Report: Packers releasing CB Jaire Alexander with minicamp on horizon

Paul Bretl | 6/9/2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Packers are reportedly releasing star cornerback Jaire Alexander, according to Ian Rapoport.

Alexander’s future with the team has been uncertain since the 2024 season ended. During locker room cleanout following Green Bay’s season-ending loss to Philadelphia, Alexander told members of the media that he didn’t know if he was going to be with the team this season and had “nothing good to say.”

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Then, throughout the offseason, GM Brian Gutekunst was also very non-committal about Alexander’s future with the team.

“We invested a lot in Jaire and want to make sure, if he’s not gonna be on our football team helping us win games, that we get something back for that investment,” Gutekunst said in late March. “So we’ll see where it goes, but again, working with him weekly and trying to figure out what’s best for both Jaire and the Packers.”

Rapoport would go on to say that the Packers and Alexander agreed to explore trade options earlier this offseason, but nothing was able to materialize prior to the NFL draft. A likely hurdle that the Packers and Alexander had to overcome in those talks with other teams was his contract.

Alexander is due $16.15 million this season and $18.15 million in 2026, which are hefty amounts for a team to take on with him having played a combined 14 games over the last two seasons, and less than seven games in three of the last four years.

A restructured deal was going to have to be a part of that trade equation when it came to getting a deal done and agreed upon by Alexander. However, in doing so, Alexander not only takes a pay cut, but he also doesn’t get to decide where he wants to go either.

With the trade option off the table, The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman would then report recently that the Packers offered Alexander a restructured contract, but obviously, the two sides were unable to agree to terms, and it’s not known if Alexander even entertained the idea of taking a pay cut.

Alexander, who was Gutekunst’s very first draft pick as GM back in 2018, was an All-Pro during the 2020 and 2022 seasons, and when on the field, has continued to play at a high level. This includes this past season, where Alexander allowed a completion rate of just 56% on 25 targets with a pick-six and three pass breakups. 

Unfortunately, Alexander has played in only 34 out of a possible 68 games since 2021. In 2023, knee and shoulder injuries, along with a one-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team, limited him to just seven games.

In this most recent season, Alexander played in seven games after suffering a knee injury in Week 8. He tried to return in Week 11 against the Bears, but exited after 10 plays. He would return to practice a few weeks later, but not to game action, and ended up undergoing surgery late in the year.

“I know it’s been really, really frustrating for not only him as a player, but us as a club,” said Gutekunst in his season-ending press conference. “Just when you have a player, who’s done what he’s done for us in the past, and then not being able to get him out on the field consistently, that’s tough.”

From a contract standpoint, there was no hard deadline for when a decision had to be made by the Packers and Alexander, but mandatory minicamp, which for the Packers begins on Tuesday, sure felt like a soft deadline for a decision to be made. If talks between the two hadn’t progressed at this point after months having the opportunity to do so, then that probably wasn’t ever going to happen.

By moving on from Alexander, the Packers will take on just over $17 million in dead salary cap. With this being a post-June 1st release, $7.5 million of that dead cap will hit the books in 2025, and $9.5 million will hit the 2026 salary cap. In total, the Packers save $17.2 million on the cap in 2025 and $17.5 million in 2026.

The Packers will head into the 2025 season with Keisean Nixon, Nate Hobbs, and Carrington Valentine as their top three outside cornerback options on the depth chart.

“I love 2-3 to death. That’s my boy,” Keisean Nixon said. “If he comes back and he’s here, we’d love to have him. I love to play with Jaire. That’s just what it is since I’ve been here. Whatever happens, happens. We don’t have control over that. If he’s here, we’re going to rock out. If he’s not, we’re still going to rock out. That’s just how it goes.”

With confidence high, a pivotal third NFL season awaits Packers’ DE Lukas Van Ness

Paul Bretl | 6/6/2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. — The current year is always the most important year in the NFL. However, that sentiment feels particularly true for Lukas Van Ness, a former 13th overall pick in the draft, who is now entering his third NFL season after not taking that proverbial Year 2 jump in 2024.

Production-wise, Van Ness finished last season with 22 pressures, which were just two more than he had as a rookie, and three sacks–one less than he had in 2023. Compared to the rest of his position group league-wide, Van Ness ranked 90th in pressures. As the pressure numbers indicate, the consistency was lacking as well, with him ranking 78th in PFF’s pass rush win rate.

“I think it comes down to consistency,” Van Ness said after Tuesday’s OTA practice. “Being the same guy every single day, doing what’s asked of you with minimal mistakes and I think that confidence comes from trust and if you can get your teammates to trust you, you can get your coaches to trust you, and you have confidence in yourself then you’ll be able to go out there and play free.”

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When the Packers selected Van Ness in the first round of the 2023 draft, it was known that he was more of a raw prospect. He had played fewer than 1,000 career defensive snaps at Iowa, and the majority of his playing time, until that final season, had come at defensive tackle and not defensive end.

The upside and physical traits that Van Ness possessed were too good for GM Brian Gutekunst to pass up, but reps were needed. Along with navigating the learning curve that comes with being a rookie, Van Ness was also playing a relatively new position and was seeing a lot of looks, formations, and techniques for the first time.

Time to develop, gain experience, and grow was always going to have to be a part of the equation when it came to Van Ness making the transition to the NFL. But now, on the cusp of Year 3, time is becoming less of an asset with each passing season, and the need for results becomes more prominent.

“Just reflecting back on 2024, going into Year 3, again, the expectations are always going to be highest for myself,” Van Ness said. “I push myself very hard, and there’s got to be stronger, faster, more sound with my fundamentals, and ultimately impact the game as much as possible.”

Injuries won’t be an excuse, but they are a reality of playing in the NFL and have an impact. Van Ness revealed on Tuesday that he played through the first 10-11 games of last season with a broken thumb. As Rashan Gary described, “hands are everything” for a defensive lineman, and without them, “you don’t have nothing.”

Although Van Ness’ overall production last season was lackluster, he did improve over the second half of the season, which also happens to be when his thumb was in better shape. Of his 22 pressures, 13 of them came from Weeks 12 through 18. He also showcased more consistency, ranking 27th in win rate during that span, and he was 19th in pass rush productivity, an efficiency metric weighted more heavily towards sacks, or finishing the job.

“I think it’s just trial-and-error,” said Van Ness about improving. “As you said, it’s been a lot of adversity, coaching changes, broken thumb, and I think you just learn through those challenges and again, going into Year 3, having my first OTAs, a lot of learning, I’ve just been able to find some confidence in myself and my abilities and this is a mental game so youv’e got to keep that strong throughout the whole season.

While production can often be the ultimate litmus test for whether or not strides are being made, processes and how a player sees the game unfolding in real time are perhaps an accurate portrayal of what’s to come long-term. Production can ebb and flow at times, but having an understanding of the game and what’s coming will consistently put a player in a position to make plays.

