The Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs are set to play their final preseason game on Thursday. Both teams are 1-2 so far, trying to hit .500 for the preseason. Neither team is expected to play many starters on the day, despite the fact that one is a Super Bowl contender (Green Bay) and one was the worst team in the league last year (Kansas City).
Packers vs. Chiefs 2013 game preview: Roster hopefuls get their last chance Thursday
The Green Bay Packers are set to take on the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday.
Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
It’s an important day for players on the bubble, though, as teams will have to cut down from 75 players to the regular season limit of 53.
Meet the Chiefs
The Chiefs aren’t necessarily trying to find every starter on their roster at this point, but they are still a two-win team searching for answers. While the fourth preseason game won’t hold any significant battles for starting spots -- for the most part -- there are plenty of roster spots and backup roles up for grabs. There are many young players who are fighting to stay on the roster, and are also competing with all of the players who may be cut following this week, given that the Chiefs have waiver priority.
Meet the Packers
The only things up for grabs for Green Bay Thursday are backup and final roster spots. Vince Young seems like the primary backup quarterback, but he's also competing with every backup who could possibly be released this week.
There are also roster spots up for grabs for guys such as Andy Mulumba, Brandon Bostick and Chris Banjo. Then there's Tyrone Walker and Jarrett Boykin battling for the No. 4 wide receiver spot, while Myles White and Jeremy Ross are also vying for the No 5 and possibly even No. 6 spot.
Local Takes: Chiefs
Joel Thorman of Arrowhead Pride was asked some questions about potential Chiefs cuts and thinks there won’t be any big-name players released, regardless of the play on Thursday:
Tony Moeaki just fractured his shoulder so his future is uncertain. Outside of that ... it’s going to be a lot of first-year players. But there are always surprises, especially as we continue to get to know the new regime. They may like or dislike certain players that we don’t know about yet.
Local Takes: Packers
Brendan Kennedy of Acme Packing Company isn't so optimistic about Mason Crosby, and Crosby's play on Thursday will be important:
Hey, it’s Mason Crosby! The guy who single handedly caused more remote controls to be thrown across living rooms in Green Bay since Brett Favre left town. Bottom line is, this game could go a long way in deciding whether or not Ted Thompson looks at the waiver wire this weekend.
Odds
The Chiefs opened as 2.5-point favorites, and can be had for around 4 points at this point, according to OddsShark.
Next Week
The Packers open their season against the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 8. The Chiefs open against the Jacksonville Jaguars on the same day.
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