Paul Bretl | 7/23/2025
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Well, we made it. Packers training camp is back and that also means our daily training camp notebook dump has returned as well.
Not only today, but throughout the offseason, it’s been clear that this Packers’ team is very aware of the potential that they have entering the 2025 season. But in order to get to where this team wants to go, the message from Matt LaFleur is that no one can skip any steps to getting there.
“I think we’re capable of doing some really good things,” LaFleur said before Wednesday’s practice. “But we gotta be willing to do the work…Are you willing to do all the little things that it takes because it takes a lot to get even to that point to reach the postseason.
“I mean, we got a really tough division, we got a really tough schedule and that’s the National Football League. But you gotta do all the little things.”
With the first practice in the books, here are my notes from the pre-practice press conferences and the practice itself.
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GM Brian Gutekunst is “very excited” about getting the Zach Tom extension completed. That move was “important for the Packers to get done.” Gutekunst mentioned how reliable Tom has been at right tackle, and similarly, LaFleur mentioned his steadiness at the position.
“I pride myself on going out there and giving it my all,” Zach Tom said after practice. “I give my best every week. Yeah, for sure. It’s nice to know that they believe in me and now it’s just time to go out there and show it.”
What about Elgton Jenkins? Jenkins is beginning training camp on the non-football injury (NFI) list. While there seems to be contract unknowns surrounding Jenkins, who is being asked to move to center with no guarantees remaining on the two years he has left on his deal, Gutekunst says that Jenkins is on the NFI list because of a back injury that he’s working through.
“Elgton hasn’t missed anything mandatory for us,” Gutekunst said. “He’s here and he’s working through a back thing. Contractually, listen, there’s all kind of guys on our team and throughout the National Football League that would like different circumstances with that, so that’s normal. It’s just a part of the National Football League, but Elgton’s always done right by us. We’ve always done right by him. We’re excited to see him kind of move into this new position because we really do think he has an opportunity to really help our football team.”
Gutekunst added that, while Jenkins has center experience, getting as many reps as possible is still important.
Other injury notes: Quay Walker was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. Gutekunst said that he had a “cleanup” surgery over the offseason and reiterated that the team would like Walker around “for a number of years.”
For rookie John Williams, “it will be a little bit of time” before he is available due to a back injury. Collin Oliver may take a few weeks before he is available. Christian Watson is continuing to rehab, which as Gutekusnst said, is going “great.”
“He’s a freak,” Gutekunst said. “So he did a run test the other day and looked great. Again, it’s an ACL and it’s his second one, so we’re going to take our time with him. I’m sure there’s going to be a time where he’s really pressing to get out there, but he’s doing great.”
Who was starting on the offensive line? While there is a competition at left tackle, Rasheed Walker took the initial first-team reps. I wasn’t counting every rep he got there compared to Jordan Morgan, but Walker had more left tackle opportunities with the ones.
With Morgan, the Packers are continuing to cross-train him at right guard, where he took some snaps with the starters, while Sean Rhyan was covering at center with Jenkins out. Then, of course, Aaron Banks was at left guard and Tom at right tackle.
“Sheedo has started a lot of games there,” Gutekunst said. “He’s got a lot of experience, so there’s a comfort level there with him. Jordan, I think in his time last year, he was playing really, really well and he had a really good spring. But it’s an open competition. And certainly, when you’ve got 37 starts under you belt, there’s a comfort level there that something would have to overtake that I would think.”
Of note along the offensive line, when Morgan did move to left tackle, Travis Glover got some right guard reps with the starters. The second offensive line unit consisted of Anthony Belton at left tackle, followed by Donovan Jennings, Jacob Monk, Glover, and Kadeem Telfort.
During the individual portion of practice, with obviously being in the early going, the second and third levels of the defense were prioritizing alignments, assignments, and communication against a variety of different personnel groupings.
The starting defense was made up of Lukas Van Ness and Rashan Gary at defensive end. Devonte Wyatt and Kenny Clark at tackle. The linebackers in nickel were Isaiah McDuffie and Edgerrin Cooper, while Isaiah Simmons, who Josh Jacobs called a “unicorn” came in when in base while Walker is out. Keisean Nixon and Nate Hobbs were outside, Javon Bullard in the nickel, with Xavier McKinney and Evan Williams deep.
When Hobbs moved to the nickel, Bullard got some reps at deep safety next to McKinney. We are going to see a lot of rotating in this secondary. Jeff Hafley has the ability to really vary looks and customize personnel groupings with the different skill sets he has to work with.
Bo Melton has fully shifted to the cornerback position and made a number change, now wearing No. 16. He was frequently with the second defense, lining up opposite of Carrington Valentine. Kamal Hadden got some opportunities with Valentine as well.
“We know what he is as a wide receiver and I think it just gives him the best opportunity moving forward regards to if he can really carve out a role in that spot,” said Matt LaFleur.
A lot can change, but going back to offseason programs, the defensive line rotations have been very consistent. As mentioned above, those four players are the starters, and the second unit has steadily consisted of JJ Enagbare, Karl Brooks, Colby Wooden, and Brenton Cox.
The second linebacker unit was made up of Kristian Welch, Ty’Ron Hopper, and Simmons. The Packers have been working Hopper exclusively at the middle linebacker spot this offseason.
“I think it’s just to continue to evolve and try to put the guys in the best position possible,” LaFleur said of Jeff Hafley’s defense in Year 2. “It takes everybody. It’s not just on him. It’s the players. It’s the other coaches. It’s all of us, myself, to continue to push and try to get and have an even better version of what we were last year. I thought our defense progressively got a lot better throughout the course of the season. But it’s always hard to replicate. That is the expectation.”
No surprise here, but Brandon McManus was 6-for-6 on the day. A far cry from what we saw this time a year ago in training camp at the kicker position.
MarShawn Lloyd was getting his share of RB2 reps behind Josh Jacobs, and on one run to the outside, showcased that burst he has by putting his foot in the ground and turning upfield. He also does a really good job of running behind his pads. Chris Brooks, who fills a do-it-all role got some snaps behind–and at times with–Jacobs as well. We saw the running backs active in the passing game.
More lineup notes: After McKinney, Bullard, and Williams, Kitan Oladapo and Zayne Anderson were the second set of safeties on the field. Kalen King was with the third defense, and we saw a fair amount of John FitzPatrick as the second tight end with the ones–don’t worry, Luke Musgrave did as well. But FitzPatrick can perhaps add another blocking presence alongside Tucker Kraft.
What about the wide receivers? As we do, we saw a steady rotation among this group. Regularly getting snaps with Jordan Love were Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Matthew Golden, and Malik Heath saw some opportunities also. Mecole Hardman was with the twos during the red zone period. There are a lot of receivers here who need reps, so as of now, I wouldn’t read a ton into who is where–it’s about getting snaps.
Red zone: From around the 10 yard line, Love completed 3-of-5 passes, with all three receptions going for touchdowns. Malik Willis was 3-for-3 on passes, with two going for scores. He was “sacked” on one play by Wooden and Barryn Sorrell when no one was open. Sean Clifford was 1-for-2 with a touchdown. Taylor Elgersma didn’t get any red zone reps.
“Always the biggest thing is consistency,” said Jordan Love of his offseason focus. “There’s moments in games where you have a play dialed up versus a perfect kind of defense you want, and sometime you don’t hit on those plays, whether it’s the footwork, missing a throw, maybe being a tick late on the read.
“Just those little things that keep you up at night, like man, that was an easy one, I wish I would’ve hit that. Just finding ways to hit those plays, whatever it is, being as consistent as possible and not having those moments of regret on plays is my biggest mindset.”