GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The Green Bay Packers open the 2023 regular season at the Chicago Bears on Sept. 10 at Soldier Field.
For the first time since 1993, they will start a season with someone other than Brett Favre (1993-2007) or Aaron Rodgers (2008-2022) as their starting quarterback. That's not the only change on the roster. Gone are any shreds of veterans at receiver and tight end, and there is no indication general manager Brian Gutekunst plans to add any, either.
The roster will be cut to 54 players instead of the usual 53 -- they have an exemption for International Player Pathway program participant Kenneth Odumegwu -- by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Here is a projection for the Packers' other 53:
QUARTERBACK (2): Jordan Love, Sean Clifford
Clifford, a fifth-round pick from Penn State, has been one of the biggest surprises of Packers' camp. He looks comfortable, poised beyond his years, and was named the No. 2 quarterback by coach Matt LaFleur on Thursday. Any thought of a veteran backup for Love seems to have been eliminated.
RUNNING BACK (2): Aaron Jones, AJ Dillon
While Patrick Taylor has experience as a third-down back and undrafted rookie Emanuel Wilson has flashed, the Packers can get by with two on the roster early in the season and just use practice squad elevations on game day. Rookie Lew Nichols fell out of consideration after an early training camp injury. Same for Tyler Goodson.
WIDE RECEIVER (7): Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson, Samori Toure, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Malik Heath, Grant DuBose
Heath has simply been too productive to overlook, and the Packers have kept seven receivers before. They've also kept at least one undrafted rookie on the initial roster for 18 straight seasons. Heath should extend that streak. As for Wicks, a hamstring injury could complicate things here.
TIGHT END (3): Luke Musgrave, Josiah Deguara, Tucker Kraft
Tyler Davis' torn ACL in the preseason opener will hurt the Packers' special teams, but it opened up a spot for someone else. That doesn't mean they have to keep a fourth tight end. However, don't be surprised if GM Brian Gutekunst scours the waiver wire for another option after the cut. The only other in-house candidate is undrafted rookie Austin Allen.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9): David Bakhtiari, Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Jon Runyan, Zach Tom, Rasheed Walker, Yosh Nijman, Caleb Jones, Sean Rhyan
They could go with 10 here by keeping Royce Newman. Also, worth considering, Nijman could be out. Yes, the same Nijman who started 21 games over the last two seasons. Walker surpassed him as the No. 3 tackle, and Nijman is due to make $4.304 million. None of that is guaranteed, so if the Packers release him or trade him, that's all wiped off their books and salary cap.
DEFENSIVE LINE (5): Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt, T.J. Slaton, Karl Brooks, Colby Wooden
This was the projected group going into training camp and nothing has changed that. Wyatt and Slaton appear to have transitioned into larger roles next to Clark while Brooks looks slightly more ready than fellow rookie Wooden. Second-year pro Jonathan Ford would be No. 6 if they go heavy at this spot.
INSIDE LINEBACKER (5): De'Vondre Campbell, Quay Walker, Isaiah McDuffie, Eric Wilson, Tariq Carpenter
Campbell's ankle injury doesn't seem to be a concern for Week 1, but McDuffie has played well in his place. Switching positions is often the end for players in Green Bay, but Carpenter, who moved here from safety, makes it on his special teams value.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER (6): Rashan Gary, Preston Smith, Kingsley Enagbare, Lukas Van Ness, Justin Hollins, Brenton Cox Jr.
Gary came off the physically unable to perform list midway through camp, but if he's not ready for the opener, it's another reason for the Packers to keep Cox, an undrafted rookie, on the roster. Enagbare, in his second year, has shot up the depth chart.
CORNERBACK (5): Jaire Alexander, Rasul Douglas, Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine, Corey Ballentine
This assumes Eric Stokes (foot) doesn't come off the PUP list to start the season. Valentine has looked at times like he should've been drafted higher than the seventh round. Ballentine seems to have moved ahead of Shermar Jean-Charles and Innis Gaines.
SAFETY (6): Darnell Savage, Rudy Ford, Dallin Leavitt, Tarvarius Moore, Jonathan Owens, Anthony Johnson
This might be a bit heavy at safety, but special teams plays a considerable part in this decision. None of the contenders to start alongside Savage has stood out, so perhaps the Packers will move on from some combination of Moore, Owens or Johnson.
SPECIALISTS (3): K Anders Carlson, P Pat O'Donnell, LS Matt Orzech
Gutekunst and special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia have made it clear they want Carlson, a sixth-round pick, to be their kicker. O'Donnell faced a strong push from Daniel Whelan, who could still be their punter of the future if they can get him back on the practice squad.