Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (8) is one of the top players in the league.
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Josh Jacobs knows time is a thief.
The Green Bay Packers’ Pro Bowl running back understands NFL seasons are like dog years. They go too fast and you don’t get enough of them.
So as Jacobs looks around the room and sees a young group that went 11-6 last season and reached the playoffs for a second consecutive year, he has one overriding thought.
“It’s time,” Jacobs said. “It’s time, you know? For me, there’s only so much left, so it’s definitely time, for sure.”
The Packers believe 2025 can be their time.
Green Bay has the NFL’s youngest roster (25.23) for a third consecutive year. The difference is most of their youth is now also experienced.
So when general manager Brian Gutekunst finalized his 53-man roster Tuesday, he did so knowing there will be great expectations for this group.
“I think the urgency for me is you’ve got to understand what’s in front of us,” Gutekunst said. “We’ve got a really good football team, the capability of being there, and you’ve got to take advantage of that.”
Here’s a breakdown of Green Bay’s roster with an analysis and positional grades.
QUARTERBACKS (B)
Starter: Jordan Love
Reserve: Malik Willis
Released: Taylor Elgersma and Sean Clifford
Summary: The key to Green Bay’s entire 2025 campaign is whether Love can elevate from good to great.
Love, who battled knee and groin injuries last season, had a solid season with 25 touchdown passes, 11 interceptions and a 96.7 passer rating that ranked 12th. He also missed 2 ½ games due to injury and finished 19th in passing yards (3,389) and 29th in completion percentage (63.1%).
Love then threw three interceptions in Green Bay’s loss to Philadelphia in the NFC Wild Card game and had a season-low passer rating of 41.5.
Love had surgery to repair a ligament in his non-throwing (left) thumb on Aug. 19, but should be fully ready for Week 1.
“He’s right where we need him to be,” Gutekunst said. “Really excited for what he’s going do for our football team this year.”
Willis, who was acquired from Tennessee shortly before last season, has elevated himself into one of the NFL’s top backup quarterbacks. Willis went 2-0 as a starter when Love was out and rallied Green Bay to a win over Jacksonville when Love was injured.
RUNNING BACKS (B+)
Starter: Josh Jacobs
Reserves: Emanuel Wilson, Chris Brooks
Released: Israel Abanikanda, Tyrion Davis-Price and Amar Johnson
Injured reserve/designated for return: MarShawn Lloyd
Summary:Jacobs was named to his third career Pro Bowl last year after posting the fifth-most rushing yards in a single-season in team history (1,329). Jacobs also ranked sixth in the NFL in rushing yards and fourth in rushing TDs (15).
He’s an extremely durable, powerful back who’s quickly developed into one of the Packers’ top leaders.
“I feel like I had a good year, but I feel like I still left a lot on the table,” Jacobs said. “So for me, it’s just trying to come in and chase that No. 1 spot and raise a Super Bowl (trophy) at the end of the day.”
Wilson (502 rushing yards in 2024) and the versatile Brooks are high-level reserves.
Green Bay’s frustration with Lloyd — a third round draft pick last season — has to be sky high. He played just one game in 2024 due to injury, then injured his hamstring in the second preseason game and will be on I.R. at least four weeks.
WIDE RECEIVERS (C)
Starters: Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Matthew Golden
Reserves: Dontayvion Wicks, Savion Williams, Malik Heath
Released: Mecole Hardman, Kawaan Baker, Julian Hicks, Cornelius Johnson, Will Sheppard and Isaiah Neyor.
Reserve/physically unable to perform: Christian Watson
Summary: This was the most disappointing unit on the team last season, which is a major reason Green Bay took Golden in the first round of April’s draft.
The good news for the Packers is Golden could become their No. 1 receiver quickly. The speedy Golden (4.29 in the 40) had a magnificent summer and could be a darkhorse for Offensive Rookie of the Year.
“I think what’s so attractive about a guy like Golden is not only is he fast, but he’s got, I’d say elite hands,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “He can run through a football.”
The returnees — Reed, Doubs, Wicks and Heath — all must rebound from subpar seasons. All four played a role in the Packers finishing third in the league in drop percentage, with Wicks (20.4%) and Reed (18.2%) the greatest culprits.
Williams, a third round pick in April, will be playing catch-up after missing much of camp with a concussion and a hamstring injury.
TIGHT ENDS (B)
Starter: Tucker Kraft
Reserves: Luke Musgrave, Ben Sims, John FitzPatrick
Released: Messiah Swinson and Johnny Lumpkin
Summary:Kraft finished second on the team in receptions (50) and receiving yards (707) last year, and first with seven receiving TDs. He could be poised for a breakout season.
Musgrave, who’s played in just 18 games his first two seasons, finished camp with a bang. If he can stay healthy — a big if — Green Bay could have a dynamic 1-2 punch at tight end.
“I think that’s one thing Matt (LaFleur) and the guys drawing the plays have been kind of been hunting for, is to be able to get both of them on the field and do some pretty cool things in the passing game with them,” quarterback Jordan Love said of using two tight end sets
OFFENSIVE LINE (B)
Starters: Rasheed Walker, Aaron Banks, Elgton Jenkins, Sean Rhyan, Zach Tom
Reserves: Jordan Morgan, Anthony Belton, Donovan Jennings, Darian Kinnard
Released: Trey Hill, Lecitus Smith, Brant Banks, Kadeem Telfort, Tyler Cooper and J.J. Lippe.
Injured reserve/designated for return: Jacob Monk.
Reserve/physically unable to perform: John Williams
Summary: The Packers still haven’t announced a winner in the Walker vs. Morgan battle at left tackle. Walker has made 35 starts the last two seasons, but hits free agency after this season. Morgan, a first round draft pick in 2024, is the likely long-term starter at the position.