An example of this for Van Ness came in the Packers’ Week 12 matchup against San Francisco. In that game, Van Ness caused a forced fumble, but that result is not what’s noteworthy. Instead, it’s the process to get to that point.

In the locker room afterward, Rashan Gary mentioned that a few series prior to the fumble, Van Ness had noticed something in how the offensive line was blocking off of play-action and how the defensive front should then attack it. Then, when San Francisco presented that look again, Van Ness knew exactly how to respond; he took advantage, won his rep, and finished the play.

“I just think there’s a different confidence level with him,” Matt LaFleur said of Van Ness this offseason, “and I think the whole group as a whole, just our ability to get off the football. I think we spent a lot of time on that, and those guys have taken the coaching and embraced it and have really worked at it.”

This season, compared to last, we could see a lot more movement from Van Ness. Due to his thumb injury last season, he was forced to line up primarily on the right side of the defensive line. In the two OTA practices that we’ve been able to attend, during the two-minute portion and with the second team defense, we’ve seen Van Ness lined up inside at defensive tackle. In those obvious passing situations, this is one way for the Packers to get more pass rushers on the field.

“It is a very different game from the inside to the outside,” Van Ness said, “but I like to take my mechanics from the edge and kind of bring them inside and use them to my advantage. So while there are some changes it’s more just a mental flip going inside and you kind of just know you’ve got a little bit less space to work with, your moves have to be a little bit quicker.”

It’s not only with Van Ness, but across the Packers’ entire defensive front, more steady pass rush production is needed this season. To help cultivate that improved play, as both Kenny Clark and Rashan Gary described, the defensive linemen have been gathering at Clark’s house during OTAs for film study.

Matt LaFleur also made an offseason move at defensive line coach to bring in DeMarcus Covington, who is bringing new ideas after getting his “master’s degree” in football while in New England under Bill Belichick.

“More than anything it’s just mentality,” Van Ness said of Covington. “Teaching us that we’ve got to be aggressive. Teaching us, up front, it all starts with, he always says it’s three things: It’s the start, it’s the fight zone, it’s the finish. And if you can do all those at a very high level, and he does say that effort can take away from those mistakes, so we’re just priding ourselves on playing fast and make plays in the backfield.

There will also be a tweak in technique up front regarding what the defensive line is asked to do. Instead of being all about pinning their ears back and getting off the ball, as Clark mentioned, things will more so resemble what we saw from this unit a few seasons ago, when the emphasis was on reading and reacting.

Not to be overlooked either, is the continuity that comes with being in Jeff Hafley’s defense for a second season. A year ago at this time, the new scheme was being implemented. Now, there is a far deeper understanding of the system, and not only from each player regarding what their individual responsibilities are, but what the roles are of everyone around them, how those different responsibilities intertwine, and how offenses may attack this Packers’ front based on how they are aligned.

The ceiling for this Packers’ defense will be determined by how good the pass rush is. When a quarterback is under regular duress, every level of the defense benefits from that, and moving the ball steadily becomes a real chore. So as GM Brian Gutekunst put it earlier this offseason, if the Packers are going to accomplish the goals that they have in 2025, more consistency up front is a requirement, and big step forward from Van Ness is going to be a key factor in that equation.

“Everything seems a lot cleaner,” Van Ness said of being in Hafley’s defense for a second year. “A lot more crisp, just having some consistency with the coaching, and then obviously bringing Coach Covington in and getting a little new flavor in there with him. But you can tell. I think again, we’ve still got a couple more weeks left of OTAs but I’ve been really proud of the way we’ve come together and we’ve played and it’s making me excited for this fall.”

Healthy Kenny Clark ‘excited’ for what’s ahead with Packers needing resurgent season

Paul Bretl | 6/5/2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. — During the two OTA practices that have been open to the media, Kenny Clark wasn’t going through the team drills in either portion. In fact, with OTAs two weeks in, he had just returned to individual drills over the last few days.

Following Tuesday’s practice, Clark revealed that he had surgery on his foot back in January and was still rehabbing from it–hence why he wasn’t going through the full portion of practices. As Clark described, the injury issue was due to “bunion, bone spurs.”

Clark would play just about the entire 2024 season with the foot injury. He suffered the toe injury in the Packers’ season opener in Brazil against the Philadelphia Eagles, where his toe got caught in the turf.

“I always had a little toe thing going on,” Clark said. “It was really just the turf out there, like the turf pretty much, yeah.”

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Injuries in the NFL won’t be used as an excuse, but they are a reality of this game and have an impact. While Clark would start in all 18 games last season, including the NFC Wildcard round, we didn’t see the usual level of play from Clark that we’ve grown accustomed to over the last almost-decade.

According to PFF’s metrics, Clark would record 34 pressures and just one sack. In 2023, for some context, Clark posted 66 pressures and 10 sacks. Outside of Clark’s rookie year, when he made two starts, and in 2020, when he played in only 13 games, this was his least productive season as a pass rusher of his career.

“I wouldn’t even say it’s the speed,” Clark said of navigating the injury, “it’s just the, every step, you know what I’m saying. You’re taking every step, and the toe is busting. It’s something you’ve got to deal with, but it is what it is. That’s done. I got the surgery done, and yeah, we’re moving forward.”

As we know, when Clark is playing at a high level, he can fill his own stat sheet up with production. But from the defensive tackle spot, he is a force multiplier as well, meaning that everyone around Clark benefits when he’s making an impact.

The best way to slow any offensive play, whether it be a run or a pass, is with a quick push from up the middle, and when that’s happening, the other 10 defenders all benefit from it. Pressure disrupts the timing of the play, which means less coverage time for the secondary, and the attention Clark draws from blockers helps keep other defenders clean or can create advantageous matchups for others to exploit.

So when Clark’s production takes a big step back, like it did last season, there is a ripple effect through the front seven.

“I’m so excited,” said Clark about the upcoming season. “It’s going to be a huge year for all of us. We’ve been really putting in a lot of work. We’ve always been a hard-working group, and we’ve got to just keep that same mentality, that same mindset that we come in every day and push each other.”

The Packers had one of the better run defense units in the NFL last season. But where this defensive front faltered was against the pass, where the unit’s ability to generate pressure was inconsistent at best. We often saw this group posting big pressure and sack totals against lesser competition, but struggle to get home against the NFC’s best.

To remedy this, as both Clark and Rashan Gary described, the defensive linemen have been gathering at Clark’s house during OTAs for film study. Matt LaFleur also made an offseason move at defensive line coach to bring in DeMarcus Covington, who is bringing new ideas after getting his “master’s degree” in football while in New England under Bill Belichick.

We are also going to see a technique change in terms of what the defensive front is asked to do. Rather than being all about pinning their ears back and getting off the ball, as Clark mentioned, things will more so resemble what we saw from this unit a few seasons ago, when the emphasis was on reading and reacting.

“It’s back to more, like I would say, our old stuff,” Clark said. “Last year we pretty much were going up the field, like jetting up the field, stopping the run on the way to the quarterback, pretty much. This year playing more technique.”

