Aaron Ripkowski got some surprising news from the Packers. On Saturday, the Packers decided to release the veteran fullback after being with the team since 2015. This could mean the Packers are going with Robert Tonyan as their new fullback after spending time at tight end this summer. Ripkowski was drafted by the Packers in the sixth round in 2015. He played in 15 games during his rookie season and posted one reception for 18 yards. In 2016, Ripkowski became the starter and rushed for 150 yards and two touchdowns on 34 carries. He also had nine receptions for 46 yards and one score. Last year, Ripkowski played in all 16 games and he rushed for 13 yards and he recorded 39 receiving yards. The Packers made a lot moves in the offseason to improve the roster. But it really started with the coaching staff as the team brought back Joe Philbin to be the offensive coordinator and they also hired Mike Pettine to be the defensive coordinator. Philbin ran the Packers offense from 2007-2011 and each year the Packers were ranked in the top 10 in total offense and scoring offense. Pettine previously was the defensive coordinator for the New York Jets (2009-2012) and the Buffalo Bills (2013), and each year the defense was ranked in top 10 in yards allowed. The Packers will also have some new players on the roster with the signings of Jimmy Graham, Muhammad Wilkerson and Tramon Williams. Graham led all NFL tight ends in touchdowns last season with 10. Wilkerson only recorded 12 sacks in 2015 but has only posted eight sacks the last two seasons. Williams was with the Packers from 2007-2014 before joining the Cleveland Browns and Arizona Cardinals. In 2017, Williams had a productive season with the Cardinals, registering two interceptions and 10 passes defended. Later in the offseason, the Packers signed Marcedes Lewis to a one-year contract. Lewis is considered as one of the best blocking tight ends in the NFL, but he’s a quality receiver as well as he led the Jacksonville Jaguars in touchdown receptions last year with five. But the one addition that's the most interesting is the acquisition of DeShone Kizer. Notre Dame alum started 15 games for the Cleveland Browns last year and completed 53 percent of his passes while throwing for 2,894 yards, 11 touchdowns and 22 interceptions. The Packers traded for Kizer and the Browns received Damarious Randall. Both teams also swapped draft picks in the fourth and fifth round. The Packers also added some key players in the draft as they selected cornerbacks Jaire Alexander and Josh Jackson in the first two rounds. Alexander recorded five interceptions four the Louisville Cardinals in 2016 and Jackson led the nation interceptions last year with eight as a member of the Iowa Hawkeyes. The Packers also drafted Vanderbilt linebacker Oren Burks in the third round and they also drafted wide receivers J’Mon Moore, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Equanimeous St. Brown in the next three rounds.<doc-sep>The Green Bay Packers’ first 53-man roster of 2018 will not include fullback Aaron Ripkowski. According to Michael Cohen of The Athletic, the Packers released Ripkowski as part of the team’s effort to get to 53 players on Saturday: #Packers have released FB Aaron Ripkowski, a source told The Athletic. Have to think that's a good sign for TE Robert Tonyan. — Michael Cohen (@Michael_Cohen13) September 1, 2018 A sixth-round pick of the Packers in 2015, Ripkowski replaced former Pro Bowl fullback John Kuhn and played in 47 of 48 possible games to start his NFL career. Over three years in Green Bay, Ripkowski carried 39 times for 163 yards and two touchdowns and caught 17 passes for 103 yards and a score. It’s unclear if the Packers will go with Joe Kerridge at fullback or eliminate the position from the roster altogether. It’s also possible Ripkowski could be back later, but only if he clears waivers and wants to return. Although he became a versatile part of the Packers’ offense in 2016, Ripkowski struggled early on in 2017 and ended up playing a minimal role. He finished with only 188 snaps on offense and five total carries.