Packers vs. Chiefs Preview: Roster battles to watch in Green Bay’s preseason finale The Green Bay Packers have their starting lineup essentially set for the start of the 2018 season. Although a few injuries here and there may affect the specifics of who takes the field on the first snaps of the team’s week one game against the Chicago Bears Womens Kenny Clark Jersey , the general structure of the lineup is set. The back end of the roster, though? That remains very much in flux, with plenty of question marks to be answered. The last chance for players to audition for the roster comes tonight, with the Packers in Kansas City for their preseason finale against the Chiefs.Here are four positions that should have roster spots decided by the play of those Packers who will get significant playing time on Thursday evening.Wide ReceiverIt’s probably obvious, as the receiver battle seems to get more attention than any other position battle on the Packers’ roster this year. However, Thursday is the last chance for the three rookies and Trevor Davis to audition for the 53.In week one, Marquez Valdes-Scantling exploded and Equanimeous St. Brown had a very solid game. The second game saw the arrival (and injury) of Jake Kumerow. J’Mon Moore finally broke out last week. Whoever impresses most tonight will likely sew up a spot, but an awful game for any of these players could result in a surprise roster cut. Kumerow’s expected absence probably leaves him hoping that a rookie drops the ball (literally and figuratively) in order to make the team.Then there’s Davis, who has yet to play this preseason. His contributions to the team would likely come on special teams, so a game-breaking return or big tackle on punt coverage could get him on the team again for a third year.Running BackWith Jamaal Williams locked in as the starter, Ty Montgomery banged up, and Aaron Jones suspended for the first two games, the Packers will probably need to keep a third tailback on the 53 to start the year, at least until Jones’ return. Who will take that job is anyone’s guess.Devante Mays finally returned from an injury this week to get some game action and show that he deserves the spot. Can Joel Bouagnon show more burst and explosiveness than he did through three games? Perhaps LeShun Daniels builds on a brief but intriguing performance last week. Alternately Lance Kendricks Jersey , If none of these players impress, they could all be left off the roster, with the Packers instead looking outside the organization for another body on the waiver wire this weekend.Offensive LineJason Spriggs is the primary backup tackle, while Lucas Patrick appears to be a top option at all three interior spots. Behind them, however, myriad questions plague the reserve group.Just how bad is Kyle Murphy’s injury, and does the team trust him to play well enough if he gets healthy to deserve a roster spot? Is Byron Bell just washed up? Can Adam Pankey hold up against starting-caliber players if called upon? Is Dillon Day just a center, or can he add some good reps at guard to make him more useful overall?The Packers probably need at least two of those players on their final 53, and tonight will help decide which players make it.Inside LinebackerWhat do the Packers do at the linebacker position? The only sure things are starter Blake Martinez and third-round rookie Oren Burks. For one thing, Burks’ shoulder injury will probably keep him out of the game and it has him questionable at best for week one. Who will start in his place and who will play the critical backup and special teams roles?There are three realistic candidates, all of whom are fighting with each other and with players at other positions for roster spots. Ahmad Thomas is the rangy coverage linebacker who has seen action with the first-team defense on passing downs. Run-stopper Antonio Morrison will likely get significant playing time, having just arrived from Indianapolis on Sunday. And undrafted Greer Martini is probably the best special-teamer of the bunch but could be the odd man out if Morrison impresses.Watch this group closely — if the team feels good about Burks, they could keep as few as three players, but that number could