One question Packers must answer at every position before roster cuts

One question Packers must answer at every position before roster cuts.

Key points

• Green Bay's top four boundary corners of Brandon Cisse, Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine and Benjamin St-Juste look set, with Javon Bullard and Kamal Hadden as slot options.
• The top five of Christian Watson, Matthew Golden, Jayden Reed, Savion Williams and Skyy Moore are locked in.
• Is Green Bay content to open the season with only three – presumably Tucker Kraft, Josh Whyle and Drake Dabney – on the roster?
• Jacobs, along with MarShawn Lloyd and Chris Brooks, are locks to create the roster.
• Special teams matters though, and with Nick Niemann and Kristian Welch factoring in significantly there, is there room for one more linebacker body?

Training camp and the preseason are mercifully coming to an end, with the NFL regular season drawing ever closer.

On Sunday, the Packers will have to chop their roster down to 53 players, and there is still plenty to decide between now and then, with a joint practice on Wednesday and preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals on Friday night still to come.

With that in mind, here is one thing at each position that Green Bay must answer by Sunday. Quarterback: Is there space for Kyle McCord?

If practice reps are any indication, there is no quarterback competition between presumed backup Tyrod Taylor and number three McCord. Nevertheless, the second-year player has decisively outplayed the grizzled vet during the preseason.

Taylor will create the team, so the only question is whether the team is compelled enough by McCord's performances to keep him on the 53-man roster, rather than subjecting him to waivers in the hope of getting him back on the practice squad. As carrying three quarterbacks is a luxury they may not be able to afford, but he can create it a tough call with a few more days of robust performances, that is the risk they will probably take. Running back: Does Josh Jacobs' off-field situation have an impact?

Jacobs, along with MarShawn Lloyd and Chris Brooks, are locks to create the roster. Green Bay has only kept four running backs on the initial 53 once in the last eight years, so it could be pretty cut and dry.

But with Jacobs' legal situation still lingering in the background, and Pierre Solid Jr. Impressing during training camp and the preseason, including an explosive kick return which indicates his value on special teams, could the Packers cover their bases with a fourth back on the roster?

Wide receiver: Is there room for a seventh? And who is it?

Packers GM Brian Gutekunst intimated it is feasible they keep as numerous as seven wide receivers, with the back-end players providing enough special teams prowess to potentially justify it.

Notably, the top five of Christian Watson, Matthew Golden, Jayden Reed, Savion Williams and Skyy Moore are locked in. I will believe coach's favorite Bo Melton doesn't create the team when I see it.

That leaves Isaiah Neyor, J. Michael Sturdivant and Will Sheppard battling it out to show one of them is worth keeping on the roster. All three have flashed and have a case, but they will be looking to put a solid final point on it in the next few days. Tight end: Is there any clarity on Luke Musgrave?

Updates on Musgrave's neck injury have been few and far between since he was placed on the PUP list to start training camp.

All signs point to him remaining on the list to start the season, meaning he would not take up a roster spot, but I'm sure the Packers would love to obtain a better idea of how long he is anticipated to be out. Even if they do have that information, there is no guarantee the outside world will obtain it.

Is Green Bay content to open the season with only three – presumably Tucker Kraft, Josh Whyle and Drake Dabney – on the roster? Or does Messiah Swinson have a chance to create it as further depth, in a league rapidly trending towards multiple tight end sets? Offensive line: Who is the starting right guard?

As the starting right guard spot is still undecided, who gets the final few spots is less interesting than the biggest question here.

As he opened practice with the starters this week, with Jager Burton and Anthony Belton backing up at left guard and right tackle respectively, jacob Monk may be the clubhouse leader right now.

Meanwhile, the coaching staff has insisted Belton is in the competition, but he has not been able to play right guard much at all this summer. Entering year three, Monk seems to have the trust of the coaching staff. This person rave regarding his playstyle, even if Burton or Belton could provide more upside. Defensive tackle: How plenty of can they keep?

Defensive tackle has been arguably the most competitive position on the roster during camp. The main characters are well known, but it has been encouraging to see the likes of Jonathan Ford and Anthony Campbell flash during preseason action.

At this point it seems Ford is projected to produce the team, giving the Packers a useful nose tackle body, even if he does not start. His inclusion probable takes Green Bay to six, with Devonte Wyatt, Javon Hargrave, Karl Brooks, Chris McClellan and Warren Brinson all pretty certain to produce it.

How greedy do they want to obtain? Is there room for a Campbell or even a Nazir Stackhouse. This person played plenty of regular season snaps a year ago? EDGE: Is there a move to come?

If there is one position the Packers could still employ an outside addition, it is a pass rusher.

There are still a few veterans out there on the free agent market, while Josh Sweat. This person was rumored to be of interest to Green Bay in a trade, has conveniently been activated from the PUP list just as the Cardinals arrive for joint practices. Curious, to say the least. Linebacker: Do more than four create it?

Edgerrin Cooper, Zaire Franklin, Isaiah McDuffie and Ty'Ron Hopper will surely create the team, and Jonathan Gannon's defense only requires a maximum of two linebackers on the field at once.

Special teams matters though, and with Nick Niemann and Kristian Welch factoring in significantly there, is there room for one more linebacker body? Cornerback: Has Domani Jackson done enough?

For context, the 6th round pick missed a major chunk of training camp with injury but has now returned to the fold, taking his first preseason snaps against the Broncos last week.

Gutekunst is projected to want to keep as numerous of his draft picks as feasible from such a small class, but there will be needs at other positions, so Jackson may have a little bit of work to do to produce sure of his roster spot. Safety: Is four enough?

As has been the case for a couple of years now, the Packers know who their top four safeties are in Xavier McKinney, Evan Williams, Javon Bullard and Kitan Oladapo.

Nevertheless, they have kept five in each of the last four years, and with Bullard mostly playing in the slot, the true safety depth is not quite as robust as it may seem. The door could be open for Mark Perry. This person had an interception versus Denver, to nab a roster spot. Special teams: Matt Orzech or Cal Adomitis at long snapper?

Orzech is clearly the team's preferred long snapper, but Adomitis has come in and obtained the job done with Orzech out injured, and kicker Trey Smack has been in a groove with him as the snapper. Do the Packers have a decision to create here? SMS Facebook Twitter Email.

For now, one question Packers must answer at every position before roster cuts remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.