Official 2022 Final Cuts Thread

[Joemailman]

According to PackerNews.com, Caleb Jones and Winfree made it to the PS - more very good news. Has anybody heard about Wilborn? Did he make the 53?

He's on the practice squad.

[Joemailman]

2 to go. Reportedly they want Juwann Winfree and Micah Abernathy.


Andy Herman

Packers p/s so far:

Danny Etling (MS)
Jack Heflin (TS)
Rico Gafford (TS)
Chris Slayton (ZJ)
Travis Fulgham (TP)
La'Darius Hamilton (RW)
Benjie Franklin (JSC)
Kiondre Thomas (RW)
Ramiz Ahmed (TS)
Tyler Goodson
Patrick Taylor
Caleb Jones (WF)
Kobe Jones
Ray Wilborn

Winfree being added makes 15. Waiting on word on Abernathy I guess.

[Fritz]

I recognize all those names except Benjie Franklin. Anybody know who that is? Where he's from? I don't think he was in camp with Green Bay.

Hoping Abernathy is their last add to the PS. It is amazing, though, how little poaching from others' rosters goes on in the NFL. I guess teams get to know a guy and get comfortable. But you'd think an offensive tackle like Caleb Jones, who put out some good tape apparently this preseason, did not get picked up by someone with a lousy offensive line, like, say, da Bears.

[run pMc]

I recognize all those names except Benjie Franklin. Anybody know who that is? Where he's from? I don't think he was in camp with Green Bay.

Hoping Abernathy is their last add to the PS. It is amazing, though, how little poaching from others' rosters goes on in the NFL. I guess teams get to know a guy and get comfortable. But you'd think an offensive tackle like Caleb Jones, who put out some good tape apparently this preseason, did not get picked up by someone with a lousy offensive line, like, say, da Bears.

Pretty sure Benjie Franklin was in the Jags camp and didn't make the final cutdown. He did make some plays in practice, and while he's light at 175 pounds, he is 6' and ran a 4.31 at his pro day. Tarleton State a FCS school in Texas, FWIW. In other words, he's a speedy project who is probably raw but not without talent.

I'd like to see them add Abernathy. I watched some of his USFL tape, I'd feel better about him playing than Carpenter at this point.

[Joemailman]

Packers have added TE Shaun Beyer to practice squad. I'm guessing Abernathy is not interested in signing onto a practice squad for now.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Abernathy will be signing tomorrow. Looks like Ahmed is the odd man out right now.

[texaspackerbacker]

I'm glad they are able to keep Abernathy, but I hate to see them lose Ahmed. I don't know why they're keeping damn Leavitt. Just cut him and move up one of the PS people to the 53.

[Fritz]

Abernathy will be signing tomorrow. Looks like Ahmed is the odd man out right now.

Ahmed seems promising - big enough leg, accurate. I hate to see him leave - this is very, very likely Crosby's last year, and good kickers are not that easy to find. If this kid's the future, I would think they'd up his PS salary offer a bit to keep him in GB. But it looks like he's not coming back.

And what to do if Crosby goes down? I'd think they could keep one spot on the PS for a promising young kicker.

[Teamcheez1]

I wonder if Ahmed is worried that if he signs to the practice squad, he won't get the opportunity to be signed by another team if they come calling i.e. the Packers would have him as one of their protected players.

I'm sure he believes that the first injury or failed kicker will give him a chance at a real roster spot.

It's rather confusing because I see reports that Ahmed and Abernathy are signing, but then there isn't any confirmation. I can't believe they would just sit out.

[bobblehead]

I recognize all those names except Benjie Franklin. Anybody know who that is? Where he's from? I don't think he was in camp with Green Bay.

Hoping Abernathy is their last add to the PS. It is amazing, though, how little poaching from others' rosters goes on in the NFL. I guess teams get to know a guy and get comfortable. But you'd think an offensive tackle like Caleb Jones, who put out some good tape apparently this preseason, did not get picked up by someone with a lousy offensive line, like, say, da Bears.

The lack of poaching by most allows a good GM to find rasul douglas off the scrap heap.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I wonder if Ahmed is worried that if he signs to the practice squad, he won't get the opportunity to be signed by another team if they come calling i.e. the Packers would have him as one of their protected players.

I'm sure he believes that the first injury or failed kicker will give him a chance at a real roster spot.

It's rather confusing because I see reports that Ahmed and Abernathy are signing, but then there isn't any confirmation. I can't believe they would just sit out.

It could be that they'd cut somebody else from the practice squad--which would be rough for that player.

[texaspackerbacker]

I say again, unload damn Leavitt. He's injured anyway, and he was crap in pass coverage before the injury. Special teams even with him didn't look very good. And this Rudy Ford supposedly is a better gunner anyway.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I say again, unload damn Leavitt. He's injured anyway, and he was crap in pass coverage before the injury. Special teams even with him didn't look very good. And this Rudy Ford supposedly is a better gunner anyway.

Oh boy.

1) Leavitt isn't injured anymore. He's been practicing this week.
2) He barely played any special teams snaps in the preseason before getting injured. He got injured in the first half of the first game. I think he played on three special teams plays in that game. He was on the first kickoff coverage, and the 49ers only returned the ball to the 23yd line. He was on the first punt coverage (not a gunner). That was a fair catch on a 42 yard punt. He was on the first punt return unit--which was a fair catch on a 35 yard punt.
3) He's not a gunner. Rudy Ford and Keisean Nixon will be the gunners, and both have been good previously.

https://packerswire.usatoday.com/2022/07/31/can-newcomer-dallin-leavitt-be-an-elite-special-teams-player-for-packers/

Leavitt led the Raiders with 12 special teams tackles last season. Over the last three seasons, he’s played over 800 snaps on special teams. He’s experienced and has the right playmaking mindset for special teams...

“Dallin has been a pretty elite special teams player there for a few years, so certainly (Bisaccia) was excited to get him in the building,” Gutekunst said to start training camp. “Had him for a couple of days here, but he seems like a great kid and were excited about what he can do for us there. Played a bunch of snaps at safety too, so getting some more depth there is helpful.”

[run pMc]

Leavitt is a ST player only. If he's playing snaps at S in a game, either they're in trouble or up by 3 scores with 2 minutes left. He can't cover your grandma.

Ahmed as a kicker is a keeper for PS. They kept Molson all last year. Cheez might be right about waiting to see if he gets a better offer, but COVID and other things happen. With a 16 person squad you can keep a K there.

[Joemailman]

It could be that they'd cut somebody else from the practice squad--which would be rough for that player.

Right now Packers have 15 players listed on practice squad, and that includes Abernathy. So they may have a spot open if they can get Ahmed to take it. It had been reported that Rico Gafford was being signed to practice squad, but he is not on there.