The Inexperienced Bay Packers made some information on Friday morning as exterior linebacker Jonathan Garvin was left off the workforce’s roster whereas they headed onto the observe subject for a walkthrough. It was introduced later that Garvin was launched, simply hours after the Packers’ social media accounts celebrated the pass-rusher turning 24 years outdated.
In the mean time, Inexperienced Bay hasn’t introduced a corresponding roster transfer, that means that they’ve an open roster spot going into Saturday’s observe — which will likely be their closing observe earlier than pads are allowed to be placed on subsequent week.
Whereas the walkthrough was a low-intensity observe, it did give the media an opportunity to note the first-team rotations that give us an overview of the Packers’ depth chart. Let’s get into what occurred on the sector on Friday.
Offense
In accordance with Pack-A-Day Podcast’s Andy Herman, the next gamers (by place group) labored with the first-team offense right this moment:
- QB: Jordan Love
- RB: Aaron Jones, AJ Dillon, Patrick Taylor and Lewis Nichols
- WR: Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Samori Toure and Malik Heath
- TE: Luke Musgrave, Josiah Deguara and Tyler Davis
- OL: David Bakhtiari, Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Jon Runyan Jr., Yosh Nijman, Zach Tom and Royce Newman
At receiver, the notable absence from the first-team group was Bo Melton, a 2022 draft alternative who was picked up off of waivers by the Packers mid-season final 12 months. Thoughts you, Melton wasn’t one of many 5 receivers to work with the first-team offense although two rookie draft picks — Grant DuBose (again, NFI) and Dontayvion Wicks (concussion) — had been lacking from observe.
Tight finish is one other fascinating place, as third-round rookie Tucker Kraft stays behind each Josiah Deguara and Tyler Davis within the pecking order whereas Luke Musgrave has taken over because the workforce’s “beginning” Y tight finish. The offensive line didn’t carry many surprises until you depend Royce Newman persevering with to get the nod over 2022 third-round decide Sean Rhyan a shock.
Whereas second-year deal with Zach Tom had acquired each single snap at proper deal with by way of the primary two practices of coaching camp, Tom and Nijman rotated at left and proper deal with right this moment, relying on if David Bakhtiari was taking a rep at left deal with or not. Earlier right this moment, head coach Matt LaFleur mentioned that he desires the competitors at proper deal with to “occur naturally,” however Friday is the primary time that we’ve actually seen it in motion.
Protection
Per Herman, the next gamers (by place group) labored with the first-team protection right this moment:
- DL: Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt, TJ Slaton and Colby Picket
- OLB: Preston Smith, Justin Hollins, Kingsley Enagbare and Lukas Van Ness
- ILB: De’Vondre Campbell, Quay Walker, Isaiah McDuffie, Eric Wilson and Tariq Carpenter
- CB: Jaire Alexander, Rasul Douglas, Keisean Nixon, Corey Ballentine and Shemar Jean-Charles
- SAF: Darnell Savage, Rudy Ford, Tarvarius Moore and Dallin Levitt
There have been no shocks right here, however the few surprises that there have been got here within the secondary. Rookie cornerback Carrington Valentine, a seventh-round decide who has flashed by way of two practices, was unable to make the workforce’s group of 5 cornerbacks on the primary workforce, regardless of Eric Stokes (PUP, ankle) being out nonetheless. At security, it’s fascinating that Jonathan Owens — who began each recreation for the Houston Texans final 12 months — hasn’t been capable of earn a spot within the rotation subsequent to Rudy Ford, Tarvarius Moore and Dallin Levitt. Levitt was used nearly completely as a particular groups participant in his first 12 months with the Packers final season.
So far as the starters go, Ford began on the security place for the third straight day in observe, though the expectation coming into camp was that the security spot reverse of Darnell Savage was going to be one of many summer time’s greatest competitors. As of now, it looks as if Ford is pulling away with the job.
Outdoors linebacker is a place the place Justin Hollins and Kingsley Enagbare proceed to rotate as starters every day, limiting first-round decide Lukas Van Ness’ reps with the beginning protection.
Particular Groups
ESPN’s Rob Demovsky reported that three gamers took punt returns in observe right this moment: receiver Jayden Reed, cornerback Keisean Nixon and receiver Samori Toure. Final 12 months, 35 of Nixon’s 46 returns got here on kickoffs, not punts. In the meantime, Reed was named an all-conference returner a number of occasions throughout his faculty profession, partially as a consequence of his punt-returning capacity. Keep watch over this battle, as Reed can be anticipated to deal with slot receiver duties and Nixon is anticipated to deal with slot nook duties, no less than till Eric Stokes is activated from the PUP record.
