The Green Bay Packers aren’t saying Graham Harrell couldn’t figure into their future roster plans, but even with Matt Flynn likely in his last season, the don’t feel strong enough about Harrell to give him a spot on the 53-man roster.
Harrell was one of the Packers cuts today. They’re hoping no team out there has a strong enough feeling about Harrell that they’ll be able to sign Harrell to the practice squad for a second season.
The Packers didn’t think enough about their backups on the offensive line and it showed when they kept just 8 lineman on the 53 man roster to open the season. That doesn’t mean they won’t still sign a player, but they released Nick McDonald, who had been a player of their liking. They also traded 6th round draft pick Caleb Schlauderaff to the New York Jets for a conditional future draft choice.
The Packers just one fullback (John Kuhn), trading Quinn Johnson to Tennessee for an undisclosed late-round draft pick. They’re expected to try to sign Jon Hoese (Minnesota) to their practice squad after Hoese was released earlier. It also means all five tightends left made the opening day roster. At least one or two of those players could have some active role as a fullback already this week. Tightends and fullbacks have always been interchangeable in McCarthy’s blocking schemes.
On the defensive side of the ball, the packers kept 10 linebackers, including a pair of undrafted rookies, Vic So’oto and Jamari Lattimore.
The Packers also saw a 3rd undrafted rookie make the team. Safety M.D. Jennings out of Arkansas State beat out 3rd year safety Brandon Underwood for the 4th safety position.
Here are the roster moves that the Packers made today:
The Packers released WR Diondre Borel, S Anthony Bratton, T Chris Campbell, T/G Ray Dominguez, NT Chris Donaldson, LB Ricky Elmore, C Sampson Genus, CB Josh Gordy, WR Tori Gurley, QB Graham Harrell, FB Jon Hoese, LB Cardia Jackson, DE Eli Joseph, S Anthony Levine, C/G Nick McDonald, RB Dimitri Nance, CB Brandian Ross, NT Jay Ross, RB Brandon Saine, WR Kerry Taylor, S/CB Brandon Underwood and WR Chastin West.
DE Lawrence Guy and WR Shaky Smithson were both placed on injured reserve. FB Quinn Johnson and G Caleb Schlauderaff were both traded for future draft considerations.
The Packers roster now stands at 53 players. They start preparing for the season opener, this Thursday against the New Orleans Saints at Lambeau Field.