MIke Neal is in a battle to hold onto his roster spot. Credit: Mark Hoffman

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Green Bay - Mike Neal is experiencing how the other half lives. And he'll be the first to admit, it's not much fun.

Neal, a second-round draft pick in 2010, had a roster spot virtually guaranteed his first two seasons. That's what being a lofty draft choice will do for you.

This year, Neal - like many of his Green Bay Packer teammates - is in a fight for a roster spot. And that's clearly more stressful.

"I have no idea what they're going to do," Neal said of his bosses. "It's a lot tougher this way, for sure.

"I hope I stay here. Absolutely. But if I'm not here, I'll be somewhere. I know there's a plan for me. Still, I know I'm probably one of those guys on the bubble and that's not fun."

Half the roster is feeling exactly like Neal.

With cuts looming, the Packers are relatively certain on who the first 45 players will be on their 53-man roster. The remaining 40-plus players in camp are likely fighting for the final eight spots.

After two preseason games we've learned these Packers aren't as deep as recent Green Bay teams. The Packers are extremely thin in the secondary, offensive line and quarterback, but have solid depth at wide receiver, tight end and defensive line.

That means general manager Ted Thompson could be extremely busy tweaking his roster, right up until the days before the Sept. 9 season opener.

In Thompson's first seven years, he's made September trades to acquire linebacker Robert Thomas, running back Vernand Morency, running back Ryan Grant and safety Derrick Martin. All addressed positions of concern, so don't be surprised to see Thompson make a similar move this year.

The Packers must trim their roster to 75 players by Monday at 3 p.m. Those decisions will be relatively easy.

The tough ones come on Aug. 31, when Green Bay must take its roster to 53 by 8 p.m. The following day, the Packers can establish an eight-man practice squad.

With those dates looming, Packer Plus takes a stab at what this year's 53-man roster will look like.

QUARTERBACKS (2)

Keep: Aaron Rodgers, someone else.

Cut: Graham Harrell and B.J. Coleman.

Summary: Through the first month of training camp, Harrell simply hasn't shown enough to warrant the No. 2 job. If Rodgers had to miss a month, do you think Green Bay could go .500 with Harrell under center? Odds are the Packers don't, which means their best move is trading for a veteran. It's still 50-50 the Packers will keep Harrell. They've invested nearly three years into his development. But such a decision could ruin the season if Rodgers goes down for a substantial period of time. Coleman is a developmental player who should make it to the practice squad.

RUNNING BACKS (3)

Keep: Cedric Benson, Alex Green, Brandon Saine.

Cut: James Starks, Marc Tyler, Du'ane Bennett.

Summary: This positional group has been hammered by injuries throughout camp and is somewhat of a mystery. Benson signed Aug. 12 and began practicing Sunday. Benson has had three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, and unless he falls on his face, the Packers seem ready to make him their lead back. Green is just beginning to regain his explosiveness after suffering an ACL tear last October. Coach Mike McCarthy loves Saine's versatility, smarts and steadiness. He's been fighting a hamstring injury but should survive. The surprise here would be the Packers giving up on Starks, their No. 1 back early in camp. But injuries have limited Starks to just 16 games his first two years, and he's out again with a turf toe. Dating back to his days at Buffalo, Starks has missed time five straight years. At some point, his inability to stay on the field will cost him. The guess is it's now. Tyler seems a good bet for the practice squad.

FULLBACKS (1)

Keep: John Kuhn.

Cut: Nic Cooper, Jon Hoese.

Summary: Kuhn was given a three-year, $7.5-million contract in 2011 and is one of McCarthy's favorites. Kuhn also is versatile enough to play running back in a pinch. He's not going anywhere. Hoese finished 2011 on the practice squad, but Cooper might take that spot in 2012.

RECEIVERS (6)

Keep: Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, James Jones, Randall Cobb, Donald Driver, Tori Gurley.

Cut: Diondre Borel, Dale Moss, Jarrett Boykin, Andrew Brewer, Curenski Gilleylen, Shaky Smithson.

Summary: Gurley gets the final spot over Borel - and others - because of his size (6 foot 4, 232 pounds) and special teams skills. Gurley could be a dynamic threat in the red zone, while he's flashed the ability to be a terrific punt blocker during his first two summers. Gurley has been slowed this summer by a groin injury, but he was a practice squad star last summer. It's his time. Borel will likely be gobbled up by a team starving for wideouts, much like Chastin West was a year ago. Both Moss and Boykin are strong candidates for the practice squad.

