4 Green Bay Packers players who could be on the roster bubble in 2026

The Green Bay Packers will enter the 2026 NFL season with a roster that, when healthy, will have everyone in the organization capable of making the Super Bowl. However, some of the Packers’ offseason moves could also mean that some recognizable names will not be on the roster in Week 1.

Let’s take a look at the list of four players who will not be on the Packers’ roster at the start of the season.

Luke Musgrave, tight end

green Bay Packers
Jeff Hanisch-Imagen Images

A few years ago, it looked as if Luke Musgraves would be the Packers’ TE1 for the upcoming season. Instead, it’s Tucker Craft who looks like an All-Pro talent. Musgrave’s status in Green Bay became so questionable that he came up in NFL trade rumors during the season. Then, Kraft and John Fitzpatrick suffered season-ending injuries. Kraft will return for training camp, and Josh Whately is behind him. It would not be a surprise at all if general manager Brian Gutekunst attempted to move Musgraves to a blocking tight end.

Brandon McManus, kicker

green Bay Packers
Matt Marten-Images Images

It says a lot if the Packers are willing to trade up multiple draft picks to land a kicker moving up in Round 6. Brandon McManus received a $1 million roster bonus this offseason, but his injuries last season and his miss in the wild-card round put him on the hot seat. If rookie Trey Smack can take advantage of his immense power and demonstrate relatively consistent accuracy on his kicks in training camp, McManus could certainly be a part of the final 53-man roster cutdown.

Christian Welch, linebacker

green Bay Packers
Wm. Glasheen via USA TODAY Network-Wisconsin/USA TODAY Network Images

Green Bay certainly has a lot more depth at linebacker than in years past. Unfortunately for former UDFA Christian Welch, the Wisconsin native’s only hope of remaining in Green Bay may lie on the practice squad. He appeared in eight games for Green Bay last season, primarily on special teams. There is every possibility that he will be cut in September and given a spot on the practice squad.

Marshon Lloyd, running back

green Bay Packers
Jovanni Hernandez/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel/via USA TODAY Network Images

Since being selected with the 88th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Packers running back Marshon Lloyd has appeared in just one game with the team. Injuries never allowed him to prove himself at any point. Theoretically, Lloyd would be a perfect fit to step into the No. 2 role behind Josh Jacobs for the upcoming season. It’s just his inability to stay healthy that leads us to believe that something, possibly a soft-tissue injury, will sideline him during the summer. If this happens again, Green Bay may decide to cut their losses and move on.

Avatar
Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

#Green #Bay #Packers #players #roster #bubble

4 Minnesota Vikings on the roster bubble in 2026

With an emphasis on cutting costs and clearing the salary cap sheet, the Minnesota Vikings have been forced to make tough decisions this offseason. After selecting nine players in the 2026 NFL Draft and signing another 19 undrafted free agents, the Vikings’ front office will have their work cut out for them by reducing the roster from 91 players (one addition due to punter Brett Thorson being an International Pathway Player) to 53 this fall.

With so many joining the roster, many Vikings will find themselves fighting for a chance to join the team. Below are four players who will undoubtedly enter training camp on the roster bubble, but a strong performance could solidify their position with the team.

RELATED: Minnesota Vikings predicted to sign free agent to address ‘major roster hole’

Walter Rouse, offensive tackle

minnesota vikings
Matt Krohn-Imagen Images

He’s not a big-name player, but when the Vikings took a chance on Oklahoma’s Walter Rouse in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, there was a faint belief that the 6-foot-5 lineman could develop into an offensive tackle in the future. Of course, the Vikings have filled those positions with Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neal, but the latter of them is entering the final year of his contract.

The Vikings apparently didn’t feel like they had enough talent, so they selected Caleb Tiernan in the third round and signed Ryan Van DeMark in free agency. Now, Rouse is no better than fifth on the offensive tackle depth chart. After playing eight games over the past two seasons, he will likely be looking for another team soon.