Throughout the offseason, as many–including myself–have pontificated on how the Packers get more production from their pass rush unit, a key part of that equation is Clark returning to his previous form. This, again, will carry an impact that goes well beyond Clark’s column in the stat sheet.

Clark will continue to focus on his individual drills as he continues to work his way back from foot surgery, but hopes that by training camp he can be in a position to practice and train how he wants to.

“The game plan is just really just getting healthy enough to be able to train how I want to once the summer hits and training during the summer and hopefully when I get back I’m full go and there’s no issues,” said Clark. “But my main focus is doing this individual work, finishing out the rest of these two weeks and I’ll be in a good spot going into the summer and really being able to train how I want to train.”

How a tight-knit DL unit can get the Packers’ pass rush back on track

Paul Bretl | 6/4/2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. — This portion of the NFL offseason, OTAs, is voluntary. It is not mandatory that the players be at the facility or participate in the practices. Each offseason, there is always an element of starting from scratch that takes place, with the emphasis at this time of the year being on fundamentals, technique, and communication, as the Packers begin ramping up towards Week 1.

So, after Tuesday’s OTA practice, when Rashan Gary and Kenny Clark are discussing weekend film study sessions with the defensive line unit, that catches your attention because at this time of the year, that’s outside the norm.

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These film sessions take place at Kenny Clark’s house and began during the Phase III portion of OTAs, as Gary recalled. It’s an opportunity for the defensive linemen to watch each other’s individual film together from practice and to provide each other with any insights to improve their game. As Clark mentioned, there are also more big picture conversations around different formations and fronts, and how to play blocks from different alignments.

‘We’ve been able to get able Friday, Saturday for guys that staying in town,” said Gary after Tuesday’s practice. “For some guys that’s away we’ve been able to Zoom in, getting them locked in. Going over Indy, making sure our Indy reps have been able to translate to team and like I said that’s something that we haven’t yet to do up to this point in my time being here, so I feel like we off to a fast start.”

While everyone contributes to the conversation, Gary leads the discussion with the defensive ends and Clark the defensive tackles. These regular film sessions at Clark’s house is another opportunity to hone in on finer details of playing along the defensive line, but it’s a bonding opportunity for this group as well.

‘That’s the main thing is just getting the bonding,” Clark said. “Just building as a team. We’re going to need everybody, and need everybody to be playing at a high level to start the season, and so forth, so just make sure we’re hitting on all cylinders.”

The Packers made two additions this offseason to the defensive line unit, but that didn’t happen until Day 3 of the NFL draft when the team took Barryn Sorrell and Collin Oliver, who Jeff Hafley believes can make an impact in their first seasons. However, that approach at this position group–bypassing free agency and waiting until Day 3 of the draft–wasn’t what many on the outside had hoped for or even expected after the pass rush underwhelmed in 2024.

The catalyst behind improved pass rush play up front was always going to have to be internal growth from those already on the roster, and there are several new factors compared to last offseason that are now in play for this unit that can potentially lead to more consistent play when it comes to getting after the quarterback.

For one, there is the comfort of being in Hafley’s system for a second season. A year ago at this time, the new scheme was being implemented. Now, there is a far deeper understanding of the system, and not only from each player regarding what their individual responsibilities are, but what the roles are of everyone around them, how those different responsibilities intertwine, and how offenses may attack this Packers’ front based on how they are aligned.

“You got a whole year of understanding what the defense is,” Gary said. “Understanding our in and outs and understanding how he wants to attack it. So we had a whole year to get better at our techniques and he had a whole year to refine our system, tweaking and tune things.

“Just going into Year 2, the confidence, man, just how we flying around. Understanding play calls. Understanding where people need to roll down, the strengths of the defense, and just communicating at a different level right now.”

Along with the added comfort of playing within the same scheme, there is a new voice in the defensive line room with the Packers adding DeMarcus Covinginton to the coaching staff earlier this offseason. Covington joins the Packers after spending eight seasons in New England, which includes coaching under Bill Belichick, where, as Covington put it, he got his “master’s degree” in football.

Covington brings defensive coordinator experience to the defensive line coaching position, which adds a different and more big-picture perspective to defensive line play. Hafley also mentioned that he’s coached in a variety of schemes and fronts. With those past experiences, Covington brings new ideas to a defensive line unit that is searching for more.

“I love the confidence that he has as coach,” Gary said. “Just how he coaches from the individual to how he’s intense on the details and just how he focus right now and is detail oriented, really getting coached up on different techniques and things like that to make us play fast.”

Within the ever-evolving Hafley system, the Packers’ defensive front is switching up how they get after the quarterback this season. A year ago, we talked a lot about the play-style up front, which was all about getting off the ball and getting upfield. This year, however, LaFleur mentioned still wanting to incorporate blitzes and simulated pressures, like we saw from this defense late in the season, because it puts more on the plate of opposing offenses than just rushing four does.

Technique-wise, we are going to see the pendulum swing back to more of what we saw a few seasons ago, where the defensive front’s job was to read and react.

“It’s back to more, like I would say, our old stuff,” Clark said. “Last year we pretty much were going up the field, like jetting up the field, stopping the run on the way to the quarterback, pretty much. This year playing more technique.”

Injuries will never be an excuse, but they are a reality of playing football, and both Clark and Lukas Van Ness navigated various injuries for a large portion of last season. Clark sustained a foot injury in Week 1 against Philadelphia that eventually required surgery in January, while Van Ness played the first half of last season with a broken thumb.

“It was tough. It was a tough year for me,” Clark said. “I had surgery on my foot in January, so yeah, it was a tough year. But I’m excited. I’m back out practicing, back doing indy, so today was my second day doing indy with the team, and just have to keep building forward.”

Despite a feast or famine pass rush last season, the Packers’ defense in several key categories was a top 10 unit in 2024. But when it comes to getting to that next level, that all starts with an improved pass rush. As I’ve said, I believe it is that facet of the game that will determine the ceiling for the Green Bay defense because when someone is able to generate a steady push or apply pressure, the other 10 defenders on the field all benefit.

“Just sticking together,” Clark said of the pass rush, “and rushing as a unit and just being relentless. Haf does a great job of calling pressures and getting Coop and all those guys on the run. We do a lot of things with that stuff. I think also just getting better at rushing the passer play-action wise. Play-action is a spot that we definitely got to get better at as a unit. Didn’t do a good enough job with that last year, and just quick game.”

Packers OTAs notebook: Key observations from second open practice

Paul Bretl | 6/3/2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Tuesday was the Packers’ fifth OTA practice and the second that the media was able to observe.

As has been the case, these practices have been on the lighter side. Even with the continuity that the Packers’ roster has, there is always an element of starting over that comes this early in the season. So the focus right now is on building a strong foundation by making sure that everyone is playing with the right fundamentals, technique, and that the communication component is clean.

