Five Roster-Building Takeaways From Packers’ Victory Over Colts

The Green Bay Packers beat the Indianapolis Colts 23-19 on Saturday, which is irrelevant in the grand scheme of things but important in terms of assembling the roster. With one week left in training camp, here are five roster-centric takeaways from the game.

Quarterback: Taylor Elgersma Shines

It wasn’t a surprise that Taylor Elgersma wasn’t drafted. It’s dumbfounding that he wasn’t signed immediately afterward. Quarterbacks with intelligence and arm talent don’t grow on trees. So what if he played against below-average competition in Canada? That’s why a team has coaches.

For Elgersma, talent hasn’t been the question. It’s how long it was going to take that talent to show up. After a rocky start in which he was overwhelmed physically and mentally by the Colts’ pass rush, he settled in after halftime. 

He finished the game having completed 7-of-11 passes for 109 yards. That’s pretty solid. On the final drive of the first half, he had three completions for 51 yards and one touchdown overturned by illegal-formation penalties, so the numbers should have been even better. On the other hand, as coach Matt LaFleur said, “there were a couple of times where he put the ball in jeopardy.”

Including Saturday’s preseason finale against the Seahawks, there’s one more week left in training camp, with roster cuts in exactly 10 days. Behind Jordan Love and Malik Willis, will the Packers pick the best quarterback, which is Sean Clifford? Or will they pick the best developmental prospect, which is Elgersma, with the possibility that this year’s No. 3 quarterback/practice-squad quarterback could be next year’s backup?

Running back: MarShawn Lloyd’s Injury

MarShawn Lloyd’s latest injury could add an additional wrinkle for Gutekunst when he picks his 53.

If Lloyd had enjoyed a healthy training camp and preseason – in other words, had proven he was a reliable and durable player – the Packers could roll into the season with Josh Jacobs, Lloyd and Chris Brooks. However, Lloyd is injured. Again. After missing two weeks with a groin injury, he suffered a hamstring injury on Saturday.

The injury is not believed to be serious but every injury is a big deal for a player who has been sidelined because of, in order, his hip, hamstring, ankle, appendix, hamstring, groin and hamstring.

That’s seven times on the sideline in his brief career, which is the same number as his touches in regular-season action.

Even if the Packers believe Lloyd will be ready for the Detroit Lions in 22 days, can they really go into the season with three backs? Or, because of the injury history, will they have to go with four? And if it is four, will it be returning backup Emanuel Wilson, who fumbled and gave up a sack on Saturday but has a strong track record, Israel Abanikanda, who earned every inch of his 43 rushing yards against the Colts (and had a tackle on special teams), or Amar Johnson, who has a touchdown in each game?

At this point, Abanikanda might be a slight favorite, though the team probably can get at least two of those three players back to the practice squad.