The Green Bay Packers released their initial 53-man roster of the 2024 season on Tuesday.
Who made the team? Who were the surprising releases? What about the injury situations? Let’s break it all down.
Here are some big things to know from the Packers’ first 53-man roster of 2024:
— The Packers placed running back A.J. Dillon (stinger) and tight end Tyler Davis (shoulder) on injured reserve without a return designation, ending their 2024 season. They could be released with injury settlements. This looks like it could be the end of Dillon’s career in Green Bay. He’s suffered two stingers in the last nine months and has no realistic pathaway to playing for the Packers in 2024.
— Rookie running back MarShawn Lloyd avoided injured reserve is on the 53-man roster, suggesting he’s close to return from a hamstring injury. Lloyd and Emanuel Wilson are the two backups behind Josh Jacobs.
— Veteran Greg Joseph is the kicker, for now. Anders Carlson was released.
— Defensive lineman Jonathan Ford went on injured reserve with a designation to return. He injured his calf in the preseason finale. He can return after a minimum of four games.
— The Packers released both Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt. On the first 53 is Malik Willis, who will be officially traded to Green Bay from Tennessee pending a physical.
— The Packers released receiver Grant DuBose and kept six receivers, with Bo Melton and Malik Heath making it as the final two. DuBose had a nice summer but it’s possible keeping seven receivers was just too many.
— The Packers kept six defensive ends — both Brenton Cox Jr. and Arron Mosby made the team. Cox led the team in pressures and Mosby made a ton of impact plays during the preseason.
— Linebacker Kristian Welch, a preseason standout and core special teamer, didn’t make it. He was released. The Packers kept only five linebackers.
— The Packers released rookie cornerback Kalen King. The team kept only five cornerbacks. King and Pratt, two seventh-round picks, were the only two of 11 draft picks to be released.
— Safety Anthony Johnson Jr., who started games for the Packers last season, was released in a shocking move. He had a nice camp and preseason but lost out to Zayne Anderson, a core special teamer, and Kitan Oladapo, a fifth-round rookie.
— The Packers did not have an undrafted rookie make the initial 53-man roster for the first time in two decades.
