Emanuel Byrd, Kevin Rader and Ryan Smith. It was a tough position for any undrafted free agent to break into with the veteran trio of Jimmy Graham, Marcedes Lewis and Lance Kendricks, though Robert Tonyan did it to claim a spot on the 53. Offensive line: Adam Pankey, Kofi Amichia, Dillon Day and Austin Davis. Plus, Murphy was placed on injured reserve, solidifying Jason Spriggs' standing as the No. 3 tackle. Pankey played every spot other than center in the preseason. He spent most of last season on the active roster but played only one snap on special teams. Day perhaps was the team's second-best center but couldn't beat out Lucas Patrick, who was a better combo guard and center. Amichia was a sixth-round pick last year who spent his rookie season on the practice squad. Davis, an undrafted rookie, could wind up on the practice squad. Defensive line: James Looney, Tyler Lancaster, Conor Sheehy and Joey Mbu. Looney, a seventh-round pick with athletic upside, tops the list of cuts from this promising group. There wasn't much space on the 53 behind Mike Daniels, Kenny Clark, Muhammad Wilkerson, Dean Lowry and Montravius Adams. Expect the Packers to keep a couple on the practice squad. Outside linebacker: Vince Biegel, Kendall Donnerson, Chris Odom and James Hearns. Biegel, a fourth-round pick last year, was released, highlighting a sweeping revamp of the bottom of the outside linebacker depth chart behind Clay Matthews, Nick Perry, Reggie Gilbert and Kyler Fackrell. Biegel had a solid training camp but offered little as a pass rush - the No. 1 priority for an outside linebacker. Odom, picked up on waivers following last year's cuts, played in seven games as a rookie. He and Biegel were the No. 3 tandem throughout camp. Donnerson, a seventh-round pick with big-time athleticism, played well but not well enough to earn a spot on the 53. It was a roll of the dice by Gutekunst, with sources saying he might attract interest on waivers before Green Bay can sign him to the practice squad on Sunday. Inside linebacker: Ahmad Thomas, Greer Martini, Marcus Porter and Naashon Hughes. The release of Thomas, the converted safety with the fantastic personal story, was a mild surprise. Thomas has the speed and coverage skills necessary for today's game, but his release perhaps signals Oren Burks' shoulder injury shouldn't keep him out for long. Martini, who was signed as a tryout player, quickly thrust himself into the middle of the hunt for a spot on the 53. He started Thursday night's game against Kansas City and played well but probably lost his spot with last week's acquisition of Antonio Morrison. Porter, a Division II standout, received a $5,000 signing bonus. Hughes, who signed as an outside linebacker but quickly moved inside, received a $3,000 signing bonus. Both quickly fell behind Martini and Thomas. Cornerback: Josh Hawkins, Donatello Brown and Demetri Goodson. The numbers were at play with this position bolstered in the draft (Jaire Alexander and Josh Jackson) and free agency (Tramon Williams). Injuries forced Hawkins to play the third-most snaps of the cornerbacks last season. He had a decent camp but gave up a big play against the Chiefs and missed a tackle on a kick return. Goodson was one of the team's best special-teams players. In a surprise, the Packers kept Herb Waters over Dawkins and Goodson. Safety: Marwin Evans was released, which opened the door for Greene. Evans led the team in special-teams tackles last season. Special teams: Zach Triner appeared to be the favorite to win the long-snapping battle but he was released in favor of seventh-round pick Hunter Bradley. Brett Goode has not been contacted by the team, according to a source. No doubt, given his inconsistencies during training camp, Bradley will be on a short leash, with Triner and Goode ready to step in. OUR FINAL 53-MAN PROJECTION (VIPs) Mack would have vaulted the Packers into prime position to win this year’s Super Bowl. Gutekunst no doubt explored a trade, it’s uncertain if Green Bay was a legitimate contender to get Mack. Even if Green Bay was right in the mix, the Bears’ first-round picks could be more valuable than the Packers’ first-round picks – Chicago is coming off a five-win season and the jury is out on quarterback Mitch Trubisky. Green Bay, meanwhile, should be back in the playoff mix with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback. The Packers also own the Saints’ first-round pick, but they went 11-5 last season. Moreover, Chicago started the day with $23.7 million of salary-cap space, according to the latest from the NFLPA. That’s $13 million more than the Packers. Together, Chicago could put together a better offer for the Raiders and a better financial offer for Mack. After Aaron Rodgers’ contract extension failed to free up cap space, a league source said the only way the Packers could have worked a deal financially was to make Clay Matthews part of the deal. A first-round pick in 2014, Mack has appeared in the Pro Bowl the last three seasons. He recorded 36 sacks and eight forced fumbles the past three years. He would have provided an instant upgrade on defense, where the Packers' top three edge rushers are aging Clay Matthews, injury-prone Nick Perry and unproven Reggie Gilbert.