Earlier this week, the Green Bay Packers officially placed tight end Tyler Davis on injured reserve and signed linebacker Marvin Pierre. The move comes after Davis tore his ACL in the preseason opener against the Cincinnati Bengals. While Davis is towards the bottom of the Packers’ roster and slated to be a backup on offense, he’s a major loss for the special teams unit.
Special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia was forthright about the difficult of losing Davis, saying, “To some degree, we lost our right hand. He’s an exceptional special teams player, someone you can count on in every critical situation.” Bisaccia continued to elaborate, “I haven’t gotten very comfortable with not having Tyler Davis.”
Bisaccia’s feelings are understandable. In 2022, Davis led the Packers with 344 snaps on special teams, recording 10 tackles according to PFF. Davis was a fixture on both the return and coverage units for field goals and punts. Part of what Bisaccia has valued in Davis is that he is a big body who can move. Bisaccia also mentioned that it may take multiple people to fulfill Davis’ vacant role on special teams.
Looking back at last year, the Packers top-five performers on special teams, per PFF grades, were:
- Eric Wilson, LB: 91.7
- Isaiah McDuffie, LB: 88.5
- Josiah Deguara, TE/FB: 78.8
- Patrick Taylor, RB: 76.2
For McDuffie and Deguara, their status as drafted players and prowess on multiple special teams units likely will carry them to the final 53-man roster, whereas Taylor and Wilson are bigger question marks. After all, in 2022, Taylor didn’t initially make the 53-man, didn’t get claimed, and then stayed on Green Bay’s practice squad and was elevated throughout the season to the active roster. Wilson is an example of a mid-season acquisition signed off the New Orleans Saints’ practice squad.
It’s a point to emphasize. Per PFF, two of the Packers’ top contributors on special teams were not on the initial 53-man roster. It’s probable that Green Bay’s special teams unit will yet again be tried by fire as they struggle to find the right mix of guys. So, who will make the cut?
Let’s take one last look back at 2022. In Week 1 of 2022, the Packers had elevated Juwann Winfree from the practice squad for the game. He had 13 snaps on special teams. The Packers also had four players with 15 snaps or more on special teams: Tipa Galeai, Krys Barnes, Dallin Leavitt, Isaiah McDuffie, and Tyler Davis. Galeai and Leavitt didn’t receive any additional work on defense in that game and played only special teams.
Ultimately, I’d expect the Packers to go into the season with two or three primary special teams players beyond kicker, punter, and long snapper. Then, I’d imagine them supplementing that unit with practice-squad call-ups, mid-season acquisitions, and leaning on young players under contract for multiple years.
Let’s start with the likely special teams aces who will make the roster. Leavitt and McDuffie are locks to make the team based on their experience playing for Bisaccia and their flexibility to play on all special teams downs. I won’t speculate as to mid-season acquisitions, except to say that Eric Wilson was acquired mid-season last year and the Packers re-signed him in the offseason. He could have an inside track to being another special teams ace for Bisaccia in 2023.
When looking at potential practice squad call-ups, it’s important to note that these are players who will initially get cut. You have to hope no other team claims them. For me, these are guys like TE/FB Henry Pearson, who has gotten the second-most snaps on special teams in preseason. It’s unlikely many teams are looking to pick up a fringe fullback, making Pearson an ideal practice-squad player/call-up for special teams. It could also be someone like Patrick Taylor, who finds himself in the same spot he was last year. He’s playing a well-rounded game in the preseason, but it’s likely not enough to have another team swoop in and steal him from the Packers. Kiondre Thomas, Arron Mosby, and Benny Sapp III are also additional potential practice squad players getting significant special teams work in preseason.
Finally, we turn to younger players under contract. Anthony Johnson Jr. Carrington Valentine, Tucker Kraft, Tariq Carpenter, and Kingsley Enagbare all have had more than a dozen snaps on special teams over the first two preseason games and are first- or second-year players on rookie contracts.
Ultimately, the loss of Tyler Davis is significant but is likely filled in aggregate by players already on the the 53-man roster, practice squad, and through in-season acquisitions.
