Paul Bretl | 7/25/2025
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Practice No. 3 is complete for the Packers. Saturday will be an off day before the team is back at it on Sunday.
So, as we do following each practice, let’s empty the notebook and discuss what took place.
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Injury updates: Left guard Aaron Banks exited Thursday’s practice with what Matt LaFleur called a “little back issue.” In LaFleur’s words, everything checked out all right, and Banks is “very day to day.”
Rookie wide receiver Savion Williams did not practice on Friday as he works through a concussion. There were no other changes to the injury report. Also not practicing were Quay Walker (ankle), Christian Watson (knee), Collin Oliver (hamstring), Amar Johnson (hamstring), John Williams (back), and Elgton Jenkins (back).
What about the offensive line today? With no Jenkins or Banks, we saw a few different configurations. I would say the primary lineup with the starters was Rasheed Walker at left tackle, followed by Jordan Morgan, Sean Rhyan, Jacob Monk, and Zach Tom. Monk continues to get his share of work at guard. There were some reps where Monk and Rhyan flipped, giving Rhyan some right guard snaps.
“Consistency just throughout my game,” said Rhyan about what his focus is. “And that kind of stems from being in even better shape than I was last year. I really just want to be able to play at a high level the whole time instead of taking those dips here and there. I want to just be able to play 100% all the way through.”
The second offensive line unit was made up of Anthony Belton at left tackle, followed by Donovan Jennings, Monk, Travis Glover, and Kadeem Telfort. Morgan’s left tackle snaps would mostly come with the twos. For an open competition at left tackle, Morgan’s opportunities with the starters compared to Walker’s don’t seem to be all that close. But, of course, things can change.
“He’s got everything that you’d ever want,” LaFleur said about Walker as a tackle. “And in a tackle, whether it’s left tackle, right tackle, he’s got the size, the athleticism, he’s not afraid of hard work he’s put in, like he looks great. I think for him, it’s just the consistency to do it down in and down out, and not only that, but at an elite level, which I think he’s fully capable of doing.”
On the third offensive line unit was Brant Banks at left tackle, along with JJ Lippe, Trey Hill, Tyler Cooper, and Belton at right tackle, as he continues to be cross-trained.
Is the running back depth chart taking shape? If I were to build out the running back depth chart right now, my official prediction, based on playing time and whose snaps are coming with what unit, would be Josh Jacobs, MarShawn Lloyd, Chris Brooks, and Emanuel Wilson. The big question here is, will the Packers keep four running backs?
“Very motivated,” said Lloyd about the upcoming season. “Like I said, it’s like a kid in a candy store. I’m excited. I love this game. I love this team. I’m just excited to be able to help. I think I can help. I bring an explosive ability and I’m excited. I’m very excited.”
Starting defense remains the same. Lukas Van Ness, Devonte Wyatt, Kenny Clark, and Rashan Gary are along the defensive line. Nate Hobbs and Keisean Nixon at cornerback. Isaiah McDuffie is the middle linebacker with Isaiah Simmons and Edgerrin Cooper around him, while Xavier McKinney and Evan Williams are deep. In nickel, we’ve seen both Bullard and Hobbs taking snaps. When Hobbs is inside, Carrington Valentine takes over outside, and Bullard has often taken some snaps at deep safety for Williams.
“I feel more confident coming into Year 2,” Bullard said at his locker. “Kind of set your feet in a little bit, understand how the game is really played and the highest level, and now you just kind of let loose and let your instincts kick in. Let your experience from Year 1 to Year 2 hopefully make more plays.”
The cornerback depth chart: We know who the top three positions here belong to, but after that, there are roster spots up for grabs. Today, the second unit consisted of Bo Melton and Kamal Hadden outside with Kalen King as the nickel. Micah Robinson, Gregory Junior (in the nickel), and Isaiah Dunn seem to be the primary third options.
There is always some rotating that takes place, but the third string defensive line was Arron Mosby, Warren Brinson, Nazir Stackhouse, and Barryn Sorrell. The second unit has steadily been Brenton Cox, Colby Wooden, Karl Brooks, and JJ Enagbare.
We know Matthew Golden has 4.29-second speed, and the Packers put that in action on Friday, with two touches on end-arounds.
“He’s doing some nice things,” LaFleur said of Golden before practice. “Certainly he showcases his ability to catch a football. It’s pretty impressive. I mean, he uses his hands, and he’s an aggressive catcher of the ball, and then he showed the ability to put his foot in the ground, and had some good YAC.
“So it’s cool to watch these young guys kind of progress and learn, and I still think there’s a lot going on upstairs. And so once that calms down, and he has a great grasp of what the expectations are, I think you’ll see an even better version, where he’s able to play even faster.”
Rotating the third quarterback role. After Sean Clifford got the majority of the QB3 reps on Wednesday, it was Taylor Elgersma’s turn on Thursday. Then today, Clifford was up again. As LaFleur has said, getting four quarterbacks reps in practice isn’t easy, so it looks like Clifford and Elgersma will be splitting time.
Brandon McManus hasn’t missed. He is 15-for-15 overall, and he was 9-for-9 on Friday, which included making three kicks from 50-plus yards.
There were several ‘move the ball’ periods in practice. Overall, Jordan Love was 9-for-13 passing. The best play came on a roughly 35-yard completion to Dontayvion Wicks, who was able to get behind the safeties.
“We had to get down the field to win the competition,” Wicks recalled after practice. “We called a play and I knew I had the post. I had a man on me. I released, ran full speed. I knew X was over the top so I stemmed out a little bit and broke flat across. It was a runaway and J-Love gave me the ball, and I ran under it and that was all from there.”
Malik Willis and the twos were 2-for-5 passing with an interception. The pass was picked off by Carrington Valentine, his second in two days. Clifford was 5-for-9 passing. Thanks to a downfield pass interference penalty by Micah Robinson, he moved the offense into field goal range during one of his possessions. Elgersma was 0-for-1.
The defense would win the day. In general, I thought the defensive line–as much is possible when the pads aren’t on–were able to shrink the pocket and coverage on the back end seemed sticky, with the quarterback at times not having anywhere to go. The defense also did well going after the ball and winning contested catch situations.
“It’s been seamless,” said Kenny Clark about the transition to new DL coach DeMarcus Covington. “It’s been great. DC’s been great for us. Great coach, great leader. I’m just excited to keep on building with him and working with him. He’s a technical guy, a guy that’s detailed in everything that he does. It’s huge. It’s huge for our group, and especially for the young guys, to understand what it takes to be detailed and all that kind of stuff.”
Standout players: Valentine, who as I mentioned, had another interception. I thought Lukas Van Ness was able to generate steady push and close in on the quarterback, while Wicks showcased that ability we all know he has to create separation.