GREEN BAY -- We may never know just how good DeShawn Wynn might have been. Or perhaps the now-former Packers halfback will get his act together and make something of himself and his NFL career, after all.

To do so, though, everyone agrees on one thing:

"I'd just say this: He needs to stay healthy," running backs coach Edgar Bennett said, echoing the sentiments of general manager Ted Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy Monday, when Wynn was among four players released by the club.

As a rookie seventh-round pick last year, Wynn -- labeled an underachiever during his college career at Florida -- started four of the Packers' first seven games and had rushed for a team-high 203 yards and four touchdowns before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury at Denver on Oct. 28.

Wynn, who missed practice time during camp last year with a stomach virus and a quadriceps injury, made the 53-man roster with a strong performance in the preseason finale against Tennessee.

He won't get a chance to duplicate that feat this year after missing the last two games with a sprained ankle suffered in the exhibition opener against Cincinnati on Aug. 11. He had been hoping a strong showing in Thursday's exhibition finale against the Titans would buy him another year in Green Bay.

"I'm pretty much in the same predicament," Wynn said last week, referring to his 21-carry, 54-yard showing against the Titans in last year's finale to make the team as the fourth halfback. "There's only one preseason game left. There's not much (opportunity) to show the coaches what you've got in a game situation. So, I have a hard week of practice coming up to get prepared for the last one. That's how I approach it.

"People just have more questions about my injuries more than others. It seems like more of a big deal. It is what it is. Last year, I just went out there and played and did all I could do and I did make it. It may not be the same case this year."

As it turns out, it wasn't. The Packers figure to keep two halfbacks behind starter Ryan Grant and backup Brandon Jackson, and Vernand Morency, Noah Herron and rookie Kregg Lumpkin were all running ahead of Wynn.

Thompson, who refuses to criticize players upon their release, chose his words carefully when asked why Wynn, who showed flashes last season in a Sept. 16 victory over the New York Giants (two rushing touchdowns) and an Oct. 7 loss to the Chicago Bears (13 carries for 78 yards and a TD), never fully realized his potential.

"The NFL is a tough business and people get hurt. Sometimes guys have worse luck than others," Thompson said of Wynn, who missed a total of nine practices and two games this year with the ankle and a mild concussion. "But in this league you have to be available. That's part of the requirement."

Both Thompson and McCarthy praised Wynn's work in the off-season conditioning program, but in the end, it wasn't enough.

In addition to Wynn, the Packers cut wide receiver Chris Francies, fullback Ryan Powdrell and offensive lineman Ryan Considine and placed defensive tackle Justin Harrell on the physically unable to perform list to get down to the NFL-mandated 75-player roster limit. The final roster reduction is Saturday.