It’s game week!

Well, sort of. The Green Bay Packers open their preseason game on Saturday against the Cleveland Browns.

Coach Matt LaFleur says the regular players, including quarterback Jordan Love, will play. But how long remains to be seen.

These preseason games aren’t about players like Love or Josh Jacobs. Rather, they’re about players battling for a spot on the roster or learning their craft on the fly.

That’s the value of the football preseason.

Saturday’s game will be no different. Here are some players vying for roster spots and roles on the team.

K.Anders Carlson

Time may be running out for kicker Anders Carlson. Carlson was the team’s kicker last season and the organization showed him unwavering support as he overcame his difficulties.

That wasn’t the case this offseason. Since the end of the season, four kickers have been signed, including Greg Joseph as a free agent and Alex Hale this week.

Carlson doesn’t have nearly the job security he did a season ago. In fact, he may not even win the competition the team has created.

There’s no doubt the Packers like Carlson. Special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia has a relationship with his brother Daniel, who became one of the best kickers in football after being cast aside by the Minnesota Vikings following a dismal performance at Lambeau Field as a rookie.

Anders Carlson, however, has not experienced the recovery he had hoped for.

Both he and Joseph attempted 53 field goals during training camp. Carlson converted 81.1 percent of his attempts, Joseph 86.8 percent.

While the difference may seem small, the difference between winning and losing is small, as the Packers learned the hard way when Carlson missed a field goal in a three-point loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the playoffs.

That was then. The Packers were playing with house money, even if they would never admit it. They far exceeded their expectations for the season simply by playing in the postseason.

Those expectations are much higher entering this season. The Packers are expected to be Super Bowl contenders. They can’t afford to be as patient with the kicker as they were last season.

If Carlson struggles on Saturday, it could be the beginning of the end for him in Green Bay.

G Sean Rhyan

Sean Rhyan’s first two seasons in Green Bay brought mixed results. He had a disastrous rookie season, followed by a second year in which he made enough progress to rotate with Jon Runyan Jr. at right guard down the stretch and in the playoffs.

His progress caught the attention of his superiors.

“I’m really, really proud of where (Rhyan) is from Year 1 to Year 2 and everything he’s (done), his development,” said general manager Brian Gutekunst.

“He’s a very powerful man, very strong. He’s a great anchor in the passing game. He still has a long way to go, but at the same time I think he’s developed considerably and helped our football team over time.”

Rhyan’s progress has not earned him a spot in the starting lineup. Instead, first-round pick Jordan Morgan has made the most appearances on the first team and was listed as the starting right guard on the team’s first unofficial roster.

Morgan is out with a shoulder injury, meaning Rhyan will likely start and get plenty of playing time.

It’s unlikely that Rhyan could lose his spot on the roster, but he was likely projected to be a starter at training camp. Losing to a rookie would be disappointing.

A strong performance on Saturday could put him back in contention with Morgan.

Backup offensive tackles

Love will play Saturday. Zach Tom will not. That means the swing tackle position, which LaFleur and offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich have called a big competition for, will be the focus to protect the franchise quarterback.

“It’s a hell of a competition right now,” LaFleur said this week.

While Rasheed Walker is a solid left tackle, Kadeem Telfort and Andre Dillard have taken on most of the duties at right tackle since the team relieved Tom of a torn pectoral muscle. Caleb Jones has also gotten some opportunities. Whoever starts Saturday could be the favorite for the No. 3 tackle job.

On the other hand, any of the three could be laid off when the final cuts come into effect on August 27.

“We have a lot of guys that we’re going to continue to rotate and see who takes the spot,” Stenavich said.

The Packers need someone to step up and win this competition, and if the franchise’s quarterback stays clean in Cleveland, it would be a big step in that direction.

More news from the Green Bay Packers training camp

Latest news and analysis: How to watch GB-CLE | Why three kickers? | Monk gets huge chance | Completely new team | Performance rankings | Crazy story of the new kicker | Zach Tom is back | Tucker Kraft on his comeback | Findings from the first depth map | Rookie Ty’Ron Hopper gets used to the NFL | Roster projection 2.0 | Medalists of the second week | Stock report week 2 | New perspectives for Colby Wooden and Karl Brooks | Javon Bullard looks smooth

Highlights of the training camp: Exercise 13 | Exercise 12 | Exercise 11 | Family night | Exercise 9 | Exercise 8 | Exercise 7 | Exercise 6 | Exercise 5 | Exercise 4 | Exercise 3 | Exercise 2 | Exercise 1