The double doors to the Don Hutson Center swung open and the 2022 Green Bay Packers jogged through an alley of photographers, media members and fans into warm sunshine and onto Ray Nitschke Field to begin another training camp.
It was an eventful day even before the 90 minute practice that drew a couple of thousand railbirds back to town for the next three weeks.
GB Brian Gutekunst kicks off camp
General Manager Brian Gutekunst to things going with his pre-camp news conference in the media auditorium at 9:00 AM. Gutekunst has spent the last six months dealing with departures from the team, some of his own doing, additions through the draft and free agency and even some last minute tinkering to the 90 man roster that he believes will be just as competitive as the first four he produced as GM:
Gutekunst announced defensive lineman Dean Lowry and running back Patrick Taylor have already been cleared to come off the Physically Unable to Perform List and offensive tackle Caleb Jones came off the Non-Football Injury list to join the rest for the opening practice. Linebacker Caliph Brice was also activated from the NFI but by dinner time, had been waived from the team.
Head Coach Matt LaFleur stepped to the media auditorium’s podium next. As you’d expect he was excited to get back on the field with his team, adding last Saturday night’s soccer match before a near full house at Lambeau got really him fired up. Even though the playbook was installed in the spring during OTA’s and the mini-camp, LaFleur said he’s going to give the installations a once over before the pads go on:
And then it was on to practice. The first 20 minutes were spent indoors for a walk through and stretching. A big roar from the stands that stretch across the east side of Nitschke Field greeted the players when they emerged.
The wide receiver line takes shape
There were a lot of eyes on the wide receiver group, missing both Sammy Watkins and Christian Watson (on the PUP list). Some made eye grabbing plays. Juwann Winfree was the first. With Aaron Rodgers under pressure, he fired a deep ball up the right sideline Winfree made a diving and rolling catch against Eric Stokes. Next up was draft choice Romeo Doubs. Third string quarterback Danny Etling slightly underthrew a deep back shoulder pass up the left boundary but Doubs still went airborne and high pointed the catch over Kabian Ento. Finally, Lazard, the heir apparent at number one receiver with Davante Adams in Las Vegas, made like Antonio Freeman in the rain against the Vikings on an ad lib Hail Mary pass from Rodgers. With Adrian Amos draped on him, Lazard was able to tip the ball up while stumbling to the ground. The ball bounced off his legs and he clamped on to the touchdown pass.
The final play of the day was one of the rare wins for the defense as Patrick Taylor coughed up a fumble and Ty Summers recovered.
Linebackers donning new Guardian Caps
One of the most noticeable differences in this year’s camp was the choice of headwear. The NFL has mandated what’s called Guardian Caps for everyone but quarterbacks, already well protected with red (don’t hit) jerseys. The Caps are a cushioned skin that get pulled over helmets offering even more padding to prevent repetitive head contact. Offensive tackle Yosh Nijman said the players are calling them “mushroom heads”. They’ll get used to the new gear and it’s for the right, and safe reasons.
As for the O-line, without David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins, the first team lined up with Nijman at left tackle, Jon Runyan at left guard, Josh Myers at center, Jake Hanson at right guard and Royce Newman at right tackle.
Bakhtiari met reporters after practice and explained why he’s on the PUP list. He confirmed a third surgery was performed on his knee, first injured on New Year’s Eve of 2020. He said the original surgery to repair the torn ACL is fine, the most recent procedure, performed just at the OTA’s were going in the spring, was to fix other issues with the knee. He called the extended rehabilitation “the nightmare I have to live with” but he’s making steady progress.
Mason Crosby is also on the PUP list and he said after practice he felt something strange in his right knee after the spring program and when it didn’t clear up, underwent an arthroscopic procedure about two weeks ago. In his 17th year, Crosby has rarely missed a practice and never a pre-season game but said if he doesn’t play in a couple next month, he’ll be fine, hoping the leg is ready to go for the regular season.
Rodgers also held court for over 20 minutes after practice and he talked about the injury list, a solid first practice and his big entrance at camp, looking like a dead ringer for Nicolas Cage’s portrayal of Cameron Poe in the film ConAir.
Looking forward to see what day two brings.
The Packers work out players nearly every day and on Wednesday, one of the players in for a look was quarterback James Morgan. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the 6th round in 2020 but the team’s quarterback of the future arrived in last year’s draft in Zach Wilson. Morgan knew how to get to the Hutson Center after playing his prep ball at nearby Ashwaubenon High School.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the finalists for the class of 2023 among the Seniors committee. The Packers have a couple of worthy candidates. Among the finalists from the players are Cecil Isbell and Sterling Sharpe. Isbell was a dynamic passer when Don Hutson was in his record smashing heyday, playing for the Packers from 1938-42. Sharpe was one of the most dominant receivers in the game and Brett Favre’s first number one target. He was the first Packer to top 100 receptions in a season but his career was cut short by a neck injury. From the Coach/Contributor category is Mike Holmgren who led the Pack to back to back Super Bowls, winning Super Bowl XXI against the Patriots. After nine years, Holmgren left for Seattle and took the Seahawks to another Super Bowl. Also on the coaching list is Ken Riley, the former Cincinnati Bengal cornerback who coached a long time in the league, serving as Forrest Gregg’s secondary coach in 1984-85.
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