Yes https://www.thepackersfanshop.com/Marcedes-Lewis-Jersey , the Green Bay Packers’ chances of clinching postseason play are extremely slim. But all is not lost as the 2018 season inches closer to the finish line.While the Packers certainly have not met expectations so far, the areas for improvement have become much clearer. General Manager Brian Gutekunst will have plenty of options to re-shape the roster once again in his second offseason in charge, but his first duty is to evaluate his current 53-man squad and the many young players that are still developing. Valuable regular season game reps with starters can be afforded to these players if the playoffs become too far from the Packers’ grasp.With that said, here are three areas in which Gutekunst and the front office can be especially critical in their assessments down the stretch.The development of the rookie receivers, plus Jake KumerowAlthough the Packers very well could be in a different offensive system come this time next year, the development of their four young receivers over the next handful of games will determine the team’s future at the position. Growth from any or all of the group could impact the Packers’ draft and free agent pursuits at wide receiver, especially with Randall Cobb a near lock to leave after the season.While Marquez Valdes-Scantling was the quickest riser in the first half, it appears Equanimeous St. Brown’s chemistry with Aaron Rodgers has risen significantly since the bye week. St. Brown has tallied 16 targets over the past four games with three catches for 53 yards last week against Minnesota. His continued progression will be monitored closely as his hands and ability to stretch the field both horizontally and vertically have shown up in extended action. Although MVS has seen a decrease in targets over the past two weeks, he has been among Green Bay’s most explosive players this season with two games of 100-plus receiving yards. Prior to Seattle, MVS had averaged almost seven targets over the previous five games. Both St. Brown and MVS have the skillsets to be mainstays on the roster after being taken late in the draft.Even J’mon Moore has been active the past four games for Green Bay, albeit playing mostly on special teams. Moore and Jake Kumerow, who could be activated from injured reserve as soon as this week, have chances to make a lasting impression. It is no secret that Rodgers’ face glowed in preseason with Kumerow on the field and the UW-Whitewater alum could wind up having a role next season.Signs of growth from two secondary players named JoshFans are always given a reminder to temper expectations during the preseason from year to year. Still, the intrigue that surrounded both Josh Jackson and Josh Jones in the past two exhibition slates has been disappointingly unmatched in regular season play. Jackson was a turnover machine at Iowa last season and burst on to the scene as a playmaker in the preseason, but has yet to intercept a pass this regular season. If anything https://www.thepackersfanshop.com , Jackson has been targeted at a high rate since the healthy return of Jaire Alexander. He certainly has the size to play on the boundary, but his speed, which was questioned coming out of college, remains a concern. Covering quick receivers over the middle and out of the slot has been a difficulty for Jackson, who has not been able to maintain tight coverage in these situations. Still, Jackson’s instincts are good and his skills should improve with more reps in NFL action as the season nears the end. Jackson is getting every shot to grow with Kevin King injured.Likewise, Jones needs these final five games of the season to state his case for another chance to become a starting-caliber safety. It has been a roller-coaster two seasons for Jones who began his time in Green Bay as the “nitro” linebacker before transitioning more fully to safety this season. Whether it was a lack of trust or something else, Jones was not given the same opportunities as Kentrell Brice in the first half of the season despite Brice’s own struggles. But when the Packers traded Ha Ha Clinton-Dix a few weeks ago, it opened the door for Jones. So far, Jones has not made the strides necessary to earn a permanent role. His tackling angles have been spotty and his coverage skills inconsistent, apparent on the field in Minnesota. This is a pivotal time for Jones, as the Packers should be on the prowl for safety help this offseason.The depth test on the offensive lineDavid Bakhtiari and Lane Taylor both exited early from last week’s game and could be out this week against Arizona with neither practicing Wednesday. If they are without their left tackle, the Packers figure to start Jason Spriggs in what may be the third-year player’s final opportunity to impress Gutekunst. Last week’s performance was another rough one for Spriggs, who was put to shame by Danielle Hunter on a third down sack. It might be too late for Spriggs and Kyle Murphy to make any sort of impression at tackle before next offseason, but a chance exists. The same can be said for Alex Light and practice squad players like Adam Pankey and newly-added Gerhard de Beer.At right guard Green Bay Packers Customized Jerseys , Green Bay will probably upgrade over Byron Bell and Justin McCray in the offseason. But each, along with Lucas Patrick, will get opportunities if Taylor misses more time on the left side. Depth has been an issue all over the line outside of center this season and should be a point of emphasis in the draft this year. It did not help that the Packers were unable to work fifth-round pick Cole Madison into the rotation this season due to him not reporting for duty, as he is another player who would have been given every opportunity to win a starting role. As it is, Green Bay will get a good look at which depth options are worth keeping following this season. GREEN BAY, Wis. 