TIGHT ENDS (4)

Keep: Jermichael Finley, Tom Crabtree, D.J. Williams, Ryan Taylor.

PUP list: Andrew Quarless.

Cut: Brandon Bostick, DeMarco Cosby.

Summary: A player like Williams might be able to fetch a backup offensive lineman or a No. 3 safety in a trade. That remains a possibility. But McCarthy, a former tight end at tiny Baker College, is partial to this positional group. He loves their versatility, body types and ability to play special teams. So odds are Green Bay goes heavy on the position again. Quarless, who suffered a torn ACL last December, talked recently about being ready for Week 1. But the PUP list, which would keep him inactive the first six weeks of the season, seems more likely.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (9)

Keep: Marshall Newhouse, T.J. Lang, Jeff Saturday, Josh Sitton, Bryan Bulaga, Evan Dietrich-Smith, Herb Taylor, Reggie Wells, someone else.

PUP list: Derek Sherrod.

Cut: Shea Allard, Don Barclay, Andrew Datko, Ray Dominguez, Tommie Draheim, Sampson Genus, Greg Van Roten.

Summary: The Packers kept 10 in 2010, but only eight in 2011. There's a chance Green Bay rolls the dice with eight again, largely because there's probably not nine here worth keeping. But Thompson could make a trade because the reserves are mediocre. Sherrod, who broke his leg last December, will help at some point, but he hasn't practiced yet and seems destined for the PUP list. Datko, a seventh-round pick who must get stronger, seems the best bet for the practice squad.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (7)

Keep: B.J. Raji, Ryan Pickett, C.J. Wilson, Jerel Worthy, Mike Daniels, Daniel Muir, Phillip Merling.

Reserve / suspended list: Mike Neal, Anthony Hargrove.

Cut: Jarius Wynn, Lawrence Guy, Johnny Jones.

Summary: The Packers' toughest decisions will come during the regular season, when Neal and Hargrove can be activated. For now, the Packers have enough talent in this group to justify keeping seven. Green Bay has kept just six since switching to a 3-4 defense in 2009. That means Thompson might trade one of his top seven to bolster another position.

LINEBACKERS (9)

Keep: Clay Matthews, Nick Perry, D.J. Smith, A.J. Hawk, Robert Francois, Dezman Moses, Jamari Lattimore, Terrell Manning, Brad Jones.

Reserve/Suspended list: Erik Walden

Injured reserve: Desmond Bishop.

Cut: Vic So’oto, Frank Zombo.

Summary: The Packers kept 10 here a year ago, but might drop down from that number if seven defensive linemen are kept. The top six appear set, while the final spots remain unsettled. Moses will likely become the latest undrafted free agent to make the team. Lattimore gets a second year based on his potential and special teams abilities. Manning sticks only because he was a fifth round pick in April. Jones survives Week 1, but gets the axe when Walden comes back. Past contributors So’oto and Zombo have run out of time.

CORNERBACKS (6)

Keep: Charles Woodson, Tramon Williams, Davon House, Sam Shields, Jarrett Bush, Casey Hayward.

Cut: Otis Merrill, Brandian Ross, Dion Turner.

Summary: Woodson will play more safety than ever before, but he is still predominantly a corner. And with the Packers expected to play more dime defense than any time since Dom Capers arrived, six corners will survive. The key is House and the dislocated shoulder he suffered Aug. 9. If the injury requires surgery, this group is razor thin. If House, an early star this training camp, returns, Green Bay has solid depth.

SAFETIES (3)

Keep: Morgan Burnett, Jerron McMillian, M.D. Jennings.

Cut: Sean Richardson, Anthony Levine, Micah Pellerin.

Summary: Jennings has been given every chance to win the nickel safety job, but he flopped and was passed by McMillian earlier this week. Perhaps the raw and unproven McMillian holds on. But the better guess is Thompson trades for, or signs a veteran that can get him through a season. Richardson has practice squad written all over him.

SPECIALISTS (3)

Keep: K Mason Crosby, P Tim Masthay, LS Brett Goode.

Cut: None.

Summary: The three specialists are back for a third year together.