The 2023 training camp for the Green Bay Packers is in the books. All that’s left before determining the initial 53 man roster and stocking the 16 player practice squad is Saturday’s final dress rehearsal against the Seattle Seahawks.
The weather was much more cooperative as the team worked in shorts and helmets for a loose 1:45 practice. After suffering with a heat index on the plus side of 100 on Wednesday, there was plenty of cloud cover and a comfortable temperature in the mid-70’s today.
When I say loose, it was evident in the banter throughout, a number of quirky plays and a high spirited, high pressure finish.
The offense ran quarterback options with Jordan Love, we saw another shovel pass jet sweep with Luke Musgrave and a special teams period that actually worked on icing the kicker with a last second timeout.
After not taking part in practice all week, a familiar jersey was back on the left side of the offensive line.
David Bakhtiari got in perhaps his only work of the week, although Head Coach Matt LaFleur said before practice, most, if not all front liners will see some against against the Seahawks. The most significant announcement from the Head Coach came when asked about rookie Sean Clifford’s proficient operation of the two minute drill throughout camp. LaFleur said, “I think it’s safe to say Sean is our number two quarterback.”
The 5th round draft choice out of Penn State was humbled but not shocked to hear the news.
Love stole the show during red zone work however today as he fired five touchdown passes in his two sets of plays with the number one offense.
While Bakhtiari returned, 10 players remained sidelined and may not be able to make one last case for a roster spot before next Tuesday’s cut. The only exception on that list is De’Vondre Campbell who has been out for nearly two weeks with an ankle injury. Eric Stokes is almost a cinch to start the season on the same Physically Unable to Perform list he’s been on all summer. That would not have him available until the 5th game of the season at the earliest.
The rest of the wounded players may not survive the cut. They include running backs Tyler Goodson and Lew Nichols, wide receivers Dontayvion Wicks and Bo Melton, fullback Henry Pearson and offensive lineman Luke Tenuta (an injured reserve candidate). Safeties Tarvarious Moore and rookie Anthony Johnson may be the exceptions on that list.
One of the biggest questions heading into training camp was how would the Packer offense, with a new starting quarterback, young wide receivers and brand new tight ends come together? It was a question I posed to Pro Bowl left guard Elgton Jenkins. According to Elgton, it’s come along just fine and the veteran players up front are ready to lead the unit into the regular season.
The team had some fun at the end of the final practice. Rookie kicker Anders Carlson lined up for a 50 yard field goal. Only on this kick, he was completely surrounded by the entire squad who not only were yelling and chanting, some sprayed him with water bottles. It might have gotten to the kid as he pulled the kick wide left. Someone in the huddle yelled, “Give him another shot”. LaFleur did and it only got noisier but Carlson calmly split the uprights on a kick that might have been good from 65 yards and it brought came to a rousing conclusion.