“We don’t even have any pads on,” LaFleur said after Tuesday’s practice, “and I mean most of it’s just the majority of our practice, as you guys have seen, is mostly jog through. And that’s just kind of like where we’re limited now, and so what we’re looking for is these guys being able to line up, communicate, know what to do, and then you would think, with a slower pace, that their fundamentals will be flawless.

“The problem is, you got guys going at different tempos, and then it kind of gets messy at times. So, but that’s really what we’re trying to get done.”

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So with that in mind, here is what you need to know from Tuesday’s practice.

Taking attendance. Not at today’s voluntary practice were Nate Hobbs, who was away due to a personal matter, Quay Walker, Jaire Alexander, Trey Hill, John Williams, and Elgton Jenkins. In the rehab group were Christian Watson, Collin Oliver, Nesta Jade Silvera, and Warren Brinson.

Back on the practice field was MarShawn Lloyd, who missed last week’s practice that we were able to attend. Emanuel Wilson and Chris Brooks were still ahead of Lloyd in terms of reps with the first and second team offenses, but it’s easy to spot the burst he has with the ball, and in the past, Matt LaFleur has mentioned that the Packers view him as a pass-catching option out of the backfield as well.

“I think we have a feel for what he’s certainly capable of,” LaFleur said. “I mean, we’ve seen enough. He’s an explosive player. I’m really excited about the player. Again, I think he’s in a lot better spot. He trained his butt off before, like, from the day the season ended to coming back here and he worked really hard to get back, and then he had another thing pop up. So, but he’s in a lot better spot right now, and we’ll give him more as tolerated.”

Kenny Clark did not participate in team drills but recently returned to individual drills. As Clark described after practice, he suffered a foot injury in Week 1 of last season that eventually required surgery in January.

“It was tough,” Clark said of his play in 2024.. “It was a tough year for me. I had surgery on my foot in January, so it was a tough year. But I’m excited. I’m back out practicing, back doing indy, so today was my second day doing indy with the team, and just have to keep building forward.”

The offensive line configuration. With Jenkins not present, we saw a similar offensive line configuration as last week with the starters, which included Rasheed Walker at left tackle (initially), followed by Aaron Banks, Jacob Monk, Sean Rhyan, and Zach Tom. Jordan Morgan would rotate in with the ones at left tackle, but Walker still took the initial reps. On the second unit during the two-minute period, Morgan was at left tackle, followed by Kadeem Telfort, Donovan Jennings, Tyler Cooper, and Anthony Belton.

Other lineup notes: Chris Brooks and Emanuel Wilson each had their own opportunities to take the RB2 reps behind Josh Jacobs. Zayne Anderson was the third safety behind Xavier McKinney and Evan Williams.

What about at cornerback? With Hobbs not present, Carrington Valentine lined up opposite of Keisean Nixon with Javon Bullard in the slot. Kalen King and UDFA Johnathan Baldwin–who played safety–each had some backup nickel snaps. Kamal Hadden was the third outside cornerback today. Gregory Junior held that role last week.

Without Quay Walker last week, we saw a lot of Ty’Ron Hopper with Isaiah McDuffie and Edgerrin Cooper. Hopper still had some opportunities today in that middle linebacker role, but we saw more of Isaiah Simmons than we did a week ago. Simmons is an impressive athlete and brings a unique skill set to both the defense and special teams units, where he’s gotten reps as a flier on the punt coverage unit.

“He’s extremely athletic,” LaFleur said of Simmons, “and we kind of knew that coming in, bringing him in here, and he’s doing a better job, I would say, of learning our scheme and again, showing improvement.”

Brandon McManus got the opportunity to kick today. On six field goal attempts ranging from extra points to 44 yards, he was 5-for-6. His lone miss came on a 44-yarder that went left.

After practice, we got the opportunity to speak with Romeo Doubs, who has put on some muscle this offseason. He’s also continued to be a steady presence in the passing game for Jordan Love.

“Every day is how he comes in the building and watching him work and, I mean, he looks great out there,” LaFleur said of Doubs. “I don’t know if you guys can tell a difference in his physique, he does look like a specimen out there. But he does, he does a great job. He just, he’s come in, and he’s just worked, and obviously he’s played a lot of snaps for us and has had a lot of production. So I’m excited about where he’s at.”

The wide receiver rotation continued. We again saw a heavy rotation at the wide receiver position. Doubs, Matthew Golden, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Malik Heath, and Bo Melton all saw varying first-team opportunities. One difference from last week was that Mecole Hardman got some one-rep reps as well, and he also came up with some receptions from Malik Willis during the two-minute portion. With so many players being cycled in and out, making the most of the reps each player gets will be a must as playing time is sorted out. I would say Doubs, Golden, and Reed had the most opportunities.

“The kid’s playing fast right now,” Doubs said of Golden. “So I’m excited to see him.”

The defensive linemen have been gathering at Kenny Clark’s house during OTAs to watch film together from the individual drills they go through in practice. Along with making a change at defensive line coach by hiring DeMarcus Covington, the Packers front is also going to be playing more technique this season, rather than simply pinning their ears back.

“We’ve been doing it pretty much this whole offseason,” Clark said of watching film at his house. “We did it a little bit last year, get together and watch indy and all that kind of stuff. But we’ve been more consistent with it, just picking each other’s brain, talking about different formations, fronts. The main thing with them, I’m trying to get all the younger guys to understand formations and how to play the blocks. We’re going back to more playing technique so it’s huge for them to understand formations and how people are going to try to block the front.”

Two-minute drills: The scenario was that the offense had the ball at their own 25-yard line and were down by a touchdown with 1:40 left on the clock. Up first was Willis, who was 4-for-7 passing, which included–as mentioned–two completions to Hardman, but the drive stalled out in the opponent’s territory. The key play was a dropped pass over the middle by recently signed wide receiver Sam Brown. Also of note, Colby Wooden–who has been playing some nose tackle–had a pressure and a batted pass.

The first team offense faced the same situation, and just like last week, Jordan Love was incredibly crisp out there. He finished the drive 6-for-7 passing, which included a terrific 30-yard touchdown pass to Jayden Reed in the back right corner of the end zone. The ball was dropped right over Reed’s right shoulder, where only he could get it. The offense then went for two and the win, and Love connected with Doubs on a slant.

During the two-minute drill, with the second team defense, Lukas Van Ness was on the field at defensive tackle once again. In those obvious passing situations, the opportunity to move Van Ness inside–where he played at Iowa–in order to get three defensive ends on the field could be something the Packers attempt to utilize more this season.

“I think situationally, you can do that,” LaFleur said of Van Ness playing inside. “I think in known passing situations there’s some thought around that. A lot of it’s going to be just dependent upon everybody else as well. So Lukas has shown a lot of growth, and I’m excited to see him once we get pads on, and really all those guys, how they compete.

We again saw a lot of two tight end sets out of this Packers team, which included Luke Musgrave hauling in a few receptions over the middle. While he’s dealt with injuries, he brings a different dynamic to the tight end position with his speed, which can create mismatches for him and others to exploit.

