Which players should start in the Packers’ opening games?

With the Green Bay Packers offensive line developing into a consistent unit of Rasheed Walker, Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Jorgan Morgan and Zach Tom (left to right), there are about three and a half starting positions open in training camp (as of August 16). No, we’re not going to look at the wide receiver position as a position where a guy in the four-receiver rotation will lose his starting spot, as head coach Matt LaFleur has already said he “sickened” the discussion of a No. 1 receiver. The team has already stated over the summer that it wants to keep the four-receiver rotation at that position.

So what’s left on the field? Defensive tackle, a couple of linebacker positions (that’s where the half comes from) and safety where there’s a leader of the pack. Let’s look at what’s left up for grabs when the Packers head into joint training camp with the Denver Broncos in the second week of the preseason.

Defensive Tackle

On Family Night and the season opener, TJ Slaton was the first defensive lineman to be used on the interior alongside established starter Kenny Clark. The snap count is very close, however, as Slaton took 20 reps with the first-team defense in those two events while Wyatt took 17.

Wyatt had a fairly productive day against the Browns in Week 1 of the preseason, generating pressure as he came off the bench in more pass-rushing situations than Slaton. His pass-rush grade? 76.6, according to Pro Football Focus. In just three run-defense snaps, however, he posted a grade of 43.8 and a tackle rating of 23.6. That’s the story of this contest. Wyatt is a good interior pass rusher, perhaps in the top 20 in the league, but the 26-year-old former first-round pick has struggled elsewhere.

Slaton, on the other hand, is relatively explosive for a 6’4″ and 300-pound player, but he’s more of a run-first defender than a pass rusher. Which is more important? That’s up to the Packers’ coaching staff to decide.

This may be the most nitty-gritty poll in our four-question series, as it’s almost certain that both will be on the field, depending on the situation – at least early in the season.

Linebackers

When the Packers selected Texas A&M’s Edgerrin Cooper as their top off-ball linebacker in the second round of the April draft, the assumption was that he would secure a spot in the starting lineup before Week 1. So far, however, that just hasn’t happened, in part because of a groin injury that kept him out of the lineup on Family Night and in Week 1 of the preseason.

Before his injury, Cooper, who was often used as a blitzer and quarterback spy in the SEC, was the team’s nickel linebacker, but he was not often used as a 4-3 outside linebacker. Based on early preseason results, it looks like the Packers will play about a third of the base 4-3 looks this season.

With Cooper unable to practice, Isaiah McDuffie is the player who has seen the most playing time other than Mike linebacker Quay Walker, and who previously battled with Cooper at the position. The 4-3 outside linebackers have consistently been McDuffie and Eric Wilson before and after Cooper’s injury. The question now is whether Cooper can or should make up some ground between now and Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Security

This is the position that was completely open at first, but has been trending toward a single starter lately. When training camp began, second-round rookie Javon Bullard, fourth-round rookie Evan Williams and 2023 seventh-round pick Anthony Johnson Jr. all rotated at the safety position alongside free agent signing Xavier McKinney.

Over the past two weeks, however, Bullard has gotten nearly every opportunity to start. On Family Night, Bullard played just 12 safety snaps to Williams’ 14 and Johnson’s 5 with the first-team defense, in part because he shared the slotback role with Keisean Nixon. However, Bullard was on the field for all eight snaps with the first-team unit in the season opener. He has also started every practice since then with the first-team after a heavy rotation was reinstated at the start of camp.

There is a clear leader in the locker room. Is it time for the Packers to stop with this “it’s an open competition” talk?