Packers Host Cardinals in Preseason Week 3 at 7 p.m. CT

Q: With roster cuts looming, did Eku Leota's special teams dominance just secure his spot on the Cardinals' final 53-man squad?

Yes — Leota appears to have significantly improved his odds, and he may have played his way onto the Cardinals’ 53-man roster. The case for him is stronger than one good series against Green Bay. He had already built momentum with a productive preseason, including a sack and five tackles against Dallas, and he flashed again versus the Packers with early pressure and a quarterback hit. More importantly, Leota has embraced the exact role that often decides the final roster spots: special teams. That is the clearest separator. Reports showed Leota logging heavy special-teams usage across the preseason, including 31 snaps over the last two games and 15 in one earlier projection. He has openly said he knows his role is to help on special teams first and defense when called upon. For a back-end edge rusher, that versatility is critical. His competition also helps his case. BJ Ojulari, the main rival for a likely final outside-linebacker spot, has been widely described as fading, disappointing, or at least failing to separate himself after injuries. Multiple roster projections now put Leota ahead of Ojulari, with some explicitly saying Leota has usurped him. It is still not guaranteed, because Arizona’s edge room and injury decisions — especially around Josh Sweat — affect the math. But based on camp reviews, preseason production, coaches’ public praise, and his special-teams value, Leota looks closer to a roster lock than a bubble long shot heading into cutdowns.

3 articles · Updated · Packers.com · Aug 29

Lambeau Field hosts Green Bay's final preseason game against Arizona on Friday at 7 p.m. CT, the Packers' last tuneup before roster decisions.
24 Wisconsin-led TV affiliates will carry the game, with TODAY'S TMJ4 and NBC 26 headlining the network and Telemundo Wisconsin also broadcasting it.
54 radio stations on the Packers Radio Network will air the matchup, with Wayne Larrivee and Larry McCarren calling their 28th season together; SiriusXM also carries the feed.
5:05 p.m. CT marks the start of pregame streaming audio on Packers.com and the team app, while local-market viewers can also watch the game on Packers.com.
The matchup closes the preseason for both teams and comes just before NFL clubs cut rosters to 53 players.