“He’s another guy that I’m excited about,” LaFleur said. “The whole key is we have to keep him on the field and keep him healthy. I just think both of those guys (Musgrave and Kraft) are unique in their own ways, and they both bring a little something different. But I’m really excited about both those players in our system.”

With strength in numbers, Packers’ WRs embracing competition

Paul Bretl | 5/30/2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. — At a position group, wide receiver, where the Packers already had quite a few players that they could get involved on a weekly basis, the team went out and added two more players to that mix by taking Matthew Golden in the first round of this year’s NFL draft and Savion Williams in the third round, which only adds to the competition for targets that already existed.

The Packers’ offense would sputter late last season. In the game of football, whether it be good or bad, there are always a number of contributing factors to any result. But one of the bigger issues experienced on offense was the inconsistent play of the receiver position.

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For much of the year, this included dropped passes, which Green Bay had the third most of in all of the NFL. There was also a lack of detailed route running at times, something Matt LaFleur noted on two of the interceptions that took place during the playoff loss to Philadelphia, along with receivers simply not winning their routes often enough, as was the case in Week 17 against Minnesota.

So, in what could have already been considered a crowded receiver room with only so many targets and snaps to go around each week, it’s not a surprise–in fact, it was expected–that the Packers not only made additions, but spent premium draft capital to do so.

“I think they’re doing great right now,” said Jordan Love of the receiver room. “They’re all here, they’ve been working really hard. But I think anytime you draft guys in your room, that’s the nature of it, to feel that way, but at the end of the day, I think that’s every position group, every year. New guys get drafted in. It’s one of those things you’ve got to control what you can control, come to work, handle business, be the best player you can be, find ways to get better.

“At the end of the day, there’s always going to be competition. I don’t think any of those guys are shying away from competition. They all want to be the best and be out there on the field. The vibes are good right now.”

With the addition of Golden, as well as Williams, there is now greater uncertainty for the Packers’ receivers who were already on the roster. There are now fewer roster spots, snaps, and targets available than what there was presumed to be at this time a season ago. One would assume that the hope internally for Green Bay is that added competition raises the level of urgency and therefore the level of play within that room.

However, while competition is always a good thing and having a variety of skill sets for Matt LaFleur to build the weekly game plans around is a good thing for the team, there is also a human element to this as well that still exists.

Following the NFL draft, it was reported by ESPN that Jayden Reed’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, had reached out to GM Brian Gutekunst to see where Reed’s standing was within the offense. But as Reed described following last Wednesday’s OTA practice, that report was misinterpreted. In fact, Reed said that even before the draft, he knew the team was going to take a wide receiver early on.

“A lot of people misinterpreted that,” Reed said of the report. “I hired a new agent and we talked about it before even the draft, really, that he said he was going to talk to the front office and everybody here to just catch up and make sure everybody’s on the same page. As a new client, he told me that’s the way he was going to do it, and he did it.”

While the competition element is ever-present in the wide receiver room, Reed, along with Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson, Bo Melton, and Malik Heath–the experienced players at this position–have further embraced a leadership role this season. On a young team, one of the points of emphasis this offseason for LaFleur was ensuring that, throughout the roster, the Packers are developing leaders.

One way in which this has manifested in the wide receiver room is the help that the veterans are providing Golden and Williams, both on the practice field and off. Vrable recently mentioned that during practices, Reed can often be found behind Golden as he goes through his reps, providing pointers along the way. LaFleur also described that during one practice, he was going to discuss something that he saw with one of Golden’s reps, but Doubs had already approached the rookie and was having that conversation.

“He’s been outstanding,” LaFleur said of Reed. “I’ll tell you what, it’s a special group. Not only the rooks that we have coming in here, just being around them now for a couple of weeks, I think it’s a high-character group, which is always important to us. And they approach it the right way. But I’ve been really impressed with our veterans taking these guys under their wings and kind of showing them the way and really helping them, coaching them.”

Although we didn’t see the desired growth and development from the Packers’ wide receiver room as a whole last season, this is still a position with a lot of talent, depth, and a variety of skill sets–and with that, can be a group that is difficult to game plan for and defend.

On a weekly basis, LaFleur can really tailor the game plan to the opponent because of the depth the Packers have but also the different skill sets that are on the roster as well. For a defense, during the week, there is a lot to prepare for with the number of looks the Packers can throw at opponents and a litany of pass-catching options they have.

In game, knowing the ball could go to any player at really any time, the defense cannot hone in on one or even two receivers, which forces them to spread out, defend the entire field, which creates more space for the offense to operate in. Schematically, this can give the Packers an edge, but for a handful of receivers who are eyeing their second contract, it can lead to inconsistent targets over the course of the season.

“That’s always the tricky part, trying to get everybody involved,” said Love. “But like I said, we’ve got a great group of guys. They all know what the main objective is that we’re trying to get done here, and they know they’re going to get those opps that are going to come their way. Some days, some guys might catch more passes than the other guys. That just might be the way it is. It’s all at the end of the day predicated on what the defense is doing, trying to stop our offense. I always tell guys I’m going to throw it to the guy who’s open. I’m going to try to find the guy who’s open. They all know that.”

This is a Packers team that has Super Bowl aspirations, and rising to that level will have to include improved play from the wide receiver position. A catalyst behind accomplishing that will be the competition that is currently being cultivated.

Naturally, given how last season ended, there has been a lot of talk about ‘WR1,’ whether it be who that player is on the team currently or if Gutekunst should have made that type of addition this offseason. However, as has been the case the last two seasons, the strength of this unit still lies in its numbers.

“I just think we’ve got a lot of playmakers in the room and on any given day, anybody can go off,” Reed said. “All that wide receiver one stuff, I don’t look at it as that. It’s like we’ve got a lot of different playmakers in the room that can make plays and at the end of the day, it’s about a team coming together and getting a job done and winning. So all that stuff, I don’t take that stuff too much seriously, I just think we’ve got a lot of young guys in the room that can ball. That’s what we’re going to try to continue to do and try to continue to get better.”

After an exceptional first season, what’s next for Xavier McKinney and Packers’ defense in Year 2?

Paul Bretl | 5/30/2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Safety Xavier McKinney came in and made an immediate high-level impact on this Packers’ team, both on and off the field, during the 2024 season. So, after an impressive performance, which included being named a first-team All-Pro, what’s next for McKinney in 2025? How does he follow up that performance?

“There’s always going to be levels of improvement,” said McKinney following Wednesday’s OTA practice. “I think my biggest thing is I like to say, I have my foot on their necks, and really, it’s going to be the same. I’m not going to let off the gas for nothing or nobody. That same intensity, that same energy, it’s going to stay the same.

“Obviously I know what I want to accomplish by the end of my career and I know that in order to hit that goal these years are going to matter. So I take that seriously, I don’t take that lightly. So for me it’s just keep grinding, keep my head down, and keep locking in on the small details so I don’t get complacent and I keep having these All-Pro years.”

