Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst and coach Matt LaFleur will use the information and evaluations gained from a full training camp, two joint practices and three preseason games to help guide the difficult decisions necessary to trim the team’s roster to 53 players by Tuesday afternoon’s deadline.
While a couple dozen players will be released over the next two days, many will return on the team’s 16-player practice squad. After the waiver period expires on Wednesday, the Packers can start building out the practice squad.
Packers Wire will track all the cuts made to get down to 53 players by Tuesday here:
Updating list of reported cuts
Here’s the Packers initial 53-man roster for 2025
Packers initial roster to start 2025
Another surprise at cornerback
Arguably the biggest surprise so far. The Packers are releasing second-year cornerback Kalen King for the second straight year at roster cutdowns. King, who played mostly in the slot this summer, joins Corey Ballentine among the cuts at cornerback. It’s looking more and more like Bo Melton and Kamal Hadden will both make the 53. And seventh-round pick Micah Robinson now has a great chance, too.
Packers releasing Ballentine
The Packers returned cornerback Corey Ballentine during training camp, providing an experienced option on defense and special teams, but he won’t make the first 53. Ballentine’s release has to be good news for young corners such as Kalen King, Kamal Hadden and Bo Melton.
Packers moving on from Kadeem Telfort
Telfort, who spent the 2024 season on the 53-man roster, didn’t take a big step to start Year 3 and is now out. The writing was on the wall here when the Packers traded for Darian Kinnard, another big guard/tackle type.
Packers releasing Sean Clifford
As expected, the Packers are releasing quarterback Sean Clifford, who battled with Taylor Elgersma to be the third quarterback on the practice squad. Will the Packers keep Clifford (more experienced) or Elgersma (more upside) on Wednesday? Or will the third quarterback come from outside the organization?
Cuts coming in fast
Among the notable recent cuts: veteran offensive lineman Lecitus Smith, who can play guard and center; running back Amar Johnson, one of the standout players on offense during the preseason; receiver Will Sheppard, who caught a touchdown pass in the preseason finale; and receiver Isaiah Neyor, a big pass-catcher and a prime practice squad candidate.
Packers releasing Mecole Hardman
The Packers are releasing veteran receiver and returner Mecole Hardman on Tuesday. While an option as a returner, Hardman never crawled up at the depth chart at receiver and would have been a specialty player at a deep position.
Izzy out
Running back Israel Abanikanda impressed as a runner and kickoff returner, but a deep position group at running back means he’s out. It’s possible he’s a candidate to return on the practice squad.
Packers releasing rookie QB Elgersma
While not a surprise, the Packers have released rookie quarterback Taylor Elgersma, per Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The first-year quarterback from Canada made the offseason roster as a rookie tryout player and then battled Sean Clifford for the No. 3 job all summer. The Packers will either keep Elgersma or Clifford or look elsewhere for a third quarterback on the practice squad.
Packers expected to release Simmons
A big cut. According to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports, the Packers are expecting to release veteran linebacker Isaiah Simmons on Tuesday. Early in training camp, Simmons looked destined to be an important rotational player for Jeff Hafley and a special teams weapon for Rich Bisaccia. Now, he won’t even make the 53-man roster. A poor overall performance in the preseason likely doomed Simmons.
Packer start making cuts early Tuesday morning
A big group of reported cuts is rolling in to start Tuesday morning. Among the first reported cuts are receiver Cornelius Johnson, veteran offensive lineman Trey Hill and undrafted rookie offensive lineman J.J. Lippe.
Packers release WR Kawann Baker to make room for OL Darian Kinnard
The first cut is in. The Packers released wide receiver Kawann Baker to make room on the roster for offensive lineman Darian Kinnard, who was acquired from the Eagles via trade. The team announced the move on Monday.
When is the NFL roster deadline?
The Packers must trim their roster to 53 players by 3:00 p.m. CT on Tuesday.
Pre-cutdown trade
On Sunday, the Packers agreed to send a 2027 draft pick to the Eagles for offensive lineman Darian Kinnard, who will be expected to be on the initial 53-man roster if he passes a physical. More on Kinnard, a 2022 fifth-round pick, here. The Packers needed to bolster offensive line depth before or after final cuts, and Brian Gutekunst decided to be proactive.
What’s next
The Packers can start building out the 16-player practice squad after waiver claims are completed on Wednesday. Coach Matt LaFleur said he wants to get his players on the practice field on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week, and then a regular week schedule begins next week as the Packers prepare to take on the Detroit Lions in the regular season opener on Sunday, Sept. 7.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Green Bay Packers roster cuts: Tracking path to 53 players to start 2025
Reporting by Zach Kruse, Packers Wire / Packers Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