“I’ll be ready either way, know what I’m saying,” Walker said. “This is what I do. This is my livelihood.”
Tom and Rhyan make a formidable duo on the right side of the line. Jenkins, one of the most versatile offensive linemen in game, slides from left guard to center. Banks, who signed a four-year, $77 million deal in free agency, has battled a back injury throughout camp.
Depth is a problem.
DEFENSIVE LINE (C+)
Starters: Rashan Gary, Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt, Lukas Van Ness
Reserves: Kingsley Enagbare, Karl Brooks, Colby Wooden, Brenton Cox, Barryn Sorrell, Warren Brinson, Nazir Stackhouse.
Released: Arron Mosby, Deslin Alexandre, James Ester and Devonte O’Malley.
Reserve/physically unable to perform: Collin Oliver.
Summary: This group needs to be much better than a year ago.
Green Bay’s front four of Gary, Clark, Wyatt and Van Ness are all former first round draft picks. All but Gary battled injuries last year and are hoping improved health means greater productivity.
Green Bay finished ninth in the league with 45 sacks last year, led by Gary’s 7.5. The pressure was inconsistent, though, and defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley had to get creative with his blitz packages.
“Any time you can get pass rush with your front four and allows you to play coverage, it makes it extremely difficult on the offense,” LaFleur said.
There’s solid depth, led by Enagbare (4.5 sacks), Brooks (3.5 sacks) and the emerging Cox (4.0 sacks).
LINEBACKERS (B-)
Starters: Edgerrin Cooper, Quay Walker, Isaiah McDuffie
Reserves: Ty’Ron Hopper
Released: Kristian Welch, Isaiah Simmons, Jamon Johnson and Jared Bartlett.
Summary: One of the bigger surprises of cutdown day was Green Bay releasing both Welch and Simmons and keeping just four linebackers.
Cooper is a rising star who led all NFL linebackers with 13 tackles for loss as a rookie. Cooper was also second on the Packers with four turnover plays and fifth in sacks (3.5) despite playing just 45.1% of the snaps.
“I’m ready to expand my role on the team and do the things that need to get done,” Cooper said.
Walker joined Nick Barnett as the only Packers with at least 100 tackles in each of their first three seasons. Green Bay chose not to pick up his fifth-year option, though.
McDuffie is a tough, hardnosed respected leader, while Hopper had a terrific summer and looks like a future starter.
CORNERBACKS (C+)
Starters: Keisean Nixon, Nate Hobbs, Carrington Valentine
Reserves: Bo Melton, Kamal Hadden, Micah Robinson
Released: Kalen King, Corey Ballentine and Tyron Herring.
Summary: This group is among the biggest question marks on the team.
Nixon had a career year last season, but is he a No. 1? Hobbs, who signed a four-year, $48 million deal in free agency, missed most of camp after undergoing meniscus surgery.
Valentine is often the forgotten man despite starting the final seven games last year and posting his first two career interceptions. Melton made an impressive move from wideout to corner this offseason, but can he hold up against elite passing offenses?
“We feel pretty good about our group,” Gutekunst said. “The guys that we have in that room, they’ve got some pelts on the wall.”
SAFETIES (B)
Starters: Xavier McKinney, Evan Williams
Reserves: Javon Bullard, Zayne Anderson, Kitan Oladapo
Released: Jonathan Baldwin and Jaylin Simpson
Injured reserve: Omar Brown
Summary:McKinney, who signed in free agency in 2024, finished second in the NFL with eight interceptions, the most by a Packer since Charles Woodson in 2009 (nine). McKinney is every bit as good in the locker room, where he quickly became the Packers’ defensive leader, as well.
“He is an extension of the coaching staff out there,” LaFleur said of McKinney. “I mean, he really has a great grasp of what we’re trying to get accomplished.”
Williams is an emerging player, while Bullard will likely be the slot corner. Anderson is one of Green Bay’s top special teams players.
SPECIAL TEAMS (B)
Specialists: PK Brandon McManus, P Daniel Whelan, LS Matt Orzech
Released: PK Mark McNamee
Summary: The Packers haven’t had a Pro Bowl kicker since Chester Marcol in 1974. McManus could change that.
McManus saved Green Bay’s kicking game in 2024, then had an impressive summer making 73 of 79 kicks overall.
“He just has a pure stroke,” Green Bay special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia said of McManus. “He’s in a really good place at this point in his career … I think it all starts with him.”
Whelan has one of the stronger legs in the league and had a terrific summer. Orzech signed a three-year, $4.8 million contract Tuesday that makes him the NFL’s third-highest long snapper.
The kick and punt returners are still up in the air following the release of Mecole Hardman.
COACHING (C+)
LaFleur led the Packers to the NFC Championship game his first two seasons, but is just 1-3 in the postseason since. In 2024, LaFleur struggled with clock management, challenge flags and his own emotions.
LaFleur got into a verbal altercation with a Detroit Lions fan before a game and received a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty for berating an official in a loss to Minnesota.
“When you expect composure from your team and then you’re doing that, that’s a bad look,” LaFleur admitted after the Vikings’ loss.
New team president Ed Policy didn’t give LaFleur a contract extension this offseason, meaning he’ll have just one year left on his deal after the season. Policy also said he doesn’t think a coach should work into the final year of his contract without a new deal.
“Generally speaking I would avoid lame-duck status,” Policy said.
That means 2025 could be a make-or-break year for LaFleur.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/robreischel/2025/08/27/grading-the-green-bay-packers-53-man-roster/