Packers Decide Specialist Battle in First Wave of Roster Cuts

The Green Bay Packers will begin the 2011 NFL season with a team that is composed of only three specialists – punter Tim Masthay and kickers Mason Crosby and Tim Collins – but that could change in the coming weeks. Cornerback Sam Shields is also on the bubble, as is outside linebacker Nick Barnett. Shields’ roster spot could be secure if the Packers try to keep him on the active roster past the tender deadline (Aug. 31). The Packers can keep Shields on the 53-man roster through the deadline by placing a tender on his contract, which would result in a team losing the right to negotiate with Shields. The tender, which will cost the Packers $2.7 million this season, would give the Packers the right to keep

The Green Bay Packers will be making a number of cuts in a few days before the start of the NFL season. The team will likely trim its roster further before final cuts take place around the league at the end of September. Right now, the Packers have about 75 players on the roster, which is the most for a team at this time of the year in the last 7 years.

The Green Bay Packers have announced their initial list of players who will be cut from the roster this week, and none surprised me. The offensive line will take a hit in the mix as the Packers move from a three to a two tight end offense, and the defense will be significantly thinner than last year’s 3-4.. Read more about green bay packers’ roster cuts 2021 and let us know what you think.

Packers First Wave Cuts

JK Scott #6 of the Green Bay Packers punts the ball during the first half of a game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Washington, on November 15, 2018.

The Green Bay Packers have started making their first summer roster cuts.

The Packers have released offensive lineman Jon Dietzen, an undrafted rookie out of Wisconsin, as well as punter Ryan Winslow, according to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky. Teams must reduce their roster size to 85 players by the deadline in Connecticut. The transactions were subsequently verified by the Packers through their transaction wire.

Winslow had been with the Packers since December, initially serving as an emergency backup plan during the playoffs on their practice squad. The Packers signed Winslow to a reserve/future deal for the 2021 offseason the day after their playoff run ended in the NFC Championship Game, giving him the chance to compete for the starting position alongside 2018 fifth-round selection JK Scott.

Scott, on the other hand, was able to successfully thwart Winslow’s challenge and is now set to be the Packers’ starting punter for the fourth straight season.

Before the cutoff date on Tuesday, the Packers will have to waive three more players. They’ll also have to cut their squad size twice more before the end of the month, to 80 players on August 24 and the original 53 players on August 31.

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After Camp Victory, Scott faces further challenges.

Since the conclusion of the 2020 season, the Packers have prioritized rebuilding their special teams squad. Shawn Mennenga, the previous special teams coordinator, was dismissed, and top assistant Maurice Drayton was elevated to take his place. They also added a backup for each of their three specialty positions, including Winslow, long snapper Joe Fortunato (who was released on August 5) and kicker JJ Molson (still on the roster).

While the addition of new opponents seemed to be aimed at pushing their three starters — Scott, Hunter Bradley, and Mason Crosby — to be at the peak of their game going into the 2021 season, the younger two members of the group still had a lot to show after both underachieved last season.

Scott, in particular, enters the last year of his contract in 2021 with the goal of improving his punting consistency. During the 2020 regular season, Aaron Rodgers threw 48 touchdowns to Scott’s 46 punts, although Scott’s 38.7-yard net average on his punts placed 28th out of 30 qualified punters in the league. While he did perform much better later in the season, the Packers are hopeful that in 2021 he can turn a turnaround and continue his success for a full year.

“I call our room where we are the ‘Truth Room,’” Drayton said of Scott and Bradley back in March. “We’re going to tell it like it is. I can’t say everything here, but they both understand that they need to be more consistent in the things we need them to do in order to be successful. They are working on a prescription that we have written for them. They also have their own personal kick physicians or specialized doctors with whom I’ve developed a connection. They’re improving and will continue to improve, and they recognize that their backs are against the wall.”


The first wave of Packers roster cuts has been completed, and the team will return to Green Bay on Sunday to make more cuts. The cuts were made with the belief that the team would remain under the 53-man limit. The roster is down to 75 players, with the team having to make a move before they can begin training camp for the 2017 season.. Read more about packer chatter and let us know what you think.

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This article broadly covered the following related topics:

  • green bay packers 2021 2022 roster
  • packers cuts 2021
  • packers free agency news
  • packers projected roster 2021
  • packers offseason rumors
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