Packers vs. Chiefs Preview: Roster battles to watch in Green Bay’s pr

eseason finale The Green Bay Packers have their starting lineup essentially set for the start of the 2018 season. Although a few injuries here and there may affect the specifics of who takes the field on the first snaps of the team’s week one game against the Chicago Bears http://www.packerscheapstore.com/nick-perry-jersey-cheap , the general structure of the lineup is set. The back end of the roster, though? That remains very much in flux, with plenty of question marks to be answered. The last chance for players to audition for the roster comes tonight, with the Packers in Kansas City for their preseason finale against the Chiefs.Here are four positions that should have roster spots decided by the play of those Packers who will get significant playing time on Thursday evening.Wide ReceiverIt’s probably obvious, as the receiver battle seems to get more attention than any other position battle on the Packers’ roster this year. However, Thursday is the last chance for the three rookies and Trevor Davis to audition for the 53.In week one, Marquez Valdes-Scantling exploded and Equanimeous St. Brown had a very solid game. The second game saw the arrival (and injury) of Jake Kumerow. J’Mon Moore finally broke out last week. Whoever impresses most tonight will likely sew up a spot, but an awful game for any of these players could result in a surprise roster cut. Kumerow’s expected absence probably leaves him hoping that a rookie drops the ball (literally and figuratively) in order to make the team.Then there’s Davis, who has yet to play this preseason. His contributions to the team would likely come on special teams, so a game-breaking return or big tackle on punt coverage could get him on the team again for a third year.Running BackWith Jamaal Williams locked in as the starter, Ty Montgomery banged up, and Aaron Jones suspended for the first two games, the Packers will probably need to keep a third tailback on the 53 to start the year, at least until Jones’ return. Who will take that job is anyone’s guess.Devante Mays finally returned from an injury this week to get some game action and show that he deserves the spot. Can Joel Bouagnon show more burst and explosiveness than he did through three games? Perhaps LeShun Daniels builds on a brief but intriguing performance last week. Alternately, If none of these players impress, they could all be left off the roster, with the Packers instead looking outside the organization for another body on the waiver wire this weekend.Offensive LineJason Spriggs is the primary backup tackle, while Lucas Patrick appears to be a top option at all three interior spots. Behind them, however http://www.packerscheapstore.com/davante-adams-jersey-cheap , myriad questions plague the reserve group.Just how bad is Kyle Murphy’s injury, and does the team trust him to play well enough if he gets healthy to deserve a roster spot? Is Byron Bell just washed up? Can Adam Pankey hold up against starting-caliber players if called upon? Is Dillon Day just a center, or can he add some good reps at guard to make him more useful overall?The Packers probably need at least two of those players on their final 53, and tonight will help decide which players make it.Inside LinebackerWhat do the Packers do at the linebacker position? The only sure things are starter Blake Martinez and third-round rookie Oren Burks. For one thing, Burks’ shoulder injury will probably keep him out of the game and it has him questionable at best for week one. Who will start in his place and who will play the critical backup and special teams roles?There are three realistic candidates, all of whom are fighting with each other and with players at other positions for roster spots. Ahmad Thomas is the rangy coverage linebacker who has seen action with the first-team defense on passing downs. Run-stopper Antonio Morrison will likely get significant playing time, having just arrived from Indianapolis on Sunday. And undrafted Greer Martini is probably the best special-teamer of the bunch but could be the odd man out if Morrison impresses.Watch this group closely — if the team feels good about Burks, they could keep as few as three players, but that number could just as easily be five instead.Jake Ryan's torn ACL offers opportunities for Packers' rookie ILBs Perhaps the biggest training camp battle from year to year for the Green Bay Packers is the battle to stay healthy.The injury bug reared its ugly head once again on Monday, sidelining inside linebacker Jake Ryan for the season with a torn ACL according to Ian Rapoport. Fortunately, safety Kentrell Brice, who was also carted off the field during practice on the same day, received better than anticipated news on his ankle after x-rays were negative and he was seen present, but limping at practice on Tuesday. The silver lining for the Packers is that they are prepared for this injury to Ryan, who was entering the final year of his rookie contract. Although they let Joe Thomas walk in the offseason, a number of young players, including third-round selection Oren Burks, will have a legitimate chance to provide depth behind rising incumbent starter Blake Martinez. Burks is an obvious choice to jump into a prominent role in the 3-4 base defense. With Ryan nearing the end of his deal, the drafting of Burks seemed like a well-timed move for grooming a replacement. The rookie was stamped as a raw Cheap Aaron Rodgers Jersey , developmental player coming out of Vanderbilt but one that carried plus size, athleticism, and coverage ability. APC’s Peter Bukowski noted how Burks’ versatility could be employed in a Mike Pettine defense and how Burks could overcome a few of Ryan’s deficiencies even prior to the injury. As seen in the tweet below, building depth and replacements from within is a paramount approach in Green Bay and the team should be expected to follow that route in the short-term with Burks.Behind Burks, Green Bay has several undrafted players that have drawn early intrigue during minicamps and the first week of training camp. Perhaps stealing most of the headlines is Greer Martini who impressed as a tryout player after going undrafted in April out of Notre Dame. Seemingly always near the ball, Martini caught the attention of media at rookie camps and earned some recognition from Inside Linebackers Coach Patrick Graham in mid-June. Moving into training camp, Martini has built on his strong showing by earning first-team reps on the special teams’ kickoff return and coverage units and filling in as a second-team inside linebacker before Ryan’s injury. Special teams can win roster spots for undrafted rookies, especially those showing promise and versatility at a position requiring extra depth.Also hoping to make a name for themselves in Ryan’s absence are Marcus Porter and Ahmad Thomas. Porter profiles more firmly inside than outside and was one of the undrafted free agents that caught my eye early on after a really good pro day coming out of Division II Fairmont State. Size is not on Porter’s side at just a shade over six feet and 229 pounds, but he brings some pop as a tackler and has athletic tools to develop, whether that comes on the active roster or on the practice squad.Thomas has an advantage over the previously mentioned rookies with experience gained on the Packers’ practice squad last season after entering the league with Oakland. A converted college safety at Oklahoma, Thomas made an impressive play in the two-minute drill last week after picking off Aaron Rodgers during OTAs in late May.Though Thomas shares the slender build of Porter that is somewhat reminiscent of a safety-linebacker tweener, his coverage ability as a former secondary player could make him a great option in sub-packages for the defense. In previous seasons, an injury at inside linebacker would have been a major concern. But this setback seems a bit different than what Packers fans have become accustomed to. With several youthful options, the Packers have plenty of internal candidates to test for depth roles at inside linebacker. Josh Jones also presents a backup plan after playing his share of linebacker last season, though his safety role in the midst of the uncertainty surrounding Brice would appear to be the larger priority.Live action in preseason will be more indicative of the capabilities of Burks and other rookie inside ‘backers. But for the time being, the Packers can afford to be patient with their developmental players without making a panicked decision on the free agent market.