Phase Two of the Green Bay Packers off-season program is underway as the team’s Organized Team Activities got rolling on Monday. Today was the first practice open to the media. Reporters will get to observe one workout in each of the three weeks of OTA’s with the team’s mandatory mini-camp sandwiched in between weeks 2 and 3.
To be honest, it’s pretty basic stuff. Head Coach Matt LaFleur and his staff start at the beginning like they do every year.
The draft picks and first year free agents got their feet wet with a two-day rookie camp earlier this month. Now, returning veterans join them in the building and on the practice field. Of course the OTA’s are voluntary for the vets and more was made of those not in attendance than those in uniform.
Aaron Rodgers most notably was absent, as was the case last year. LaFleur said he did have a phone conversation with his quarterback on Monday night to go over “tweaks” to the program. LaFleur said Rodgers was in great spirits and probably won’t be in at all this first week but he didn’t rule out a cameo appearance before mid-June.
Other veterans not in town include the recently re-signed Jaire Alexander, Allen Lazard, Sammy Watkins, Marcedes Lewis, Rasul Douglas, Rashan Gary and Preston Smith.
During his pre-practice news conference, LaFleur was asked if he’ll bring in another NFL team for joint practices in training camp this summer and he quickly said, yes. The New Orleans Saints will come to Green Bay a few days before the only home pre-season game in August to practice for a couple of practices. LaFleur said he and new Saints Head Coach Dennis Allen are just starting to put together the details. LaFleur and the Packers have hosted the Houston Texans and the New York Jets in two of his first three training camps.
The 90 minute practice began with some special teams work under new coordinator Rich Bisaccia inside the Don Hutson Center. After a snap sailed over the punter’s head and the punt team lollygagged in and out of the huddle, Bisaccia lit into the boys. I swear I heard more swear words in the first 10 minutes of today’s special teams period than I heard in the last 20 years with those units. Maybe that’s what they’ll need.
The team went outside to finish the day on Ray Nitschke Field. There were a lot of fundamental drills for each position group and a couple of 11 on 11 periods with starters on one half of the field and backups on the other end. Some noteworthy observations saw Jordan Love get all the one reps with his movement and throwing looking smooth. Second round pick Christian Watson, who made a living with jet sweep motion at North Dakota State, did a bit of that with the Pack. Josh Myers was back in the saddle at center, looking a little trimmer from last year. Green Bay native Cole Van Lanen got the change to get first team reps at right tackle.
On defense, a couple of 7 on 7 pass breakups by Rico Gafford, a converted wide receiver, and Darnell Savage caught my eye.
When J.J. Molson was cut over the weekend after spending all of last year on the practice squad, the Packers were down to two kickers. Mason Crosby’s remaining competition, Dominik Eberle, attempted a handful of field goals and pushed a couple wide right but did connect from 48 yards out.
It was encouraging to see a couple of veterans doing some rehabilitation work on the side. Running back Kylin Hill, tight end Robert Tonyan and offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins were all performing a variety of running and agility drills.
Elgton Jenkins works out healing knee.
Robert Tonyan drilling.
Tonyan in particular, looked to be running at ease, remarkable since his ACL tear occurred last November. A cautionary note, it looked like David Bakhtiari was well ahead of schedule in his 2021 rehab but it never got completely right. Bakhtiari and defensive lineman Dean Lowry were observers at practice today.
Afterwards, the locker room opened and we heard from Love reiterated how much he relishes the chance to get snaps even in May. I chatted with Randall Cobb who is now the veteran pied piper to a young group of wide receivers. He’s relishing that role and said the trio of draft picks have been peppering him with questions. Cobb doesn’t think Rodgers will have much difficulty getting up to speed with the new cast, even if it’s just in training camp. “It’s just another challenge”, said Cobb.
Kenny Clark was taken aback when first round pick Devonte Wyatt called him “Mr. Clark”. “I’m not much older that those guys,” Clark said, “That was kind of weird.”
It will be a meeting only Wednesday with one more practice on Thursday for the squad.
Some news from the corporate side of the franchise today as well.
The Packers have announced four candidates will be presented for election to the 45 member Board of Directors at the team’s annual stockholder’s meeting July 25.
Michael Daniels, President of Green Bay based Nicolet Bank, Kate Burgess, the CEO and owner of Elevate97, Mark Rourke, the CEO and President of Schneider National and Kurt Voss, the owner and CEO of Amerilux International will have their candidacies included in the proxy notes sent to shareholders.
In additon, board members Rick Chernick along with former players Larry McCarren and Eric Torkelson will take on emeritus status on the board.