RELATED: NFL scout believes Minnesota Vikings found difference-making ‘weapon’ on Day 3 of NFL Draft

Taki Diamond, defensive tackle

NFL: London Games-Minnesota Vikings Practice
Kirby Lee-Images Images

A year ago, the Vikings were in desperate need of capable bodies along the defensive line, so they responded in free agency by signing Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. Both have since been released in cap-cutting moves, but they have both been replaced by first-round pick Caleb Banks and third-round pick Domonique Orange. While Allen and Hargrave were viewed as short-term stopgaps, Banks and Orange are the future, meaning a former undrafted player like Taki Taimani could be viewed as expendable after appearing in seven games as a rookie, but only two in his sophomore season.

RELATED: 4 Minnesota Vikings WR targets after the 2026 NFL Draft

Dwight McGlothern, cornerback

minnesota vikings
Jeffrey Baker-Imagen Images

Last year, after the Vikings made final roster cuts, Brian Flores had only four cornerbacks on the roster. Dwight McGlothern, an undrafted signee from the 2024 NFL Draft class, was one of them. After making five appearances as a rookie, McGlothern saw playing time in 10 games in 2025, but he still only saw 31 snaps on defense and 20 snaps on special teams. Now that the Vikings have found a more reliable nickel corner in James Pierre while retaining Byron Murphy and Isaiah Rodgers, McGlothern has returned as the CB4. Still, he faces stiffer competition this time around after the Vikings selected Charles Demings in the fifth round while retaining 6-foot-3 running back Zemaiah Vaughn. Additionally, the Vikings added three undrafted rookie cornerbacks, providing even more competition for McGlothern’s roster spot.

RELATED: Minnesota Vikings had one of the NFL’s ‘worst’ draft classes

Johnny Hekker, bookmaker

johnny hecker
Andrew Nels/The Tennessean/USA TODAY Network via Imagen Images

The Vikings saw their punter of the past four seasons, Ryan Wright, surprisingly sign a four-year, $14 million contract with the New Orleans Saints in free agency. Moving beyond that was not an easy task for a team looking to cut costs. They responded by signing Johnny Hekker, one of the greatest punters of this generation, who had won a Super Bowl with Kevin O’Connell in LA.

However, there’s a reason the 36-year-old hasn’t been named a Pro Bowl selection or All-Pro since 2017. His skills continued to fade, and the Vikings prioritized the signing of undrafted rookie punter Brett Thorson after he won the Ray Guy Award in college. Don’t be surprised if Thorson looks to be a better long-term fit, but he’ll have to prove to be an effective holder on field goals and extra points first.

RELATED: 2026 NFL Power Rankings: Evaluating the worst, best teams after the NFL Draft

Avatar
Dedicated NFL copywriter/editor. My work has been found on SportsNut, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, MSN, Yahoo, and Minnesota Sports… More about Andrew Buller-Russ

#Minnesota #Vikings #roster #bubble

Joel Embiid’s 76ers teammate wants to ‘wrap him in a bubble sheet and hug him’ after latest injury

The Boston Celtics are preparing to host their rival Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday night, and while Philadelphia big man Joel Embiid will not be in the lineup, it is unlikely to be an easy night for the home team. The Sixers have won three straight games and are attempting to move up from sixth place in the Eastern Conference. They are 1 1/2 games behind the fifth-place Toronto Raptors and three games behind the fourth-place Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Sixers will not have Embiid in the lineup because he suffered an oblique injury in Thursday night’s win over the Miami Heat. Embiid will miss at least three games due to injury. The Sixers’ big players have been troubled by several injuries throughout their career. Missing a key game against the Celtics as well as the team’s next two games against the San Antonio Spurs and Utah Jazz is a significant issue for Philadelphia.

Teammate Andre Drummond has a lot of sympathy for Embiid and wants the big man to find a way to avoid injuries and stay healthy. “I want to wrap her in a bubble sheet and hug her, man,” Drummond said, according to Gina Mizell. philadelphia enquirer. “I feel like he can’t get a break.”

Embiid has faced health issues throughout his career. This oblique injury appears to be relatively minor, but missing at least three games at this time of year is a huge blow to him and his teammates.


#Joel #Embiids #76ers #teammate #wrap #bubble #sheet #hug #latest #injury