Getty Patrick Taylor #27 of the Green Bay Packers carries the ball against the Minnesota Vikings in the first half at U.S. Bank Stadium on November 21, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The Green Bay Packers are getting right down to business on the morning of the NFL’s 53-man cutdown day for the 2022 season.
After making just one roster cut over the weekend, the Packers began Tuesday needing to cut or trade another 25 players from their roster prior to the 4 p.m. ET deadline. Some positions, like quarterback, are going to be straightforward, but there are also some with mysteries to be solved, such as wide receiver and safety.
Here’s a live look at the Packers’ roster cuts as they made leading up to the deadline:
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Ty Summers, ILB
Summers was the only player the Packers let go prior to their final cutdown day, but head coach Matt LaFleur said they released him early because they believed he would have some free agent interest and wanted to give him “an opportunity before the wave of cuts to find a home.” Summers, a 2019 seventh-round pick, played 46 games over the past three seasons and was a key roleplayer for their special teams, but he was an inevitable cap casualty after the Packers re-signed De’Vondre Campbell and drafted Quay Walker in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft.
#Packers coach Matt LaFleur says “it was a tough decision” to release Ty Summers, but wanted to give him opportunity before final cuts for him to find a team. Casualty of better ILB depth: “Anytime you invest a first-round pick in that room, you upgrade that room quite a bit.”
De’Vante Cross, S
According to Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, Cross was one of the first players the Packers released on Tuesday, and it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. He was signed just after 85-man cuts were made to boost depth in an injury-riddled safety room and played decent enough in Green Bay’s final two preseason games, but he looked like the odd man out behind guys like Micah Abernathy and seventh-round rookie Tariq Carpenter, both of whom are also competing for depth spots behind Darnell Savage Jr. and Adrian Amos.
#Packers released safety De’Vante Cross, per source.
And cutdown day has begun.
Alize Mack, TE
As first reported by Bill Huber of Sports Illustrated, the Packers are also waiving tight end Alize Mack from their roster with an injury designation in another expected move that offers a bit more clarity at the position. The Packers have not committed to saying Robert Tonyan Jr. will be ready for Week 1, and their other options at the moment are Josiah Deguara, Marcedes Lewis and a bunch of question marks. With Mack — a 2019 seventh-round pick for Las Vegas — gone, the race for the fourth tight end spot comes down to Tyler Davis, Nate Becker and former USFL standout Sal Cannella
Green Bay Packers waived-injured tight end Alize Mack, per a league source
Akial Byers, DL
Akial Byers being waived with injury designation, per a league source
Kabion Ento, CB
#Packers are releasing CB Kabion Ento, per source. He’s been with the team since 2019, spending two of those seasons on the practice squad (he was IR in 2020). Wouldn’t expect him back on the practice squad.
Dexter Williams, RB
The Packers brought back Williams — a 2019 seventh-round pick — to drive up competition in their backfield while Patrick Taylor was injured, but he seemed like a long shot to make the roster with Tyler Goodson leading the pack in the preseason. There’s a chance he could get another look for the practice squad, but it seems likely they will look first to whoever loses out on the 53-man roster between Taylor and Goodson.
Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette also said he “wouldn’t expect” Williams back on the practice squad, per his league sources, so there’s that, too.
The #Packers are releasing RB Dexter Williams, per sources.
Sal Cannella, TE
Two more #Packers released: TE Sal Cannella and DL Akial Byers. The Packers will waive Byers injured because he has a toe injury.
Kiondre Thomas, CB
Packers have released CB Kiondre Thomas, per source.
Juwann Winfree, WR
There was a good amount of buzz this summer around Winfree, who caught seven of his 15 targets for 75 yards in the preseason and stood out in training-camp practices, but it was going to be difficult for him to make the roster given the crowded nature of the receiving room. The Packers have three players in the first two years of rookie contracts, all of whom were drafted in the first four rounds, and three veterans they are counting on for their primary production to start the 2022 season, leaving little room for Winfree to accomplish much as WR7, at best. He should be a top candidate for the practice squad, though, unless he wants to seek out an opportunity elsewhere.
The #Packers are waiving TE Juwann Winfree, per source.
Chris Slayton, DL
Chris Slayton will not be taking Jack Heflin’s spot on the 53. #Packers are releasing him, per source. Slayton had an eye-opening camp with his burst off the LOS in pass-rush game. He’s a practice squad candidate.
Jack Heflin, DL
The #Packers are waiving DT Jack Heflin, source said.
Danny Etling, QB
Packers release QB Danny Etling, per source.
Ishmael Hyman, WR
I’m told the Packers released Ishmael Hyman.
Tyler Goodson, RB
The #Packers are waiving RB Tyler Goodson, source said. Green Bay wants him back on practice squad but the rookie had a promising preseason and could be claimed.
Shawn Davis, S
#Packers will not keep S Shawn Davis on the 53-man roster. May be an injury settlement. Had a very solid camp and would seem to be a good bet for PS. Means Tariq Carpenter has probably won a spot.
Rico Gafford, CB
La’Darius Hamilton, OLB
#Packers released OLB La’Darius Hamilton, per source. He was part of the fiercest position battle in camp on the edge.
Innis Gaines, S
#Packers safety Innis Gaines has been waived/injured, per source. Tough camp for Gaines, who strained his hamstring on Family Night, returned for preseason finale, then strained it again. If healthy, his versatility in the secondary would have given him a real shot at the 53.
Michal Menet, C/G
The Packers are releasing center/guard Michal Menet, a former seventh-round pick. Good player but the versatility of Zach Tom played a role in the move.
Nate Becker, TE
#Packers will waive TE Nate Becker injured, according to a source.
Ramiz Ahmed, K
Packers have released K Ramiz Ahmed, per source.
Kobe Jones, OLB
#Packers released OLB Kobe Jones, per source.
Caleb Jones, OT
#Packers are cutting OT Caleb Jones, source said. Big risk. Will be interesting to see if he is claimed.
Travis Fulgham, WR
Patrick Taylor, RB
#Packers have released their roster: RB Patrick Taylor and ILB Ray Wilborn are the two previously unreported cuts.
Ray Wilborn, ILB
The best corps came up with 23 of the 25 moves. The releases of RB Patrick Taylor and LB Ray Wilborn were the others.
Previous Roster Cuts
80-Man Cutdown (August 23)
Ty Clary, C (waived)
Chauncey Manac, OLB (waived)
Kylin Hill (placed on PUP list)
Danny Davis, WR (waived)
Vernon Scott, FS (waived)
Cole Van Lanen, G/T (traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a 2023 seventh-round pick)
*The Packers stayed at 79 players for their final preseason game and dropped to 78 with the release of Summers.
85-Man Cutdown (on August 16)
Cole Schneider, C (waived)
Donte Vaughn, CB (waived)
BJ Baylor, RB (waived)
Ellis Brooks, ILB (waived)
Dominique Dafney, TE (waived)
George Moore, OG (waived)
Randy Ramsey, OLB (waived)
*The Packers also claimed tight end Nate Becker (on August 16) and wide receiver Travis Fulgham (on August 18) off the waivers, bringing them back up to 80 players before their second preseason game against the New Orleans Saints.