just as easily be five instead. Matt LaFleur is stepping into an interesting situation in his first gig as a head coach.The new Green Bay Packers boss (well Jake Ryan Jersey White , not official as we write this, but soon enough), inherits one of the best quarterbacks in the game (when healthy) in Aaron Rodgers, a Pro Bowl receiver in Davante Adams and a young, up-and-coming defense.More Packers coverage from FOX Sports WisconsinGreen Bay Packers 2019 NFL draft capsulesPackers close out 2019 draft, select LB Summers in seventh roundPackers add CB Hollman, RB Williams in sixth roundPackers address defense in fifth round, select DL Kingsley KekePackers use third-round pick to select TE Jace SternbergerBut also a Packers team which has missed the postseason the past two seasons and fan base hungry for a return and not thrilled at the prospect of a third straight year without a rooting interest in the playoffs (that is, beyond rooting against Chicago or Minnesota).To do so, LaFleur will be going against Packers history.No first-year Green Bay head coach has led the team to the playoffs in his initial year at the helm. As in ever. Not Curly Lambeau. Not Vince Lombardi. Not Mike Holmgren. No one.Interestingly, only five had a better record in his first season with the Packers than the previous season, and two of those just meant getting three and four wins that initial year. However, each of the past two Green Bay head coaches did improve the team’s record in his first year.PACKERS HEAD COACHES, FIRST YEARCOACHYEARPREV1ST YROVERALLPLAYOFFSCurly Lambeau1921n/a3-2-1209-104-218*Gene Ronzani19502-103-914-31-10Lisle Blackbourn19542-9-14-817-310Ray McLean19584-81-10-11-10-10Vince Lombardi19591-10-17-589-29-46Phil Bengston19689-4-16-7-120-21-10Dan Devine19716-84-8-225-27-41Bart Starr19756-84-1052-76-31Forrest Gregg19848-88-825-37-10Lindy Infante19885-9-14-1224-400Mike Holmgren19929-79-775-376Ray Rhodes199911-58-88-80Mike Sherman20008-89-757-394Mike McCarthy20064-128-8125-77-29* – Includes championships won before there was a playoff systemOf course Womens Marwin Evans Jersey , none of this means LaFleur can’t lead the Packers to the playoffs in 2019. A look around at the current NFL coaches shows that while it’s not common for a first-year head coach to lead his team to the postseason, it isn’t like it’s never happened.Two coaches who were in their first year this season led their team to the playoffs. The same in 2017. Others have led their team to the playoffs in subsequent seasons (probably one reason they are still head coaches in the NFL; we aren’t including those fired after the 2018 season).Keep in mind that, of course, circumstances can help or hurt a first-year coach. For example, Drew Brees joined the Saints in 2006 and Andrew Luck was healthy in 2018 after missing all of the previous season, while on the flip side Jon Gruden and the Raiders dealt away some key players this year.But — and good news here, Packers fans — generally speaking teams improved in the first year under the active head coaches. OK, not Bill Belichick, but we think things have still turned out pretty well for New England.CURRENT NFL HEAD COACHES, FIRST YEAR WITH TEAMCOACHTEAMYEARPREV1ST YRBill BelichickPatriots20009-7*8-8Sean PaytonSaints20063-1310-6*Mike TomlinSteelers20078-810-6*John HarbaughRavens20085-1111-5*Pete CarrollSeahawks20105-117-9Jason Garrett**Cowboys20116-108-8Ron RiveraPanthers20112-146-10Andy ReidChiefs20132-1411-5*Bll O’BrienTexans20142-149-7Jay GrudenRedskins20143-134-12Mike ZimmerVikings20145-10-17-9Dan QuinnFalcons20156-108-8Doug PedersonEagles20167-97-9Sean McDermottBills20177-99-7*Doug Marrone***Jaguars20173-1310-6*Anthony LynnChargers20175-119-7Sean McVayRams20174-1211-5*Kyle Shanahan49ers20172-146-10Frank ReichColts20184-1210-6*Mike VrabelTitans20189-7*9-7Jon GrudenRaiders20186-104-12Pat ShurmurGiants20183-135-11Matt NagyBears20185-1112-4*Matt PatriciaLions20189-76-10* — Made playoffs** — Garrett took over as interim coach midway through the 2010 season and went 5-3. He had the interim tag taken away after the season.*** — Marrone took over in the final two games of the 2016 season and went 1-1. He had the interim tag taken away after the season.