Packers fan-favorite called 'surprise cut candidate' despite strong season

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Sep 18, 2022; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers running back AJ Dillon (28) blocks for running back Aaron Jones (33) as he scores a touchdown against Chicago Bears safety Jaquan Brisker (9) in the second quarter during their football game at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
Dan Powers / USA TODAY NETWORK

With training camp quickly approaching teams will have to start trimming down the roster soon.

The Green Bay Packers certainly will have to make some tough decisions and even could end up losing one of their fan favorites. A to Z Sports compiled a list of "surprise cut candidates" and running back A.J. Dillon was mentioned as an option by Wendell Ferreira.

"The Packers didn't plan to keep Dillon this year in free agency, but his market was so slow that it allowed the team to bring him back on a four-year qualifying offer, an unusual CBA tool to get a player slightly above the minimum salary when only counting the minimum against the cap," Ferreira said. "However, the Packers also signed Josh Jacobs in free agency and drafted MarShawn Lloyd in the third round. If the Packers get early indications that Lloyd can be fairly impactful right away, it might get difficult to find a roster spot for Dillon."

Dillon was selected in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft by Green Bay and has been a regular contributor ever since. He was behind Aaron Jones on the depth chart but formed a fearsome duo with him.

The 26-year-old has shown he can thrive in his role -- even with Jacobs now on the roster -- but it sounds like there is a chance that his days are numbered with the Packers despite having a strong 2023 season in which he had 613 rushing yards and 22 receptions for 223 more yards. Overall, he had two touchdowns.

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Patrick McAvoy's experiences include local and national sportswriting across baseball, football and basketball. He has provided coverage for the Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, New York Mets, Philadelphia Eagles and Boston Celtics throughout his career. 
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