Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Zach Kruse

4 players who turned into roster locks for Packers during training camp

Training camp is all about opportunity, and a few players for Matt LaFleur’s Green Bay Packers team have taken full advantage this summer.

Who has stepped up and all but locked in a 53-man roster spot for 2023?

An offer for Packers fans

For the best local Wisconsin news, sports, entertainment and culture coverage, subscribe to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Buy Packers Tickets

Here are four players who went from bubble players to roster locks during training camp:

DL Karl Brooks

Aug 19, 2023; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers defensive end Karl Brooks (94) rushes New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (10) during their preseason football game at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Tork Mason-USA TODAY Sports

The sixth-round pick entered camp with a good chance to make the team as a draft pick at a weak position group, but Brooks — who played a lot of football at Bowling Green and can beat blocks in a variety of ways — cemented his spot with a terrific summer. He was consistently disruptive during practices and preseason games, and now Matt LaFleur sees him as a player who will be on the field and asked to contribute during the 2023 season. Brooks and fourth-round pick Colby Wooden are going to be important rotational players up front for Joe Barry’s defense in Year 1.

OT Rasheed Walker

Aug 19, 2023; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) throws a pass during the first quarter of their preseason game against the New England Patriots at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

Walker, a seventh-round pick in 2022, was on the field for just one game as a rookie last season, but a legitimate second-year leap has him shooting up the depth chart. In fact, Walker is going into the final preseason game as the favorite to be the backup left tackle and go-to swing tackle ahead of Yosh Nijman. He started at left tackle against the Patriots and gave up zero pressures over 23 pass-blocking snaps, per PFF. Could Walker end up being a surprise starter? Just this week, the Packers moved Zach Tom to center and had Walker on the field as the first-team right tackle.

CB Carrington Valentine

Aug 11, 2023; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Green Bay Packers cornerback Carrington Valentine (37) reacts after an interception against the Cincinnati Bengals in the first half at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports

The seventh-round pick from Kentucky has been a standout throughout training camp. Matt LaFleur loves his length, athleticism and mental makeup at the position. How good has Valentine been this summer? At this point, he is locked in as the defense’s No. 4 cornerback and the go-to backup behind perimeter cornerbacks Jaire Alexander and Rasul Douglas. That might change once Eric Stokes is healthy, but for now, Valentine is a rookie who will be active and contributing on most gamedays in 2023. His ceiling is high.

QB Sean Clifford

Green Bay Packers quarterback Sean Clifford (8) eyes a pass to Green Bay Packers wide receiver Samori Toure (83), left, in the second quarter during a Week 1 NFL preseason game between the Green Bay Packers and the Cincinnati Bengals,Friday, Aug. 11, 2023, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati.

The Packers used a fifth-round pick on Clifford believing the record-breaking Penn State quarterback could immediately compete to be Jordan Love’s backup, but he still had to get on the field and prove it. Clifford has passed the test with flying colors during camp. The rookie quaretrback has proven to be accurate and tough, athletic outside the pocket and calm in tough situations. He even rebounded from a few shaky decisions in the preseason opener. The Packers knew Clifford had the brain to be the backup, now they know he has the talent. A legitimate search for a veteran backup would have been necessary had Clifford not been up to the task this summer. There’s no need now.

Other notables

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Malik Heath (18) Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin.

While not roster locks necessarily, these players have helped themselves during camp:

WR Malik Heath: The undrafted rookie out of Ole Miss is probably one more strong preseason performance away from locking in his roster spot. He gets open, catches everything and is willing to do the thankless work.

S Rudy Ford: In a crowded safety room, Ford has begun to separate. For better or worse, it looks like he’ll be a Week 1 starter.

OL Sean Rhyan: The 2022 third-round pick looks much improved in Year 2, which should lock him in as a backup at guard entering 2023.

OLB Justin Hollins: He’s been running with the first-team defense throughout camp and has three quarterback hits in two preseason games. Even in a deep position group, Hollins has all but locked in his roster spot.

RB Patrick Taylor: He runs, he catches, he blocks, and he plays special teams. Taylor isn’t special in any one way, but he’s solid across the board, and his special team versatility has once again made him the likely No. 3.

DL Jonathan Ford: Like Rhyan, Ford has enjoyed a big jump as a second-year player. Will the Packers keep six defensive linemen?

CB Innis Gaines: The Packers really like him in the slot and on special teams. Had he been healthy throughout camp, Gaines would be a lock. But recurring injuries are a limited factor.

OLB Brenton Cox Jr: The rookie edge rusher can play. He needs more development before he’s ready to be on the field in a meaningful role, but edge rushers are so valuable.

RB Emanuel Wilson: He went from long shot to serious contender at running back. A slippery, violent runner, he leads the NFL in rushing yards entering the final preseason week.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.