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McKinney brings a do-it-all skill set to the Packers’ defense. He can patrol the back end, limiting big play opportunities for an offense, play closer to the line of scrimmage, and help out in run support, along with being a key figure in Jeff Hafley’s ability to disguise coverages. Oftentimes, where McKinney was lined up pre-snap was not where he ended up when the quarterback hit the top of his drop.

As the offense breaks the huddle, you can see McKinney directing traffic on the back end, making sure everyone is aligned properly, knows what their responsibility is, along with calling out any adjustments that need to be made.

McKinney finished the 2024 season with eight interceptions, including five through his first five games as a Packer, and quarterbacks had a passer rating of just 57.1 when throwing his direction. After McKinney’s scorching hot start to the season, his opportunities to make plays on the ball diminished as quarterbacks weren’t looking to throw in his direction.

Helping McKinney progress will be the added familiarity he has with Hafley’s defense as he enters his second season in the system. With that continuity comes added comfort and not only in what McKinney’s technique needs to be or how he’s supposed to play a certain play call, but also for everyone around him, including along the defensive, as well as further understanding how opposing offenses may attack the Green Bay defense on a given play.

Having a full offseason to fully dive into those details rather than being in the early stages of just learning the defense, which was the case this time a year ago, can be a catalyst moving forward.

“Absolutely there’s more that he can improve on,” said defensive backs coach Ryan Downard of McKinney. “Not to get into too many details, but there are things within the game that him and I have communicated about that he wants to grow in.

“Things that may not have–not that they didn’t come up in Year 1, but we’re trying to get the system down and his technique and his job, so he’s done a great job trying to learn different pieces of the game, whether it’s other positions, what’s going on around him, what’s happening up front, what’s the offense trying to do to attack our system, what’s the offense trying to do formationally, just things like that.”

McKinney’s long-term goal is to put on the gold jacket and be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame once his playing career is over. That’s been a goal of his since he was a kid and remains a key motivator for him. Accomplishing that starts with stacking All-Pro seasons, as he’s already done, but also a part of that equation and playing a role is team success.

In Hafley’s first season as defensive coordinator, we saw a much-improved Packers’ defense overall. This was a unit that was malleable, molding to the skill sets that are on Green Bay’s roster, and one that was quick to adjust based on what the opponent was doing.

The Packers’ defense finished the 2024 season ranked sixth in points per game, 12th in passing yards per game, and they were top-10 in takeaways. Green Bay’s biggest improvement, however, may have come against the run, with the Packers ranking seventh in rush yards per game, which included allowing fewer than 100 rushing yards per game for the first time in a season since 2009.

And as Hafley has pointed out, this was a group that was trending upward as the season went on, playing its best football late in the year. Similarly to McKinney, the question at the forefront is, what’s next for this unit as they head into Year 2 of being in Hafley’s system?

“I think just fine-tuning the small details is going to be super important for us,” McKinney said of the defense. “I think that’s something we’re focusing on right now. Obviously we’re going into a second year with the same DC, the same defense, so for us just fine tuning the little things. Just fixing little areas that maybe we weren’t as clean on last year and it’s really going to be fun, to be honest.

“I’m happy that Haf is still here. Everybody’s happy that he’s still here, that the defense is still the same. We just finding little small things to kind of correct and make sure that it’s clean.”

Having a long-term vision and big picture goals, both individually and for the team, are important. But one can’t get lost either in looking too far down the road. As McKinney said, “by building for the future, we gotta work on the present.”

So, for now, while McKinney, the Packers’ defense, and the team as a whole have a lot that they want to accomplish, both in 2025 and beyond, putting themselves in a position to do that begins with what they do in the here and now. And for McKinney, this time isn’t only for focusing on his own game, but making sure that he is bringing everyone along with him, because with team success will come individual success.

“Right now, my main focus is just focusing on the team,” McKinney said. “Trying to make sure that the young guys are coming along. Making sure they know what’s going on, knowing the ropes, and trying to help them as much as I can. I think that’s the biggest thing for me right now. And then really just tightening up the little things. But right now, my main focus is I’m trying to lead these young guys that just got in, trying to make sure that they are comfortable and are going to be ready to go when the season comes around.”

Aaron Banks adding physicality and big game experience to Packers’ OL

Paul Bretl | 5/29/2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. — The addition of Aaron Banks this offseason during free agency brings a few different elements to the Packers’ offensive line, including big game experience after playing four games in San Francisco, added leadership, more flexibility up front, along with size and physicality.

“I bring physicality,” said Banks following Wednesday’s OTA practice. “I think I bring leadership and experience, being that I’ve played a number of playoff games. I’ve played a lot of football, and in a similar scheme. So, I think just a veteran presence, but also still young.”

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Listed at 6-5 and weighing 325 pounds, Banks is the third-heaviest player on this 2025 Packers roster. And with that size comes a physical play style.

By PFF’s metrics, Banks is at his best in the run game, which last season included ranking 23rd in PFF’s run-blocking grade. In pass protection, Banks gave up only one sack and four quarterback hits over 471 pass-blocking snaps. He would rank 37th in PFF’s pass-blocking efficiency metric out of 80 eligible guards.

“Love Banks’ physicality,” said offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich. “I think he’s really going to step up our game there. Just a good veteran presence. I think he’s a guy that we’re going to lean on in a lot of different situations. I’m excited about having him in there to up our physicality, for sure.”

By adding Banks to the offensive line unit back in March, it became clear that the Packers were going to further lean into the gap-heavy running scheme that we saw regularly last season with Josh Jacobs at running back.

Rather than being more of an outside zone running team, which is what we had seen in previous years under Matt LaFleur, where the running back and offensive linemen get into space as the ball carrier looks for a running lane to open up, we saw much more rushing between the tackles, and getting north and south, which suited Jacobs’ skill set best.

An interior offensive line that includes Banks, along with Elgton Jenkins at center and presumably Sean Rhyan at right guard, is better equipped to flourish in a power-running scheme.

“He’s a pretty big guy out there,” LaFleur said of Banks. “He’s played a lot of football, and there’s a lot of similarities in regards to the scheme from where he came from to what we do. So I think he provides us with – obviously we know what he’s capable of doing – but it also provides us with a lot of flexibility with everyone else around him.”

As stout as the Packers’ rushing attack was last season, an area of growth for this group is in generating explosive plays. Last season, Jacobs would rank 32nd in PFF’s breakaway rate, which measures how often a ball carrier generated a run of 15-plus yards. Jacobs’ 4.4 yards per rush was tied for 20th, and a very hefty amount–1,113 of Jacobs’ 1,410 rushing yards–came after contact.

So, how can the Packers’ run game produce more big plays? The offensive line can help Jacobs get to the second level more cleanly and do so more often. Rushes of four, five, or six yards are great and keep an offense ahead of the sticks, but explosive plays put up points.

