Paul Bretl | 7/27/2025
GREEN BAY, Wis. — After an off-day on Saturday, the Packers wrapped up their fourth training camp practice on Sunday. Monday’s practice will be the first this summer where the pads are on.
“That’s where you can get a better evaluation when these guys are in full pads,” Matt LaFleur said. “They’re allowed to fit up on people and work those combinations and certainly in the pass protection we’re trying to limit our pass rushers from bull rushing so you don’t get a great, I guess, evaluation on being able to anchor when you are starting to get pushed in the pocket. So looking forward to tomorrow.”
Hit like and subscribe to my YouTube Channel ‘The Paul Bretl Show’ for more Packers coverage.
However, before we look ahead to what’s happening on Monday, let’s take a look back at what took place during Sunday’s practice.
Injury updates: Back at practice were LG Aaron Banks–who only went through individual drills–RB Amar Johnson, and going through individual work was Savion Williams, who missed the previous practice with a concussion. Still not practicing was Quay Walker (ankle)–although he was going through individual work with his helmet on–Christian Watson (knee), Collin Oliver (hamstring), John Williams (back), and Elgton Jenkins (back).
Starting offensive line combinations: The starting unit with Banks not doing the team portion was Rasheed Walker at left tackle, followed by Jordan Morgan, Sean Rhyan, Jacob Monk, and Zach Tom. When Morgan got an opportunity at left tackle, Travis Glover moved to left guard, Monk to center, and Rhyan to right guard. Rhyan also dropped out at one point for just a play or two, with Glover then taking over at right guard.
“It feel way more comfortable,” Glover said about being in Year 2. “It’s actually a crazy feeling. I be looking at the rooks now like, I know exactly what they going through ’cause now, it’s like I basically — you never got it, but I got like a headstart to the plays and stuff, so I’m way more comfortable with the IDs, the personnel and all that stuff. So it feels way, 10 times better and this just Year 2.”
One noteworthy change on defense. While the first and second units defensively remain mostly the same, we did see Isaiah Simmons taking nickel reps next to Isaiah McDuffie on some reps as well as Edgerrin Cooper on others. Up to this point, he has been the SAM linebacker in base with Walker out.
Is the cornerback depth chart taking shape? We know that the top three spots on the depth chart belong to Nate Hobbs, Keisean Nixon, and Carrington Valentine. I would say the next three spots include Bo Melton and Kamal Hadden as the outside corners and Kalen King as the nickel. King, in particular, has had a really good start to training camp.
“I think he’s had a pretty impressive three days, especially coming off the wrist surgery,” LaFleur said before practice. “So, just continue to stack those days and take advantage of those opportunities. But I think he’s shown a lot of, I mean, I know he’s not the biggest guy, but he is a pretty, he’ll throw his body around in there and shows a lot of toughness.”
Where are the Day 3 rookies playing? Warren Brinson and Barryn Sorrel have mostly been with the third team defense, although today, more than others, they saw some rotational reps with the second unit. Micah Robinson is with the third defense right now as an outside cornerback.
Defense is getting their hands on the ball. This has been a theme in the last two practices, whether it be forcing pass breakups, coming away with interceptions, or forcing fumbles. Today, as Jayden Reed turned upfield, Rashan Gary came in from behind and punched the ball out as Reed was going out of bounds.
On another play, Kenny Clark created pressure up the middle, and Jordan Love seemed to lose Ty’Ron Hopper, throwing it right towards him over the middle of the field. We saw this last season under Jeff Hafley, but the defense is doing a really good job of swarming to the ball carrier as well.
Along with Hopper forcing an interception, we saw him not playing the MIKE linebacker role with the second team defense. This, by my recollection, was the first time in four practices that he wasn’t the designated middle linebacker.
Matthew Golden had a couple of really strong hands receptions. One of which came in the red zone on a slant at the goal line that he plucked out of the air.
While it’s a crowded wide receiver room, one name to watch–likely for a practice squad spot–is Sam Brown, who went undrafted in April out of Miami. Working with the third team offense, he was on the receiving end of a few red zone targets.
“To be honest, I took the route of me going undrafted, I took that personal,” Brown said after practice. “So I just come into the facility head down ready to work every day. People look at it as like, oh, you a step behind. I look at it as, I just got more steps to get to. It’s not necessarily where you start. It’s how you end.”
As the Packers continue to rotate the QB3 reps each day, Sunday was Taylor Elgersma’s turn to take the bulk of the team snaps over Sean Clifford.
Coming into Year 3 and in a competitive receiver room, Malik Heath is focusing on showcasing that he can fill a more well-rounded role and not just be a red zone target or blocking option at the position.
“Just put on film that I can play ball and I can run routes,” Heath said at his locker. “Just showing that I’m more than a blocking receiver. I’m more than just a red zone target or anything short and intermediate route running. I’m trying to show that I can do everything.”
Lukas Van Ness has put together some sound pass rush reps over these four practices. We also saw a couple of good run defense snaps from UDFA defensive tackle Nazir Stackhouse, who was able to create some push. Brenton Cox got into the backfield as well on some pass rush attempts.
There was a lot of red zone work today. The defense seemed to do a good job of throwing a variety of looks at the offense. There were several plays where the quarterbacks didn’t seem to have anywhere to go with the ball.
“Nothing really different for me,” said Xavier McKinney about the defense being in Year 2 under Hafley. “I think if anything I’m just trying to elevate my game more and be a much better leader than I was last year, so I think it’s always just a work in progress for me trying to figure out ways where I could be better for this team and for my room, not only for myself but helping the other guys.”
Practice ended with each offense starting at the 12-yard line with only 9 seconds left on the clock. Malik Willis didn’t have anywhere to go initially, but found Luke Musgrave over the middle around the four-yard line. If I had to guess, he would have been tackled short of the goal line, and the clock would have expired.
On Love’s first play, with no one open initially and not much time left, he threw to the back of the end zone out of the reach of Romeo Doubs. With four seconds left, McDuffie came on a blitz, Love back-pedaled and found Tucker Kraft in the end zone, who boxed out Evan Williams.
Clifford ran the third team offense and found Sam Brown on an out route. He was a yard or two shy of the end zone but did get out of bounds to stop the clock. On the final play, my guess is that it ends in a sack with Deslin Alexandre beating Anthony Belton, who has been playing right tackle with the third team offense.