<doc-sep>The Green Bay Packers lost their second straight preseason game to finish with a record of 2-and-2. Tough decisions await as they need to build their 53-man roster ahead of Saturday’s deadline. The Green Bay Packers were unable to play a clean game in the month of August, however, it’s part of the process that is preseason football. Thursday night in Kansas City, the Chiefs handed Green Bay a 33-21 loss to wrap up the final contest. It will be a long flight home for both coaches and players as the process for building the final roster starts now. Sans Brett Hundley, Deshone Kizer got the start for the Packers. The likely no.2 quarterback played two series and ended up 5-for-7 for 57 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Green Bay hopes this is the last time Kizer sees the field in 2018 as they get ready for the regular season with a healthy Aaron Rodgers. His one touchdown went to receiver Geronimo Allison who finished the night with two total. Allison had a productive training camp and preseason clearly separating himself as the third wide receiver on the depth chart. If breakout player of the game went to any Packer, it would probably go to running back Aaron Jones. Jones racked up 34 yards on nine carries while also catching three passes for 21 yards. He capped off a five play 65-yard drive midway through the second quarter with a touchdown run on the goal line. Jones, who will is suspended for the first two games of the regular season, played with a little-added energy knowing he would have time off. Green Bay’s defense allowed 397 yards in a dismal performance. 326 of those came through the air with no help from the Packers’ pass rush who failed to produce a sack. Once the starting secondary left the field it was almost like no one wanted a spot on the final roster. They allowed undrafted rookie receiver Byron Pringle to have a career night of four receptions for 122 yards. The Packers have a nice blend of young and veteran corners making it extremely difficult for players like Josh Hawkins, Demetri Goodson, Herb Waters to find a spot. Difficult cuts will be made at corner and receiver as they decide how many guys to keep at each position. General manager Brian Gutekunst and Green Bay’s staff have until 3 p.m. CT on Saturday to finalize everything. Before that, though, here are three takeaways from the long-awaited preseason finale:<doc-sep>
The Green Bay Packers released their first 53-man roster of the 2018 season on Saturday. Here’s a look at the biggest surprises from the initial roster: – The Packers kept James Crawford, a converted defensive end who signed on Aug. 8, over Ahmad Thomas and Greer Martini at inside linebacker. Thomas and Martini were both higher on the preseason depth chart and played bigger roles on special teams, and Packers defensive coordinator Mike Pettine was effusive in his praise for Thomas as recently as this past week. Crawford came out of nowhere to win the spot. – Packers GM Brian Gutekunst cut five former Ted Thompson draft picks (Aaron Ripkowski, DeAngelo Yancey, Demetri Goodson, Kofi Amichia and Vince Biegel) and placed three others (Quinten Rollins, Kyle Murphy and Devante Mays) on IR, putting their futures in Green Bay in serious jeopardy. Trevor Davis, who was reportedly shopped around, might not stick after waiver claims are finalized. Gutekunst already traded away Damarious Randall and Brett Hundley, two other Thompson draft picks. The Packers’ new GM trimmed the fat he felt unnecessary from Thompson’s old roster. – Tim Boyle made the roster as the No. 3 quarterback. It’s an important position, obviously, and no one wants to lose a young quarterback they like, but a rookie developmental quarterback belongs on the practice squad. Boyle earned the spot with a nice summer, but carrying him as the third quarterback is still a waste of a roster spot. There’s no way around it. – The first roster includes only two running backs and zero fullbacks. Expect the Packers to look over waivers and add a third running back on Sunday. Plenty of attractive options are available. For now, the fullback position is dead in Green Bay. – The Packers kept eight receivers, but it’s highly unlikely all eight will remain on the roster before Week 1. The three rookies, Trevor Davis and Jake Kumerow all made the team. At least one probably has to go. – Undrafted free agent Alex Light made it along the offensive line over Adam Pankey. This suggests the Packers weren’t confident in Pankey’s ability to play offensive tackle. Jason Spriggs, Lucas Patrick and Byron Bell are the top backups. It’s possible a waiver claim could bolster this group. – The Packers kept only four outside linebackers, which is surprising in numbers alone. Vince Biegel and Chris Odom were both cut after uninspiring summers. So was rookie Kendall Donnerson. A waiver claim is absolutely necessary here. John Simon and Jeremiah Attaochu are names to watch. – Herb Waters made the team as the sixth cornerback over Josh Hawkins and Demetri Goodson. The converted receiver has potential – Joe Whitt Jr. loves his upside – but he didn’t really stand out at any point during the preseason. – Draft pick Hunter Bradley won the long-snapping job over Zach Triner, who was probably better and more consistent during camp. – Undrafted free agent Raven Greene stole a roster spot from Marwin Evans, a top special teams player from a year ago. Greene was solid this summer and earned the spot. – In a few days, the roster will likely look drastically different on the fringes. Expect Gutekunst to sift through waivers and find a few new players to balance out the roster.