Latest news with #AnthonyBelton
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cheese Curds, 8/18: Anthony Belton's terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad day
The Green Bay Packers had a rough go in the first half of Saturday's preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts. Part of the issue on a general level was surely due to the Packers playing few of their established starters while the Colts kept a good complement of first-team players on the field early. But one player stood out in particular for his rough performance before halftime: rookie tackle Anthony Belton. Belton had a day to forget — or at least to learn from — on Saturday. Mental errors happened consistently, including one that took a would-be touchdown off the board in the second quarter. It was that much more frustrating to see Belton's rough day at right tackle when contrasted against Jordan Morgan, who looked very solid on the left side. Still, Belton was playing in just his second professional game, and if there is ever a time to get those mental errors out of the way and learn from them, it's in the preseason. He is vowing to 'grow up,' (his words) and ensure that another day like that does not happen again — something that the Packers need him to do, given their questionable depth on the offensive line. Here's a look back at Saturday's game from around the Packers blogosphere. Game Notes: Tyron Herring comes up big in Packers' thrilling comeback | was the late hero on Saturday, breaking up a would-be game-winning touchdown pass to tight end Jelani Woods after the running game started to dominate the Colts' defense. Studs and duds from Packers' preseason win over Colts | Packers WireJordan Morgan looks more and more comfortable at left tackle, and the Packers may have a good problem on their hands with a pair of viable left tackles. On the other side, Anthony Belton had a nightmarish first half. Packers rookie lineman Anthony Belton responds after five penalties in first half against Colts | got flagged for a false start, illegal formation (twice), unnecessary roughness, and a facemask. He got ripped to shreds by his coaches at halftime and responded with a better second half, but it was still a brutal 30 minutes for the round-two rookie. Five Packers Overreactions From Preseason Win at Colts | it really an overreaction to say that the Packers are toast if they have one or two major injuries on the offensive line? Can the Packers ever count on RB MarShawn Lloyd after yet another injury? | The AthleticI think this might well count as an overreaction, but after one more soft tissue injury, it's valid to wonder if the former third-round draft pick will ever be able to make it through a full season. How do mascots like the Phillie Phanatic stay fresh in the summer heat? Vodka and water | NBC NewsNo, that's not how they stay hydrated – it's apparently how they minimize the smell of sweat inside their costumes.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Packers rookie OT Anthony Belton on five penalties in one quarter: I've got to learn quick
Packers rookie offensive tackle Anthony Belton had some company from head coach Matt LaFleur on his way off the field at the end of the first half on Saturday, but it wasn't a pleasant conversation. Belton was penalized five times during the second quarter of Green Bay's game against the Colts. He was flagged for a false start, unnecessary roughness and a facemask violation before drawing two illegal formation penalties just before halftime. One of those illegal formation calls wiped out a touchdown and the entire quintet was on LaFleur's mind when he spoke to the second-round pick on the way into the locker room. "Just drive killers,' Belton said, via Ryan Wood of 'All the penalties were drive killers. That touchdown was called back because of self-inflicted penalties. Stuff like that can't happen. I've just got to grow up. I've got to get out of those old habits. I've got to learn quick. And that's something I'm on myself about. That's not directly what he said. That's what I'm on myself about.' Belton had a better time of it in the third quarter. Running back Amar Johnson was trying to finish off a touchdown run against stiff opposition and Belton helped get him there by plowing into the pile to push his teammate over the line. The Packers will be looking for more of that and fewer penalties in the weeks and months to come.
New York Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Packers stock report: Who struggled and who impressed in comeback win over Colts?
You know things aren't going well when the head coach runs down his rookie second-round pick to chew him out as both are leaving the field at halftime. That was the scene in Indianapolis on Saturday afternoon after right tackle Anthony Belton committed five penalties — yes, five — in the first half against the Colts. With the Packers trailing 13-3 after an opening 30 minutes in which they committed a whopping 11 penalties for 85 yards, Matt LaFleur let Belton have it. Advertisement However, what LaFleur strongly values is how players respond to adversity or mistakes. Not only did the Packers counter a sloppy first half by committing only one penalty in the second half and erasing a 13-0 deficit to beat the Colts 23-19, but Belton also didn't draw another flag and flashed why the team spent the No. 54 pick on him in April. Referees flagged Belton in the first half for a false start, two illegal formation penalties (one negated an impressive 20-yard touchdown connection between Taylor Elgersma and tight end Ben Sims), an unnecessary roughness infraction and a facemask penalty. The roughing penalty, especially, irked LaFleur. Belton shoved cornerback Johnathan Edwards from behind far too late as running back Emanuel Wilson finished a 5-yard run out of bounds. Instead of a third-and-5 from the Colts' 39-yard line, the Packers faced a third-and-20 from their own 46. 'That's the one that really bothers me because that is — I mean, they all bother me — but you can't be getting personal fouls because that really hurts the team, puts you in a really tough position,' LaFleur said. 