Green Bay’s Pre-Camp Roster Moves Muddies Training Camp For Key Positions

We are officially at the beginning of training camp! We’ll get our first look at new additions to the Green Bay Packers’ roster, like Nate Hobbs and Aaron Banks — Green Bay’s big free-agent signings — and rookies like first-round pick Matthew Golden. All three are in line to play major roles in 2025.

However, we’ll have to wait a little longer to see a few other key members of the roster make their training camp debut. On Friday, the Packers announced eight total players were being placed on either the PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) list or the NFI (Non-Football Injury) list.

The PUP list is for players injured during football-related activities at the team facility (likely OTAs or minicamp). The NFI list is for players who suffered injuries outside the facility, likely while training independently. A few of the players placed on these lists are likely to impact players at their respective positions down the roster.

The team placed the following players on the PUP list: Christian Watson, Quay Walker, Collin Oliver, Micah Robinson, and John Williams. Elgton Jenkins, Amar Johnson, and Alex Hale (before they released him on Monday) were placed on the NFI list.

With all due respect to Johnson, he already had an uphill battle to make the roster or practice squad, so his absence shouldn’t raise major concern. However, the rest of these absences certainly do.

Let’s go down the list and examine what missing time will mean for each player and their position during camp.

Christian Watson

Of the six players placed on the PUP or NRI to start camp, Watson is the least surprising because he’s recovering from a torn ACL he suffered at the end of last season. While all signs point to him being ahead of schedule and possibly able to join the team in the second half of the season, the Packers were aware that he would be absent.

The top-five wide receivers are essentially set in stone with Golden, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Romeo Doubs, and Savion Williams all guaranteed to make the roster, barring a stunning turn of events. The next one or two spots will be up for grabs between Bo Melton, Mecole Hardman, and Malik Heath. Once Watson is cleared to return midseason, things will get interesting.

Quay Walker

Walker being placed on the PUP list might’ve surprised some. Still, given his lack of involvement in offseason activities, the signs were there. He didn’t participate in any of the team’s mandatory minicamp sessions in June. While he was physically present, he only worked off to the side with the rehab group.

It doesn’t appear to be a new injury. “I think there were some residual effects from the season,” Matt LaFleur said.

Regardless, his absence could shake up the linebacker rotation. With Walker sidelined, Edgerrin Cooper and Isaiah McDuffie figure to man the main spots. Ty'Ron Hopper, Isaiah Simmons, Kristian Welch, and Jamon Johnson will be battling for the third linebacker spot. This will be one of the top roster battles to watch as long as Walker remains out.

Collin Oliver

It’s never ideal for rookies to miss time early in their careers, especially fifth-round picks expected to play a specialty role in Year 1. That’s where Oliver finds himself. The former Oklahoma State pass rusher was slated to be a pass-rush specialist this season.

With his smaller frame but great speed off the edge, the Packers were excited about his potential as a third-down weapon. He also offers some versatility as an off-ball linebacker, but that’ll be on hold until he’s cleared.

The biggest hurdle for him will be learning to shed blocks against NFL-caliber offensive linemen. At 6’2”, 240 lbs., he’s unlike any other edge on this roster, and getting swallowed up by tackles will be a concern. The sooner he gets on the field to work on that, the better. In the meantime, players like Aaron Mosby will benefit from increased reps.

John Williams / Micah Robinson

Seventh-round picks Williams and Robinson are in a similar spot to Oliver. They’ve been hurt and must make up for lost time. Unlike Oliver, neither is a lock to make the roster, and both are in more competitive position battles.

Williams will be fighting with several other offensive linemen for a spot. He probably has an edge over undrafted players like J.J. Lippe, Tyler Cooper, and Brant Banks due to his draft status and could end up on the practice squad. Still, if his goal is to make the 53-man roster, he’ll have to beat out Donovan Jennings, Travis Glover, and Kadeem Telfort, all of whom have more NFL reps. He’ll need to get healthy fast to stay in the mix.

Robinson’s injury is perhaps the most unfortunate of the group. On paper, he had one of the clearest paths to a roster spot and potential playing time. After the top three cornerbacks — Keisean Nixon, Nate Hobbs, and Carrington Valentine — the depth chart is wide open. Had Robinson been able to make plays early, he might’ve snagged the fourth or fifth corner job. Instead, 2024 draft picks Kalen King and Kamal Hadden now have an advantage.

You could argue that Williams and Robinson are relatively safe because they’re 2025 draft picks, but, as Brian Gutekunst showed last year with Kalen King, he’s not afraid to cut a rookie if he must.

Elgton Jenkins

Jenkins is the other major absence alongside Quay Walker. The Packers placed him on the Non-Football Injury list due to an undisclosed injury. Green Bay’s starting center has missed the entire offseason program while waiting for a revised contract amid his switch to center full-time.

Now that they've extended Zach Tom, the Packers may shift focus to Jenkins. In the meantime, Jacob Monk and Sean Rhyan will likely compete for first-team center reps. The ripple effect here is that if Rhyan moves to center, Jordan Morgan is likely to shift to right guard. That raises a tough question — who gets bumped once Jenkins returns? Having two unsettled spots on the offensive line should create some spirited competition.

Ultimately, all of these players will return eventually. The biggest question is how long it will take — and what the roster landscape will look like when they’re back. Veterans like Quay Walker and Elgton Jenkins will slide right back into starting roles. However, rookies who miss this time fall behind their peers and make their path to the field that much steeper.