The Green Bay Packers are expecting to sit starters and veterans during Sunday night’s preseason clash with the Denver Broncos, providing an opportunity for players down the depth chart to get extra reps in a live-game setting. Friday’s joint practice in Denver provided the necessary work for Jordan Love and other starters. Now, they can watch from the sideline as other teammates attempt to win roster spots.
Last week in Cleveland, second-year receiver Grant DuBose translated his strong start to training camp into a standout performance in the preseason opener. Who could be this week’s DuBose?
Here are some players to watch on Sunday night:
WR Bo Melton
His preseason opener in Cleveland didn’t go as planned — Melton fumbled a jet sweep handoff and dropped two or three passes in a disappointing overall performance. It’s unclear how many snaps he’ll get in Denver, but Melton has an opportunity to bounce back in a big way. The competition is heating up at wide receiver — DuBose is looking more and more like a roster lock — so Melton needs a rebound. Remember, he made big plays against starters in big games to end last season, and the Packers love his elite speed and tenacity as a blocker. Malik Heath could also use a big play or two on Sunday night.
OL Jacob Monk
The rookie fifth-round pick is starting to get snaps with the first-team offense at right guard, and the Packers think he can play all three of the interior line positions. In the preseason opener, Monk played 61 snaps — 33 at right guard, 11 at left guard and 17 at center. While Monk might be a long shot to start at right guard — that battle is between Jordan Morgan and Sean Rhyan — it’s looking more and more like Monk will be a valuable interior backup as a rookie. Also along the offensive line, expect to see Rhyan to get more snaps at center as the Packers cross-train him on the interior.
RB Emanuel Wilson
The Broncos signed Wilson as an undrafted free agent coming out of the 2023 draft but then waived him three days later, setting the stage for him landing in Green Bay a week later. A year later, and after leading the NFL in rushing yards last preseason, Wilson is back in Denver to play a preseason game while pushing for a spot on the Packers’ 53-man roster. He’s big and fast, and his running talent is clear — the Packers just need to see more of the little things, like blocking and catching, in a live game setting. A game against his former team is a great opportunity.
QB Michael Pratt
The rookie was impressive in his NFL debut in Cleveland and has closed ground on Sean Clifford in the battle to be Jordan Love’s backup. Pratt has a good arm and is unafraid to push the ball downfield. Even if Clifford starts, the rookie quarterback could get at least a half of work on Sunday night. This is a big chance for Pratt — who went 5-for-7 in the preseason opener — to make another move in the quarterback competition.
DE Arron Mosby
While Brenton Cox Jr. is probably the favorite if the Packers keep five defensive ends, Mosby has consistently made plays during training camp — including a fourth down pass breakup in the preseason opener — and is making the competition interesting. After spending time as an off-ball linebacker in the old 3-4 defense, Mosby is looking at home as a 4-3 defensive end.
TE Joel Wilson
Wilson, an undrafted free agent from the 2023 class, caught three passes for 30 yards and looked impressive as a blocker — both inline and on the move — in the preseason opener. He can really run, and he was surprisingly physical. The Packers like the way he runs routes in the passing game, so don’t be surprised if he’s an active target for Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt. There’s a good chance Wilson has already shown enough this summer to stick around on the practice squad. While still a longshot, can he make a late run at a roster spot?
CB Robert Rochell
Rookie Kalen King is pushing for a roster spot, but Rochell — who has experience at corner and plenty of special teams value — isn’t making it easy. In Cleveland, Rochell disrupted a fourth down pass and made an impressive special teams tackle after beating a double team block. King keeps making standout plays, so Rochell has to keep matching the rookie to hold onto a roster spot.
K Greg Joseph
Does anyone want to win the Packers kicking competition? Joseph, the veteran, still holds an on-field advantage so far in training camp, but he had too many misses over the last week. It’s worth nothing that both Joseph and Anders Carlson were perfect on kicks in the preseason opener and Friday’s joint practice, so they are making kicks in big spots. The Packers need one of the kickers to separate from the field. Joseph has a big leg, giving Matt LaFleur plenty of range if he wants to attempt a few long kicks in the altitude on Sunday night.