“I think it’s a balance,” said Banks about the run game. “I think he (Jacobs) makes our jobs easier and, vice-versa, we make his job easier. So, it’s really just working together and all being on the same page, trusting him to set up our blocks and trusting him to, when it comes down to it, he’s one-on-one with the guy and schematically it’s written up for him to make a guy miss, he’s going to make a guy miss and he’ll score. So, it’s a good balance between them two.”

During Wednesday’s first OTA practice, Banks was slotted in at left guard, which is where he played with the 49ers and will continue to do so in Green Bay. While movement and competition are hallmarks for this offensive line unit, Banks will be locked into the starting left guard role.

GM Brian Gutekunst clearly prioritized getting bigger along the offensive line this offseason. This not only includes signing Banks, but drafting Anthony Belton (6-6, 335) and John Williams (6-4, 322) as well. However, versatility and athleticism are still key traits that we see up front with this unit, and with that, there will be more competition at multiple spots this summer.

“You’ve got a number of guys who are like Swiss Army knives,” Banks said. “Not only large but guys who can move, so we can get around the edge, we can go run down linebackers. We can also set up double teams and move people vertically off the ball. So, I think just the versatility of the guys that are up front, I think we’ve got a good group.”

For the most part, the Packers’ offensive line unit held up well last season, particularly in pass protection, but in part due to injuries, we saw the offensive line falter in Green Bay’s playoff loss to Philadelphia. In that matchup, Jordan Love was under duress often and the run game couldn’t get going consistently enough.

Naturally, all eyes will be on Love and the Packers’ wide receivers, but consistent success begins with the offensive line providing a run game to lean on and time in the pocket. And if we are going to continue to see a more run-centric offense, the ability to generate explosive plays has to be more prevalent this season.

“I think that’s where these days are really important,” said Banks of OTAs. “They’re really important. Just making sure everybody’s dialed in, locked in, and we’re working together, we’re communicating, and we all have the same goal. We all want to go win every Sunday and, in total, win a Super Bowl. So, I think when you get a group of like-minded guys who all want to do that – there’s nothing wrong with guys competing for a spot. Competition makes guys better.”

More vocal Jordan Love leading Packers’ offseason charge

Paul Bretl | 5/29/2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. — At the end of the 2024 season, there were two particular items that Matt LaFleur highlighted as to-do list items this offseason for Packers’ quarterback Jordan Love. One was a continued emphasis on footwork, which always seems to be a focal point, and the other was on being a more vocal leader.

Love’s leadership on this Packers team has never been in question. He’s well-respected, and when he speaks, the team listens. But now, as he enters his third season as the starter, LaFleur wants more of that from Love, and his teammates have already noticed a difference.

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“He’s already doing that,” said Josh Jacobs after Wednesday’s OTA practice. “He’s comfortable, and what I mean by that is, he understands this offense in and out, he understands defenses, so now he’s at the point where he can just play and really be who he is. But he definitely has been more vocal, whether it’s at practice or even in the meetings, man. If he sees something he doesn’t like, he’s speaking up.”

Earning a big contract or just being the quarterback doesn’t necessarily make someone a high-end leader. Like anything, that’s a learned trait that is developed over time with experience. Over the last two years, as Love has stepped into that franchise quarterback role, he’s grown as a leader, and he’s worked hard on that aspect as well. Being more vocal is now the next step in that process.

“That’s always important,” Love said about leading from the quarterback position, “especially at the quarterback position, to be the leader of the team. You’re the voice in the huddle speaking with all the guys. So that’s always something I’m trying to improve on, get better at, just be more comfortable being a vocal leader. But it’s definitely something I’ve put a lot of work in since I’ve been here, trying to step out of my comfort zone and speak up. I think the more comfortable you get with the guys, the easier that all becomes.”

During his tenure with the team, and particularly as the starting quarterback, Love has built up that emotional bank account within the Packers locker room through the example he sets with his work ethic and the relationships he’s developed. So when there needs to be a tough conversation or critiques need to be made, Love’s feedback can be well-received because of the equity he’s built up.

Taking football out of the equation and thinking about this from our own perspectives, advice is almost always going to land better when coming from someone we respect and have a strong relationship with. Love has built that foundation, which allows him to be more vocal as needed.

“He’s been speaking a lot more in meetings from my perspective,” said Jayden Reed. “I’ve been seeing it. He’s been speaking on plays, on how to do things the correct way and how he wants things. That’s tremendous for us to be all be on the same page, so he’s been doing a great job with that.”

The balance for Love, as he continues to work on being more vocal, is still staying true to who he is. When it comes to being a good leader at any job, authenticity is a crucial element. Being more vocal doesn’t mean yelling either. Instead, it’s about being willing to speak up when something isn’t done correctly or exactly how Love wants it to be done. It’s voicing your opinion when the standard that’s been established isn’t being upheld, along with being able to have tough conversations, and how that message is delivered from Love in those various scenarios is how he can remain authentic.

“I think at the end of the day, with leadership and speaking vocally to guys, you gotta be yourself,” added Love. “You never want to be forcing things or sound like a message isn’t coming from you, it’s coming from somebody else. It’s always trying to find that balance of being yourself but I think that biggest thing is just having those hard conversations with guys when something needs to get done and it might not be getting done the right way; might not be handling business the right way.

“Just having those hard conversations and not calling guys out, but just having those conversations with them on the side, that type of leadership. I think I get a long way all these guys. I can speak with them very well. That’s never been a problem. I think it’s just holding people accountable with everything they do.”

Love has led this Packers team since taking over as the starter two seasons ago, and while the current focus is on being more vocal as a leader, that’s just the next phase in that development process. Along with Love, this is a Packers team that has a number of other leaders on the team, including Josh Jacobs, Xavier McKinney, Kenny Clark, and Rashan Gary, but any sort of messaging hits differently when it’s coming from the franchise quarterback.

“Me and him also talked about being The Guy,” said Jacobs. “You’re the quarterback, you’ve got to be that guy. I’m not saying he’s not that guy, because he definitely is, but just on a more vocal level. He’s definitely stepped up a lot this year. I’ve definitely seen a big change in him.”

Packers OTAs notebook: Key observations from first open practice

Paul Bretl | 5/28/2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Packers were on the practice field on Wednesday for their second OTA practice, and this was the first that was open to the media.

During this Phase III portion of the offseason, teams are able to participate in 7-on-7 or 11-on-11 team drills, something that they were not able to do previously. However, contact is still not permitted.

As always, I’ll provide the caveat that this is one practice in late-May when the pads aren’t on. There is always an element of starting over that comes with this portion of the offseason, along with some experimenting when it comes to utilizing different lineups.

“It’s like every year you have to, you never want to assume anything as a coach and you almost start from scratch in regards to the detail of how we practice,” said Matt LaFleur after practice. “I got after the guys pretty good today because yesterday wasn’t great. It wasn’t clean. I thought today was much more productive in terms of just the different tempos.

