It was a hot time in the old town today as the Green Bay Packers conducted the final public practice of training camp on Ray Nitschke Field. After spending the first 20 minutes warming up (no pun intended!) inside the Don Hutson Center, the team trotted outside with the temperature at 88 degrees and a heat index of 102. Those numbers crept up a little higher during the two hour practice in full pads.
In his pre-practice session with reporters, Head Coach Matt LaFleur wasn’t about to heed medical officials and their warnings about limiting physical exertion saying, “I don’t mind it, I think going through something a little tough is good for ya.”
A light breeze actually helped and the only player I saw need some cooling down was defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt who was led off the field and taken to a cooling area in shade. Still, it had to be a challenge for the big boys on the team, the offensive and defensive linemen.
A sweltering day for the Pack.
Early team periods focused on the run game while the practice ended with some unscripted move the ball periods, red zone work and two minute drills.
The red zone scenario had :17 left on the clock, time for 2, maybe three snaps. Jordan Love needed only one. He threw a strike down the middle to a sliding Luke Musgrave at the back of the end zone for a touchdown. Love’s two minute drill didn’t fare quite so well. His drive was stopped by a Rasul Douglas interception. Backup Sean Clifford was able to move the second unit. He hit a big strike to Jadakis Bonds, the second day in a row the free agent was on the receiving end of an explosive play. Clifford converted a 4th down by finding Grant Dubose for the 21 yard touchdown and in need of a two point conversion for the win, fittingly found Deuce Watts on an out route for the winning deuce.
Two safeties got nicked, Darnell Savage’s day was done after getting tangled with Romeo Doubs and Anthony Johnson also suffered a minor injury.
David Bakhtiari got yet another day off while the did not participate list of injured players remained the same, De’Vondre Campbell, Dontayvion Wicks, Bo Melton, Tyler Goodson, Lew Nichols, Tarvarious Moore, Luke Tenuta and Jason Lewan.
In the locker room, Love gathered reporters around his locker to talk about the hot day of work, the five weeks of practice and the state of the offense as training camp is about to close.
General Manager Brian Gutekunst was visited by his father, former University of Minnesota Golden Gopher Head Coach John Gutekunst.
Matt LaFleur visits with Brian Gutekunst, his father John and a friend.
At the end of practice, the last open to the public, a small but loyal collection of fans who braved the heat were rewarded by visits from Love, Aaron Jones and several other players, passing out high fives, signing autographs and posing for pictures, a thank you for the support all summer. The team will close ranks Thursday, take Friday off and wrap up the Preseason Saturday at 12:00 PM hosting the Seattle Seahawks at Lambeau Field.
