Context:

Green Bay’s 42-38 preseason win over Arizona left the Packers with more questions than answers as they sat 37 players, including starters, and eye a 53-man roster cut by Sunday before opening Week 1 at Minnesota. Backup quarterback Kyle McCord turned in a strong close to a summer, finishing 22-of-35 for 226 yards with four touchdowns and delivering a late game-winning drive, while young pass-catchers Will Sheppard and J. Michael Sturdivant gave the coaching staff notable audition material. Special-teams improvement under first-year coordinator Cam Achord provided a rare bright spot, contrasting with durability concerns at critical positions like pass rush and the offensive line. The outcome buys time for evaluation, but momentum hinges on final cuts and how the team translates preseason gains to the regular season beyond Sept. 13.

Dive Deeper:

• Kyle McCord posted a 22-of-35 line for 226 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions in the game, guiding two late touchdown drives including a 10-yard game-winner with 20 seconds left; his summer totals reached 46-of-70 for 446 yards, four TDs, and no picks.

• Sheppard, a former practice-squad player, scored on a 12-yard pass and returned an 81-yard punt for a touchdown, while also contributing six catches for 47 yards in another exhibition; Sturdivant had six receptions for 112 yards and a 29-yard TD, converting a trick play into a strike during the night.

• The performance by McCord raised the case that he could push for a practice-squad elevation or a potential depth role, though the team is unlikely to keep a third quarterback on the 53-man roster.

• Special teams showed tangible improvement under Cam Achord, featuring an 81-yard punt return by Sheppard and a 68-yard kick return by Pierre Strong, plus a perfect 9-for-9 on field goals by kicker Trey Smack in summer work.

• The coaching staff faced tough roster decisions at receiver, where Sheppard and Sturdivant provided evidence to stay in consideration alongside incumbents such as Christian Watson, Matthew Golden, Jayden Reed, Savion Williams, Bo Melton, and Skyy Moore.

• Green Bay emphasized evaluating units beyond the starters, signaling that questions persist at pass rush, cornerback, and the offensive line, with the final cuts aimed at stabilizing a 53-man roster ahead of the opener.

• Overall, the win serves as a mixed signal: solid late-culmination quarterback play and special-teams momentum contrast with lingering uncertainties about core position depth and how the team will translate these performances into Week 1 at Minnesota.