'That is completely unacceptable in my mind. I appreciate the effort that he plays with and I thought he did a really nice job … I love the effort. It's just, you got to be smart in those situations.' Belton played a much cleaner second half, though he'll want back one run-blocking snap in particular in which defensive tackle Eric Johnson II beat him for a second-down tackle for loss of running back Israel Abanikanda inside the Colts' 5-yard line. LaFleur will appreciate how Belton responded on running back Amar Johnson's fourth-quarter touchdown run, however, when the 6-foot-6, 335-pounder manhandled defensive tackle Devonta Davis to pave the way for the game-tying score. Another TD! — Green Bay Packers (@packers) August 16, 2025 It's not going to be perfect for the former N.C. State left tackle as he adjusts to NFL defensive linemen, but it certainly has to be better than how he started Saturday. Perhaps working in Belton's favor is that one, he can focus on developing while not being thrown into the fire (barring injuries) and two, the Packers are allowing him to work strictly at tackle for now instead of overloading him with guard responsibilities, too. Advertisement Despite an admirable second-half rebound, Belton still falls into the disappointments category from Saturday's game. Here's who else helped or hurt their cases 10 days from roster cutdowns. Donovan Jennings, OL Starting at left guard against the Colts, Jennings had a nightmare beginning to the game. First, Colts third-string DT Adetomiwa Adebawore bullied him all the way back to quarterback Malik Willis to flush Willis out of the pocket to his right on an eventual deep second-down incompletion. On the next play, veteran DT DeForest Buckner swam past Jennings with ease to pressure Willis on a deep third-down incompletion. On Green Bay's next drive, Jennings' holding penalty on Johnson wiped out an incredible 31-yard reception by wideout Julian Hicks from Willis on third down. Jennings also failed to adequately pick up a stunt by defensive end Laiatu Latu that led to pressure. It's possible Jennings' lackluster showing Saturday put him squarely on the roster bubble entering the preseason's final week, but it's not like the Packers have an embarrassment of riches on the offensive line behind their starters. Kamal Hadden, CB Hadden is very much fighting for a spot on the initial 53-man roster. You could argue that converted wide receiver Bo Melton is ahead of both him and Kalen King on the depth chart right now. If the Packers only take five cornerbacks, with Keisean Nixon, Nate Hobbs, Carrington Valentine and Melton as locks, Hadden did himself no favors on Saturday. His coverage was hardly sticky in the first half and he committed a holding penalty on both defense and kickoff return. Emanuel Wilson, RB Let's make one thing clear: Wilson is a talented runner. He glides with the ball in his hand, as showcased on his 32-yard catch and run Saturday, on which he forced a missed tackle and ran another defender over. Last season, Wilson averaged an efficient 4.9 yards per carry on 103 rushes. But No. 3 running backs don't need to be great runners since they won't often be asked to run the ball. More so, they need to be great pass protectors. Colts cornerback Chris Lammons muscling his way past Wilson for a sack of Elgersma, in a nutshell, showed why Chris Brooks (a great pass blocker) probably has a better chance to earn the No. 3 job. Wilson's lost fumble Saturday also didn't help his cause. Advertisement This paragraph is being written with two things in mind that may change, one being MarShawn Lloyd's health. The 2024 third-round pick might've suffered yet another injury on Saturday. He took a big hit at the end of a 33-yard reception up the right sideline early in the second quarter and didn't return. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that it was hamstring tightness. When asked if Lloyd would be OK, LaFleur said postgame, 'We'll see.' Two, I'm assuming the Packers will take only three running backs on the initial 53-man roster, Lloyd and Josh Jacobs being the locks. Even if Wilson doesn't make it, he might be able to clear waivers and re-sign on the practice squad. LAMMONS ❌ 📺 #GBvsIND on CBS — Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) August 16, 2025 MarShawn Lloyd, RB This is under the assumption that he won't miss time, which could be wrong. If he does, with another injury after a first year and four months in the league littered with them, Lloyd can be retroactively removed from this category. But in his brief game time Saturday, Lloyd showcased his shiftiness, making linebacker Cameron McGrone miss a tackle in the backfield and his pass-catching potential on the 33-yard wheel route down the right sideline. Maybe I just think his stock is rising because he finally played and did a couple of impressive things, which might be a low bar to clear. But if he stays healthy, and that's a major if, Lloyd showed a glimpse of why he can be a fitting complement to the bulldozer Jacobs. Arron Mosby, DE Whether it was drawing a hold inside the Packers' 10-yard line to help force an eventual Colts field-goal attempt, smoking left tackle Jalen Travis to force quarterback Anthony Richardson to dump the ball off on third-and-goal from the 20 (helped force another field-goal attempt) or generating pressure on multiple other rushes, Mosby certainly helped his case on Saturday as he aims for two straight years making the initial 53. Keith Randolph, DT For an interior defensive lineman, Randolph's two batted passes against the Colts were impressive. He has little to no chance of making the 53, but 16 practice-squad jobs are up for grabs, too. Not only that, but this film will be available to 31 other teams. Sean Clifford, QB Clifford only got one drive Saturday, but he made it count with his legs. He scrambled for a first down on fourth-and-7 from the Colts' 23-yard line with less than two minutes remaining and the Packers trailing by three before keeping the option two plays later for an 11-yard score that ended up being the game-winner. Rookie quarterback Taylor Elgersma submitted a mixed bag in his extensive work, making a couple of nice plays with both his arm and legs but also looking skittish in the pocket early on and putting the ball in harm's way several times. Neither player has separated himself in the battle for third-string quarterback — the Packers will keep two and have a third on the practice squad — but Clifford's moxie in crunch time might've helped his cause more. 'It's fun to have a two-minute drill. I think that's always been one of my M.O.s, is to come out strong and be able to close games,' Clifford said. 'I believe I'm a winner, and when I'm given the opportunity, I'll make the most of it. It was fun to be able to go out there and win the game with the boys.' FOR THE LEAD!! — Green Bay Packers (@packers) August 16, 2025 (Photo of MarShawn Lloyd: Michael Conroy / Associated Press) Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
