This is it. We’ve finally made it to the end of the 2019 NFL preseason, and for the Green Bay Packers, that means one more game. This time, it’s against the Kansas City Chiefs in the friendly confidences of Lambeau Field.
If this game was taking place a week later, it would be a must-watch and arguably a game-of-the-year candidate with Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes going head-to-head, but alas, this is the preseason. Head coach Matt LaFleur sat all of his starters last week against the Oakland Raiders, and though much of that had to do with field conditions, it’s a safe bet to assume that he’ll do almost the same against the Chiefs. We’re also not likely to see Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and the rest of the stars from Kansas City.
Still, this will be a big game for players on the roster bubble, especially in Green Bay, and there are a few Packers, in particular, who will need to have a big game against the Chiefs in order to improve their chances of making the final 53-man roster.
Let's dive in and take a look at three of those players.
3. DeShone Kizer, QB
This could be DeShone Kizer’s last gasp as a Green Bay Packer, and at the very least it could be his last gasp as the No. 2 quarterback behind Aaron Rodgers. If the Packers decide to keep three quarterbacks – which is not a guarantee – Kizer will make the team, but right now Tim Boyle appears to be the far better option as a backup quarterback. Kizer is the better overall athlete, but Boyle has appeared poised this preseason and he’s been much more productive.
Through three games, Boyle has thrown for five touchdowns and 338 yards. He hasn’t thrown an interception and has only been sacked once. Against the Raiders, he completed 64 percent of his passes and showed that he could move the ball in LaFleur’s base offense.
Kizer, on the other hand, hasn’t looked great this preseason. He did throw a touchdown against Houston but he followed that up with an interception against Oakland two weeks later. He’s also been sacked four times, largely because he still seems to hold onto the ball too long or lock-in on targets – making it easier for defenses to get a jump on him.
The Packers traded cornerback Damarious Randall to Cleveland for Kizer in 2018, so they do have something invested in him, but he hasn’t shown much throughout his NFL career that would insinuate he can be a solid quarterback when needed. And yes, Boyle doesn’t have a track record either, but he has seemed to pick up this offense and he’s not afraid to throw the football – so overall he appears to be a better fit.
There’s a lot on the line for Kizer against the Chiefs. There’s no guarantee he won’t be cut, so he needs to play well.
2. Allen Lazard, WR
The Packers will have a lot to think about when it comes to Allen Lazard. He’s also competing pretty directly with Darrius Shepherd, who was a rookie camp invite, and it seems that for all intents and purposes these two high-upside players could be competing for the final wide receiver spot on the roster. Equanimeous St. Brown’s injury has thrown the wide receiver depth chart into a bit of a flux, depending on how the Packers handle him being gone for the first part of the season, but without a doubt – it’s going to be a tough call for Green Bay.
An argument can be made for Shepherd over Lazard because the former has shown potential as a kick and punt returner, but Lazard is a sight to behold at 6-foot-5 and 227 pounds with his big wingspan and ability to go up and get the football. He’s also been consistent this preseason, having caught passes in each game, including a touchdown against the Texans and a long of 25 against Baltimore.
He’s shown that he can be a big-play guy, and he can cement himself as a roster player with another nice preseason game.
If he can make it so that the Packers worry he’d get picked up on waivers after being cut, they may feel better about sneaking Shepherd through to the practice squad — thus giving Lazard the edge.
Either way, this is going to be extremely interesting to watch.
1. Chandon Sullivan, CB
Green Bay, for the first time in some time, is actually looking pretty deep at cornerback. Jaire Alexander is a sure-fire star and Kevin King can be a playmaker if he can come back soon and stay healthy. Tramon Williams is getting up in age but can still make plays, and Tony Brown has proven himself as a player this offseason. That’s not even mentioning Josh Jackson, who was a second-round draft pick and has plenty of potential, or K’Dar Hollman, this year’s sixth-round pick who has played well so far.
Three #Packers bubble battles to watch this week and who I think currently has the edge in each:
RB: Tra Carson vs. Dexter Williams
WR: Allen Lazard vs. Darrius Shepherd
CB: Chandon Sullivan vs. Ka’dar Hollman https://t.co/EFW2GDjqnP— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) August 26, 2019
The Packers look pretty good at cornerback, but is there room for a bit more depth in that room?
With King always being a question mark, Chandon Sullivan, who’s firmly on the bubble, could play himself onto the roster with one more good showing. Through three games he’s notched 12 tackles, five passes defended, and an interception. He looked great against the Raiders, notching four of his five passes defended in that game alone.
Frankly, in a perfect world he’s a solid practice squad player, but the Packers need depth at this position, and Sullivan has been making plays. He’ll be an interesting player to watch against the Chiefs.
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