Fifteen new players hit the Green Bay Packers 53-man roster this season, folks, and one of the biggest question marks has gotta be veteran QB Tyrod Taylor. After the 2026 NFL Draft, the Packers locked him down on a one-year, $2.5 million deal. That’s a total steal when most proven backup QBs are pulling in $5 million to $8 million! The brass there straight up admitted there was no real competition for the backup job after they shipped Kyle McCord to Miami. Nope, Taylor was always the guy, brought in to bring some serious veteran presence to that quarterback room.
Taylor’s Veteran Hand on the Wheel
Look, the preseason numbers weren’t exactly sparkling, I get it. Taylor completed just 8 of 16 passes (50 percent) for a measly 38 yards, averaging 2.4 yards per attempt. But Green Bay didn’t let anyone else take serious snaps with the second-team offense during training camp, which tells you they trust him. This ain’t his first rodeo either. Taylor is rolling into his 16th NFL season, having played in a hundred games with 62 starts and a 29-31-1 record. Plus, he’s got history with Packers passing game coordinator Jason Vrable, who was his assistant QBs coach back in Buffalo in 2016 when Taylor was the starter. That’s a built-in comfort level right there. They’re hoping that veteran experience can stabilize things behind Jordan Love early in the season.
Running Back Shake-Up and a New Receiver
The backfield in Green Bay also saw some late drama. Right at the cutdown deadline, just before news dropped that starting running back Josh Jacobs was put on the commissioner exempt list, they went out and traded for Kaleb Johnson. This guy’s a former Iowa standout and spent some time with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Johnson definitely struggled early in Pittsburgh and fell down their depth chart, but he’s looking for a fresh start. He played under Tim Lester, who was Iowa’s offensive coordinator and a senior analyst for the Packers in 2023. Johnson, originally the 55th overall player in his 2025 draft class, is expected to be the number two ball-carrying option behind MarShawn Lloyd while Jacobs is out, especially with Green Bay going back to the outside zone scheme he ran so much in college. Then there’s Skyy Moore, a compensatory free agent who spent time with the San Francisco 49ers and Kyle Shanahan. Shanahan’s tight with Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, so maybe there’s some insider info there.
This early season look at Green Bay’s new additions shows a team trying to shore up key spots. Taylor brings the veteran smarts, Johnson aims for a rebound in a familiar scheme, and Moore adds depth at receiver. It’s all about these early adjustments and how these guys settle into their roles that will define the opening weeks for the Packers.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Acme Packing Company.
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