It was a very encouraging day for the Green Bay Packers as they returned to the practice field to launch the first week of Pre-Season play. Arguably their most impactful defensive player over the first half of last season joined the squad as edge rusher Rahsan Gary was removed from the Physically Unable to Perform List. The 5th year linebacker from Michigan had a half dozen sacks and 9 quarterback hits over the first 8 weeks of the season before tearing his ACL in week 9 against the Lions in Detroit. The defense never was able to replicate that kind of consistent pressure.
Rashan Gary back in line.
Gary’s rehabilitation from major knee surgery has been on the phenomenal fast track, he was already moving spryly during the off-season program in the spring and he’s back on the active roster with still a month left before the regular season opener in Chicago. Gary took part in a few individual drills today, team participation will come soon enough. After practice, there was quite a crowd around him to welcome him back.
While Gary has returned, Eric Stokes isn’t quite there yet according to Head Coach Matt LaFleur. 7th round draft pick Grant Dubose, the wide receiver from Charlotte, also took a big step forward. He was in uniform but didn’t take part, coming off the Non-Football Injury list. Dubose arrived in Green Bay after the draft with a back injury and has yet to practice with the team, leaving him little time to make an impression.
Players still out of commission are guard Jake Hanson, tight end Josiah Deguara, safety Innis Gaines and running back Lew Nichols.
With Nichols down, General Manager Brian Gutekunst has signed a running back. First year pro Nate McCrary out of Saginaw Valley State was signed Monday afternoon. He’s already with his 4th organization in two years, spending nearly all of his career on the practice squads on Denver, Baltimore and Carolina since 2021. He was briefly in the Cleveland Browns camp this summer.
A couple of young quarterbacks had a little more pep in their step after the Packers released Danny Etling on Sunday. Etling joined the Pack’s practice squad late in 2021 and spent all of last season on the squad. LaFleur had feeling four quarterbacks might be one too many in training camp, considering Jordan Love had to get as many practice snaps as possible to get ready for the season. Not enough to go around for the backups, but Elting had the most NFL experience in the room. His departure leaves 5th round pick Sean Clifford out of Penn State and USFL MVP Alex McGough battling out for the number two job. Neither has taken a snap at this level and as they saying goes, are just one play away. LaFleur admits this is a gamble but it’s the hand they’ve been dealt, they’ll give both a shot during the Pre-Season and we’ll see where it takes them.
As for practice, it was a fully padded day, one that included David Bakhtiari whose practice schedule has been a hot topic of conversation over the past week.
The left tackle moved well and even took a handful of team reps. Zach Tom continued workig at both right tackle and center.
In team periods, Love’s first rep with the ones were unsightly. A pass over the middle was jumped by Darnell Savage for an interception and in the next set, excellent coverage downfield allowed Kenny Clark to reach the quarterback for a sack. The Packers may be on their way to a training camp record for botched center-quarterback exchanges. On back to back snaps, with McGough under center, not in the shotgun, the ball didn’t get to his hands from Cole Schneider.
Anders Carlson picked up where he left off Saturday night, 5 for 6 on kicks into a decent breeze starting from PAT range of 33 yards, to a 51 yarder. A 50 yard attempt caught the left upright.
Big offensive plays were made by Luke Musgrave in a red zone drill and Jayden Reed kept great concentration after a pass was nearly picked but found it’s way to his hands at the back of the end zone.
Looking forward to see who will make plays the next time they pad up, against the Bengals in Cincinnati on Wednesday.
