Packers training camp analysis: What we know and what is still to be decided in final week

With a week to go until the Green Bay Packers name their initial 53-man roster, plenty has been revealed throughout the course of training camp, joint practices and preseason games, while some big issues are still to be decided.

Here are five things we know and what we don’t as training camp enters the final stretch:

Packers dodge major injury bullets

The Packers have suffered a litany of injuries during the summer, but as of yet, none of their projected starters dealing who have picked up an injury have been ruled out of any regular season action.

As of Monday, Green Bay’s key players not practicing were Nate Hobbs, Dontayvion Wicks, Jayden Reed, Xavier McKinney, Aaron Banks, Lukas Van Ness and Kenny Clark, with the last three new additions to the injury list, all with back issues.

Romeo Doubs returned to practice after his own back injury, as did Jordan Love, with his surgically repaired left thumb heavily taped. Neither player appears to be in any danger of missing the first week of the season.

McKinney was spotted working with a trainer, doing backpedals while wearing a helmet, which looks like a positive sign he could be back on the practice field soon.

It is not out of the question that some of the other injuries could end up lingering into the season, but at this stage, the Packers are not in bad shape when it comes to availability for the start of football that counts, despite being banged up at the moment.

Matthew Golden firmly in starting receiver rotation

There has been a strong recent history of wide receivers selected in the first round of the draft being able to have an impact as rookies, and Golden looks like he’s on track to do just that.

A plague of injuries to Packers receivers has helped him get more opportunities with the first team, but the former Texas wideout was being mixed in right from the start of camp and has made plays throughout the summer, showing off his speed, twitch and vice-like hands.

Golden just looks different than the rest of Green Bay’s receivers, and his talent is obvious. He did not play a single snap in the preseason game versus Indianapolis, indicating his standing as someone locked into the starting rotation of receivers.

Back end offensive line depth looks shaky

There are not many teams in the NFL who have seven offensive linemen they can reasonably trust to go into a game, in fact, plenty of teams don’t even have five. That puts the Packers’ problems along the offensive line into context, but at this point, the group of young linemen fighting for back end roster spots are not separating themselves.

Jacob Monk will probably be Green Bay’s eighth lineman by default, as he can play center, but the team may decide to just keep nine instead of their usual ten, and who the ninth will be at this stage is completely up for grabs.

Barring a disaster, whoever ends up winning the final roster spots will not see the field for the Packers in 2025 in any case, but the team could well be scouring the waiver wire at cutdown time to find other options.

Van Ness showing signs of breakout

The drumbeat of Van Ness’s strong camp has grown louder with each passing week, and his impressive performance against the Colts in last week’s joint practice was another box checked. Once the regular season arrives, it will be revealed whether the hype around Van Ness is justified, but so far, all the signs are positive around the former first-round pick.

Christian Watson ahead of schedule

Watson’s recovery from ACL surgery seems to be going about as well as possible, and GM Brian Gutekunst’s recent comments on the receiver’s rehab all but confirmed he will be able to play a significant role in the regular season.

While he is likely to be on the PUP list to start the campaign, missing the first four games, the implication from Gutekunst seemed to be that Watson will be pushing to return to action quickly thereafter.

Jordan Morgan or Rasheed Walker? Jordan Morgan or Sean Rhyan?

Morgan has firmly inserted himself into the picture to start at left tackle after some accomplished performances in the preseason and training camp, with head coach Matt LaFleur confirming it is “100 a competition” between he and Walker for the job.

The second-year lineman has also worked on the interior plenty, and starting at right guard could be in play. Morgan and Rhyan were the only pseudo starters to play on the offensive line against the Colts on Saturday.

Regardless of whether Morgan opens the season as a starter, the Packers will be very pleased with his progress, and he will almost certainly see the field on a weekly basis in a rotation with either Walker, Rhyan, or both, until a clear winner is established.

Malik Heath or Mecole Hardman?

Heath seems to be ahead of Hardman in terms of the number of first-team snaps he has played throughout camp, but the former Chief still has a case to make the team as a return specialist and backup slot receiver to Jayden Reed, especially with Reed currently nursing a foot injury.

It is still possible both or neither receiver makes the initial 53, although getting Hardman back on the practice squad could be considerably harder than Heath.

Who is CB4?

Green Bay’s top three corners are set in Nate Hobbs, Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine, while Javon Bullard will also play a part in the slot, but after that, the fourth traditional cornerback spot is up for grabs.

It speaks to how swimmingly Bo Melton’s transition from receiver to corner has gone that he is well and truly in the mix, and seems a lock to make the roster. Corey Ballentine’s return has added a stable presence to the corner room, and he should be firmly in the conversation for the fourth spot on the depth chart, while Kamal Hadden had a tough outing versus the Colts, hurting his stock.

Can Isaiah Simmons turn it around?

The juxtaposition between the positive reports Simmons has received during practice to the unnerving performances in preseason action has been stark. He has looked lost at times and appears to be seriously hurting his chances of making the team.

He has all the athleticism in the world, but the instincts for the position may be lacking in a critical way. Simmons has a week left to prove he should stick on the 53.

Which RBs make it? And how many?

Emanuel Wilson returned to the lineup just in time to stake his claim for a roster spot, after seeing plenty of regular season snaps last year. Chris Brooks looks like a lock to make the team due to his trustworthiness in pass protection and as a pass catcher, giving him third down value.

MarShawn Lloyd’s latest injury sounds like it may leak into the season, which could help the cutdown day decision, as the Packers could place him on IR and return him later on, opening up a spot for Wilson or perhaps Israel Abanikanda, who has shown value as a kick returner.

This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers training camp analysis: What we know and what is to be decided