The Good, Bad And Ugly From Day 11 Of Packers' Training Camp

Forbes

20 hours ago

The Green Bay Packers are approaching the midway point of training camp.
And with the Packers' preseason opener against the New York Jets on tap for Saturday at 7 p.m., the intensity continues to get amped up.
Green Bay held its 11th practice of training camp on a gorgeous Wednesday with temperatures in the low 80s.
Here's the good, bad and ugly from that practice.THE GOOD
SPEED DEMONS: Linebacker Quay Walker returned this week from offseason ankle surgery, and at times he has lined up with fellow linebackers Edgerrin Cooper and Isaiah Simmons in the No. 1 defense. To say that trio is fast is a major understatement.
Cooper ran the 40-yard dash in 4.51 seconds at the 2024 NFL Combine, while Walker ran a 4.52 at the 2022 Combine. Amazingly, those two can't hold a candle to Simmons, who ran a 4.39 40-yard in 2020, which was the second-fastest time for a linebacker at the combine since 2006.
'When these guys are locked in, dialed in, cleats in the ground, they're tough to block on the second level,' LaFleur said. 'All those guys have the athleticism that we're looking for, and they've just got to continue to showcase that, knowing what to do, getting their cleats in the ground, being ready to play, and reading their keys.'
MAKING HIS MOVE: Wideout-turned-cornerback Bo Melton continues to impress.
Melton intercepted a pass from No. 3 quarterback Sean Clifford intended for Julian Hicks.
'(Hicks) is an amazing receiver and he's been doing great routes,' Melton said. 'So it's hard. When he does movements at the line, he kind of gets people, so I wanted to be on top and make sure I play top down. So that's how I found myself in that position.'
Melton also broke up a pass for Malik Heath on a two-point conversion.
Melton continues to work with the No. 2 defense and his chances of making the roster seem to get better by the day.
'My story is different from so many others,' said Melton, a seventh round draft pick by Seattle in 2022. 'I came in … really didn't have nothing. Came up and have been trying to make something out of it and that's how I got to the spot I am now. And that's why I don't take nothing as disrespect or having this as my last chance.
'I never thought of it like that. It's just something they thought I could do, and right now I think I'm doing a pretty good dang job of it. I still have of stuff to work on, obviously. But it's fun.'
WELCOME BACK: Left tackle Rasheed Walker was back at practice after missing two practices with a groin injury.
'We're just being smart and getting it right,' Walker said Tuesday. 'I've just got to treat it right, stay consistent with treatment and make sure everything's healing fine.'
Walker, who started 32 games at left tackle the last seasons, is in a fight for his job with 2024 first round draft pick Jordan Morgan. So getting back on the field was important for him.
Walker started all 17 games in 2024 and helped the Packers finish second in the NFL in sacks allowed (22), No. 5 in total offense (370.8) and No. 5 in rushing offense (140.8).
Walker played 1,075 snaps (99.2%), more than any other player on Green Bay's offense. Walker allowed a respectable three sacks, but he had far too many penalties (nine) and allowed too many pressures (35).
Defensive lineman Arron Mosby (groin) and tight end Messiah Swinson (illness) also returned.
BATTLE ROYALE: One of the more interesting battles in camp has been nose tackle Kenny Clark vs. center Elgton Jenkins.
Clark has been one of the top players at his position for nearly a decade. Jenkins was one of the NFL's elite guards since entering the league in 2019 and is making the switch to center.
Both Clark and Jenkins know facing the other is good for their game.
'Man, just love competing with him,' Clark said. 'He's a great competitor. One of the top at his position — same as me. Iron sharpens iron. We going to battle every day.'
Jenkins agreed.
'I feel like we've got some of the best D-tackles in the game,' Jenkins said. 'I mean, Kenny's tremendous. So being able to go against him — I always say iron sharpens iron. I win some, I lose some and just find out what I can get better at.'
BATTLE ROYALE 2: Wideout Romeo Doubs and cornerback Carrington Valentine have also had some terrific battles this summer. It was no different on Wednesday.
Doubs beat Valentine on a go route for a touchdown and also drew a pass interference penalty. Later, Valentine broke up a pass for Doubs and stood over him after the play.
That duo also had some intense reps against one another in a spirited practice Tuesday.
'I thought one of the great things of (Tuesday) was the one on one matchup with (Doubs) and CV, going back and forth,' LaFleur said. 'Just two guys competing and competing in a high level.
THIS AND THAT: LaFleur was vague Tuesday when asked if his starters would play in the preseason opener. Quarterback Jordan Love provided a bit of clarity. 'I think everybody's got the mindset we're expecting to play,' Love said. … LaFleur will not call plays in the preseason. Offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich and perhaps some other offensive assistants will handle those duties. … No. 2 quarterback Malik Willis hit tight end Ben Sims for a 17-yard touchdown. … Right tackle Zach Tom went down for a moment during individual drills, but returned a short time later.THE BAD
GROWING PAINS: Left tackle Jordan Morgan was beaten by Lukas Van Ness, and the defensive end then blew up a running play. Morgan also had a false start penalty and was pulled for a brief stretch.
Morgan, Green Bay's first round draft pick in 2024, played in just six games at right guard last season before going on the injured reserve list with a shoulder injury. Morgan is being given every chance, though, to unseat incumbent Rasheed Walker.
Overall, Morgan has played well — except for a few reps Wednesday.
'It's tough when you're going guard to tackle and moving around and hearing different calls and things like that,' quarterback Jordan Love said of Morgan. 'But I think for him, it's just continue to keep building, keep building the understanding of knowing what to do at each position.
'That's the tough part when you're moving around, especially being a young guy, but I think he's done a lot better at just competing, going out there with the O-line and competing with every rep that he does.'
FROM THE INFIRMARY: Packers that didn't practice were cornerback Nate Hobbs (knee), running backs MarShawn Lloyd (groin) and Emanuel Wilson (knee), offensive lineman Travis Glover (shoulder), wideout Dontayvion Wicks and cornerback Kamal Hadden (hip).
Glover was placed on the injured reserve list later in the day and the Packers signed wideout Isaiah Neyor.
THIS AND THAT: Defensive linemen Karl Brooks and Warren Brinson dropped out of practice. … Tight end Ben Sims beat Xavier McKinney, but dropped a pass. … Willis had a pair of passes deflected at the line of scrimmage and Love had one.THE UGLY
WHO'S GOT LVN?: Defensive Lukas Van Ness came untouched for a sack of Love that drew the ire of LaFleur.
While there was a miscommunication on offense that allowed Van Ness to run free, it was also the latest in a string of big plays for the third-year defensive end.
Van Ness, the Packers' 2023 first round draft pick, had an underwhelming first two seasons. He's having a strong summer, though, and could be ready to turn a corner.
'Man, it's been great,' defensive tackle Kenny Clark said of Van Ness' play. 'I think he's just finding his fastball. He's just confident in his self. Playing fast and he's playing the run well too. Being physical. So I'm excited about what Lukas is going to do this year.'