The Green Bay Packers, like every other team, are in the process of making their final 53-man roster. One player who has turned heads this preseason is running back Emanuel Wilson. He led the league in rushing in the preseason thanks to a couple of strong performances. Still, it was not guaranteed that he would make the roster. It seems that fans will be seeing more of Wilson as he announced on Instagram that he has made the roster.
Green Bay Packers Emanuel Wilson Makes Initial Roster
The undrafted rookie out of Fort Valley State had quite a preseason. He carried 38 times for 223 yards and two touchdowns and this included an 80-yard run against the Bengals. Wilson still has a lot to improve on if he is going the be a special teams contributor but his running ability won him the job. The Packers did not want to risk him being claimed off of waivers. He will back up Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon who are the clear starters.
Not The Only Undrafted Rookie
Wilson is not the only undrafted rookie to make it on the initial 53-man roster. Wide receiver Malik Heath impressed in the preseason as well but for a different reason. While he caught plenty of passes, his blocking is what made head coach Matt LaFleur notice him. Allen Lazard made a name for himself blocking in this offense and Heath looks to fill that role. Outside linebacker Brenton Cox Jr. also made the roster. He has had problems off the field which has caused him to be dismissed from two college programs. So far, he has kept his head down and worked hard and could be an absolute steal.
It is great to see Emanuel Wilson make the Green Bay Packers initial roster. While this day can be a tough one, it can also be a great one for fringe players who do get to live out their NFL dream.