鈥?In dealing Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Ty Montgomery, the Green Bay Packers traded away two players who spoke in varying degrees in recent weeks about their respective futures with the team.What happens on the field always comes first, general manager Brian Gutekunst said Wednesday, though other factors aren’t ignored either.More Packers coverage from FOX Sports WisconsinProtecting QB Aaron Rodgers will be Packers’ priority vs. BearsPackers place starting guard Bell on IR, sign OL SiragusaStaTuesday: Packers’ Rodgers sets record with INT-free streakPackers Snap Counts: Patrick shows fight in first startUpon Further Review: Packers vs. Falcons“So I think you take everything into consideration when you make these kinds of decisions,” Gutekunst said before practice. “But performance comes first. That’s always kind of the major factor in these decisions.“But everything’s taken into account,” he added. “It’s never usually just one thing.”Clinton-Dix, a starting safety,聽went to the Washington Redskins聽in exchange for a 2019 fourth-round pick. Playing under the fifth-year option of his rookie contract, Clinton-Dix is eligible for free agency this offseason.Montgomery Green Bay Packers T-Shirts , a fourth-year running back, was聽traded to the Baltimore Ravens聽for a seventh-round pick in 2020. He moves on two days after fumbling a kickoff return with about two minutes left in a 29-27 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday after being told by coaches to take a touchback if the kick went into the end zone. The turnover cost the Packers a chance to drive for a potential winning score.Montgomery seemed uncertain about his future on Monday. He lost snaps in the Rams game after Aaron Jones was elevated to starter.“I don’t fully understand what my role is right now, what I’m supposed to be doing, how I’m supposed to help this team,” Montgomery said Monday.Montgomery said that he made a “split-second decision” in taking the ball out on the kick return because he did not want to take a chance of putting the game in the hands of officials. He also spoke Monday about criticism from an anonymous player that came up in an聽NFL.com story聽, adding that he wanted that player to talk to him.12View Gallery Gallery:PHOTOS: Packers at RamsJake Roth-USA TODAY Sports | Jake RothNow what had been a three-man backfield is down to Jones and Jamaal Williams. Jones is averaging 6.2 yards a carry.“It’s not a personal slight or trying to create an angle here of negativity,” coach Mike McCarthy said Wednesday. “This is part of the business but, more importantly, when opportunities arise, we’re more focused on the culture and the people in that culture taking advantage of this opportunity.”McCarthy thanked Montgomery and Clinton-Dix for their contributions and wished them the best. He said that they represented the Packers “very well” during their tenures.Clinton-Dix led the Packers with three interceptions, giving him 14 over 71 regular-season games in Green Bay, including 65 starts. Still, the safety position was mired by inconsistent play.Clinton-Dix also talked about his future in an interview聽on Oct. 10 with the Wisconsin State-Journal聽.“Right now, I’m playing each and every game like it’s my last. I don’t think I’m going to be here next year,” Clinton-Dix said then.Gutekunst said that while he was aware of what players were saying https://www.thepackersfanshop.com/hats , that “it’s not as concerning, to me it’s more about their play and their performance and things like that. Any time there’s comments that come out of our locker room, I pay attention to it.”The moves didn’t signify the Packers were already looking ahead to next year, he added. At 3-3-1, the Packers are still firmly in the muddled NFC North race with a tough game at New England on Sunday night.“I don’t necessarily think there’s a message it sends to the locker room,” Gutekunst said. “I think the decisions that we make are always in the best interest of our team, not only in the short term but the long term, as well.“But I think our locker room knows where we’re headed,” he added. “I think we’re humming at the right time and I think there (are) a lot of positive things going forward.”Receiver Davante Adams said the deals shouldn’t be taken personally in the locker room.“It’s just a part of the game,” Adams said. “It’s going to be a lot of different factors that lead into people coming and going for many years to come. I wouldn’t take it as a warning for anybody or anything like that.”NOTES: RB Tra Carson was added to the active roster from the practice squad, while RB Lavon Coleman was added to the practice squad. Carson was signed to the practice squad on Oct. 9 after being waived/injured by the Bengals in Week 2. The second-year player was signed by the Bengals as undrafted free agent out of Texas A&M in 2016.