“It’s harder when you’re not going full speed, and then when you do crank it up and are going full speed, you’ve still got to remember the rules of engagement. I think that every year you start from scratch and you kind of build. I think there’s a much quicker learning curve for the guys who have been ingrained in our system and how we do things.”

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Taking attendance: These OTA practices are voluntary. However, only four players were not present at today’s practice. This included Jaire Alexander, Elgton Jenkins, John Williams, Brandon McManus, and Tyron Herring.

Players a part of the rehab group: Christian Watson, Quay Walker, MarShawn Lloyd, Nesta Jaded Silvera, Collin Oliver, John FitzPatrick, Warren Brinson, and Jeremiah Martin. Of note, Watson did go through stretch with the team indoors before everyone headed outside. Also, Savion Williams was in a red non-contact jersey, but did participate in the practice. Kenny Clark and Javon Bullard did not participate in team drills.

Watson is doing “outstanding” as he recovers from an ACL injury.

“Christian’s doing outstanding,” LaFleur said. “I would say he’s ahead of schedule, but again, I’m not a doctor. I’m not medical staff. So we’ll see where he’s at. But I don’t really anticipate anything too long term with any of these guys.”

Competition on the offensive line: With Jenkins not present, we saw both Sean Rhyan and Jacob Monk getting first-team reps at center. When Monk was at center, Rhyan was at right guard, where he started last season. When Rhyan was at center, we saw Jordan Morgan taking right guard snaps. Free agent signee Aaron Banks was at left guard for all of practice.

“He’s a pretty big guy out there. He’s played a lot of football, and there’s a lot of similarities in regards to the scheme from where he came from to what we do. So I think he provides us with – obviously we know what he’s capable of doing – but it also provides us with a lot of flexibility with everyone else around him.”

During the initial first team reps, we saw Rasheed Walker at left tackle. Morgan was then rotated in with the ones throughout practice. If I had to take a guess, Walker spent more time there with the starters than Morgan did. During this time of the year when the pads aren’t on, it’s very difficult to evaluate offensive line play.

Special teams notes: Nate Hobbs and Carrington Valentine were the first-team fliers on the punt coverage unit. We also saw Isaiah Simmons take some reps there as well. He brings a very unique skill set to Rich Bisaccia’s special teams unit. On punt returns, Jayden Reed, Keisean Nixon, Matthew Golden, Romeo Doubs, and Dontayvion Wicks were all rotated in. Last summer, we saw a heavy punt return rotation as well, so this is nothing new.

Matthew Golden’s speed: After running a 4.29-second 40 at the NFL combine, we know that Golden is quick, but that speed and his suddenness was very evident as he ran his routes throughout practice.

“The routes he’s running, the things he’s doing, he looks very smooth, looks real smooth in all the routes he’s running,” Jordan Love said of Golden. “He’s got great hands, great body control, all those things, so I think for him the biggest thing is just how fast can he pick up the offense and being as consistent as possible with knowing what he needs to do on every play.”

There was a heavy rotation at wide receiver. At various points with the first team offense, we saw Reed, Doubs, Wicks, Golden, Bo Melton, and Malik Heath all get snaps with the ones. Melton was with he starting offense quite often throughout the practice, while Heath saw the least amount of opportunities. Of that group, Doubs and Wicks made the most plays. Savion Williams was on the side of the field with the second and third team offenses.

“I just think we’ve got a lot of playmakers in the room and on any given day, anybody can go off,” said Jayden Reed. “All that wide receiver one stuff, I don’t look at it as that. It’s like we’ve got a lot of different playmakers in the room that can make plays and at the end of the day, it’s about a team coming together and getting a job done and winning.”

Nate Hobbs impresses early. During the 7-on-7 drills, Hobbs had a pair of pass breakups when lined up in the nickel. The first came matched up against Tucker Kraft on an in-breaking route, and the second was against Luke Musgrave on a curl.

“He looks great, a guy that, he certainly looks the part,” Matt LaFleur said of Hobbs after practice. “He’s a guy that I think brings a lot of flexibility to our defense with his versatility to go, whether we want to play him inside or outside.”

Lineup notes: At running back, Josh Jacobs was, of course, leading the way, but with Lloyd not participating in practice, Emanuel Wilson and Chris Brooks both had their share of opportunities with the second team offense.

An under-the-radar name to perhaps keep our eyes on is cornerback Gregory Junior. The Packers signed Junior recently, who is a former sixth-round pick by Jacksonville. With Bullard not participating in team drills, Junior was the fourth cornerback–behind Nixon, Hobbs, and Valentine–primarily playing in the nickel, but he took some outside snaps as well.

Other lineup notes: Zayne Anderson was the team’s third safety, playing behind Xavier McKinney and Evan Williams. Ty’Ron Hopper saw a lot of reps as the middle linebacker when in base and some first team reps as well, paired with Edgerrin Cooper. During the competitive two minute period, however, it was Isaiah McDuffie who was lined up next to Cooper. second round pick Anthony Belton played right tackle with both the second and third team offenses.

Secondary configuration: In the base 4-3 difference, we saw Keisean Nixon and Nate Hobbs at cornerback. When in nickel, Hobbs moved inside, while Nixon and Valentine outside.

Lukas Van Ness with some defensive tackle reps. During the two minute portion of practice, the second-team defensive line consisted of Arron Mosby, Coby Wooden, Van Ness, and Barryn Sorrell.

With Kenny Clark not practicing, we saw Wooden, Karl Brooks, and Devonte Wyatt taking first team reps at defensive tackle. Wooden, in particular, had a nice day, generating push on a few different plays.

“I think the guys have a really good understanding of when we do rush four, what everybody’s responsibility is,” LaFleur said of the pass rush. “I think that we’re going to be a little cleaner in our rush lanes in not allowing big gaps up front, whether it’s the quarterback stepping up or scrambling, so as far as I can tell, the communication’s been great.”

LaFleur has said in the past that getting four quarterbacks reps during these practices can be challenging, since there are only so many reps to go around. Today, an example of that, was that we saw Sean Clifford lead the third team offense in the two minute drill, but Taylor Elgersma didn’t get an opportunity.

Play of the day: Jordan Love connected with Dontayvion Wicks on a deep corner route for a roughly 50-plus yard play. Wicks beat Valentine and got past the safeties, Williams and Anderson to create the separation.

Two minute drills: The situation was there was 1:15 on the clock in a tie game and the offense had two timeouts, and started at their own 30 yard line. Willis was 4-of-7 passing with a downfield throw to Musgrave, creating a chunk play. There were no field goal attempts today, but Willis got the Packers into range for a 33 yard attempt.

Love was 5-of-6 passing while facing the same situation. He got the offense inside the 15 yard line with multiple completions to Doubs, Jacobs, Heath, and Reed. Of note, Love looked very smooth and crisp overall today.

Lastly, for Clifford, the defense won this series. Clifford was 3-for-5, with two overthrows and was sacked on the final play.

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