Yahoo
03-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Packers training camp will start to reveal answers to these five burning questions heading into a pivotal 2025 season
Packers training camp will start to reveal answers to these five burning questions heading into a pivotal 2025 season originally appeared on A to Z Sports. The Green Bay Packers started training camp last week, but things really begin to feel real from now on. With the pads on, head coach Matt LaFleur and his coaching staff can make more precise evaluations of the players and feel where the roster is Packers have significant questions to answer, and training camp will offer more clarity about important topics that will impact the entire season. What will Jordan Morgan and Anthony Belton's roles be? The Packers spent a first-round pick on Morgan and a second-rounder on Belton, and part of the appeal to do it was versatility. Both young players can be tackles or guards, a factor that will strongly matter for Green Bay with Zach Tom, Rasheed Walker, and Sean Rhyan entering the final year of their rookie the big question is where they will play. It's normal to cross-train in the offseason and to start training camp, but at some point the coaching staff usually makes a determination. Ideally, Morgan would be the left tackle of the future, with Belton potentially being able to start at right OTAs and minicamp, both practiced primarily at tackle, with Morgan on the left side (including with the ones for several reps) and Belton moving from side to side with the twos. What these players are able to accomplish will be a big part of the process to determine what Green Bay will do with their veteran players contract-wise. What to make of the cornerback group? The Packers cut Jaire Alexander and lost Eric Stokes, Corey Ballentine, and Robert Rochell in free agency. To replace them, the team signed Nate Hobbs and Gregory Junior in free agency, plus taking Micah Robinson in the seventh round of the not a top-heavy group as it used to be, but that's probably Brian Gutekunst's plan. Over the past few years, the NFL has consolidated the idea that cornerback is a weak-link system, and the Packers are comfortable with their three starters (Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine, Nate Hobbs) to have a decent floor. Javon Bullard in the slot also gives them some level of will that be enough? If one gets hurt, is there enough depth to maintain the weak-link premise without a real weak link? Those are the things the Packers will have to evaluate and answer. How much will each rookie wide receiver actually play? The Packers didn't take Matthew Golden in the first round for him to be just another guy. They truly think he can be special, and a good version of Golden would be what the offense needs to create a positive domino effect—Jayden Reed not being the focus for the defense, Romeo Doubs as a WR2/3 in the boundary, Dontayvion Wicks as a promising backup, Christian Watson as a deep threat. How much can Golden impact from the get go, though, is a bigger Savion Williams, it's a more complex situation. In college, he played an unusual role as a gadget player (wide receiver, running back, wildcat quarterback). Now, LaFleur has to understand what can be translated to the NFL level and create or adapt a role for the third-rounder. View the to see embedded media. Is the defensive line any better? The Packers didn't do anything to address the defensive line in free agency or early in the draft. On Day 3, though, the team took Barryn Sorrell and Collin Oliver for the edge, plus Warren Brinson to the interior. The big offseason change was to fire position coach Jason Rebrovich and replace him with former New England Patriots defensive coordinator DeMarcus the Packers are betting on Covington to speed up the developmental path of players like Lukas Van Ness and Devonte Wyatt. If that doesn't happen, is it realistic to expect significant improvement from the group? View the to see embedded media. Can MarShawn Lloyd become the RB2? Lloyd doesn't seem to have the body composition to be a full-time, three-down running back. But the Packers don't need this from him, because they have Josh Jacobs under contract for three more seasons. Lloyd has to be an explosive option to change the pace of the offense, and his college tape indicates he can be young running back lost almost his entire rookie season due to injuries, but he's fully healthy now, and training camp will start to show if he can surpass Emanuel Wilson and Chris Brooks on the depth the to see embedded media. This story was originally reported by A to Z Sports on Jul 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Packers sign second-round pick Anthony Belton, cut two others
Offensive tackle Anthony Belton is among the latest second-round picks to sign his first NFL contract. The Packers announced that Belton's deal was done on Friday afternoon. Belton was the 54th overall pick and he's part of a rush of second-rounders who have signed in the last few days after a long delay caused by negotiations over guaranteed money in the deals. Belton was a starter at left tackle during his final three seasons at N.C. State. Rasheed Walker is the incumbent starter at that spot in Green Bay. The Packers also announced that they have cut defensive linemen Nesta Jade Silvera and Cameron Young from the 90-man roster.