<doc-sep>GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Green Bay Packers are keeping more quarterbacks than running backs on their season-opening roster. Undrafted free agent Tim Boyle made the roster as the third quarterback behind starter Aaron Rodgers and backup DeShone Kizer. Green Bay’s initial 53-man roster lists just Jamaal Williams and Ty Montgomery at running back. In a bit of a surprise, veteran fullback Aaron Ripkowski was released. Running back Aaron Jones will also start the year on the reserve/suspended list after the NFL suspended him for two games for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Eight receivers made the opening roster, including all three drafted rookies as well as undrafted free agent Jake Kumerow. He impressed Rodgers early in camp before hurting his shoulder. The Packers added to an already deep tight end group by keeping Robert Tonyan, who was a practice squad player last year, behind Jimmy Graham, Marcedes Lewis and Lance Kendricks. Notable moves on defense include cutting linebacker Vince Biegel, a fourth-round draft pick last year out of Wisconsin whose rookie season was mired by a foot injury. The Packers are keeping just four outside linebackers, with Reggie Gilbert and Kyler Fackrell backing up veterans Clay Matthews and Nick Perry. Inside linebacker Antonio Morrison made the roster after being acquired last week from the Colts. Cornerback Quinten Rollins was placed on injured reserve, while veteran backups Demetri Goodson and Josh Hawkins were released. Backup safety Marwin Evans, who played in all 32 regular-season games over the last two seasons, was also cut. PACKERS ROSTER MOVES • G Kofi Amichia¬¬ • LB Vince Biegel • RB Joel Bouagnon • CB Donatello Brown • TE Emanuel Byrd • RB LeShun Daniels • C Austin Davis • C Dillon Day • LB Kendall Donnerson • S Marwin Evans • CB Demetri Goodson • CB Josh Hawkins • LB James Hearns • RB Bronson Hill • LB Naashon Hughes • WR Adonis Jennings • FB Joe Kerridge • DL Tyler Lancaster • WR Kyle Lewis • DL James Looney • LB Greer Martini • DL Joey Mbu • LB Chris Odom • G/T Adam Pankey • LB Marcus Porter • TE Kevin Rader • FB Aaron Ripkowski • DL Conor Sheehy • TE Ryan Smith • LB Ahmad Thomas • LS Zach Triner • WR DeAngelo Yancey RB Devante Mays, T Kyle Murphy and CB Quinten Rollins on injured reserve. Additionally, RB Aaron Jones was placed on the reserve/suspended list<doc-sep>
Once an understudy to Green Bay Packers’ folk-hero John Kuhn, fullback Aaron Ripkowski had the name and grit to quickly become a fan favorite in his own right. But at least for the time being, Green Bay is cutting ties with the fourth-year player. As has been noted in the past, the role of the fullback has been diminishing across the NFL. The Packers were one of very few teams to utilize the position in a prominent role. However, even last season, there were signs that Green Bay was also beginning to move away from its traditional use of the fullback. Ripkowski was called on for just five carries and seven receptions in 2017, a far cry from his 34 carries in 2016. His offensive snap count also was significantly reduced by over 100 (288-180) in that two-year span. The release of Ripkowski in the final year of his rookie contract paves the way for an extra tight end to make the final roster. At the time of this post, Emanuel Byrd and Robert Tonyan were still safe from the cut down and each could play a role as an H-back player for the Packers in Ripkowski’s absence. Also adding intrigue is that Joe Kerridge currently remains a Packer. The third-year fullback has bounced between the active roster and practice squad over the past two seasons, but also contributes on special teams. It was noted earlier today that Quinten Rollins suffered a hamstring injury and could pose a difficult challenge to the Packers’ front office if they value his versatility in the secondary enough to place him on returnable injured reserve. In that case, Ripkowski could be a strong bet to find his way back on the roster after injury placements sort themselves out. Still, there could be some interest in Ripkowski from teams around the league that still employ the fullback position. In the scenario that Green Bay does not retain Ripkowski, the Packers are in a curious position in terms of their backfield for week one. With Aaron Jones serving a suspension and Devante Mays and Joel Bouagnon released earlier today, it leaves Jamaal Williams and Ty Montgomery as the only two sure-fire players to be in the backfield. While Kerridge and late pickup LeShun Daniels have not been mentioned in the reported releases as of yet, it would appear the Packers could be on the lookout for another running back casualty in final cuts around the NFL. Stay tuned to our Roster Cuts Tracker to follow along with all of the Packers’ moves this weekend.