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USA Today
03-08-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Highlights from Packers Family Night: Omar Brown steals the show
The Green Bay Packers held their annual "Family Night" practice inside Lambeau Field on Saturday night. The announced attendance was just under 60,000, and Matt LaFleur's team worked for just over two hours on the field before a fireworks and laser show wrapped up the event. The defense mostly dominated the team periods, and an unheralded safety made the most plays. Here are the top highlights from Family Night: Omar Brown steals the show The second-year safety snagged three interceptions, giving him a team-high five picks during training camp. One was thrown directly to him during a red-zone period, and another came off a deflection, but Brown also made an impressive read and finish on a throw from rookie Taylor Elgersma to finish off the Family Night hat trick. Matt LaFleur stated the obvious: "He is making plays." Kalen King gets a pick Omar Brown wasn't the only one at the interception party. Kalen King jumped a throw from Malik Willis and made the pick in front of receiver Julian Hicks for the second-team defense. Sack for LVN vs. Morgan In a battle of first-round picks, Lukas Van Ness got the best of Jordan Morgan at left tackle. Jordan Love's night Jordan Love had a mostly quiet night overall, including a couple of deep misses and an interception thrown to Carrington Valentine. Justis Mosqueda of Acme Packing Company put together a reel of Love's throws on Saturday night: McManus stays red hot Veteran kicker Brandon McManus made all eight of his kicks during team periods, including three kicks over 50 yards. He is now 36-for-37 to start training camp. Matt LaFleur press conference
New York Times
03-08-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Packers training camp: The unsung ‘MVP' who intercepted three passes in one practice
GREEN BAY, WIS. — Omar Brown is a second-year Packers safety who went undrafted in 2024 with eight career defensive snaps played. Xavier McKinney is a reigning first-team All-Pro safety who intercepted eight passes last season, second-most in the NFL. Yet after Family Night at Lambeau Field on Saturday night, it was McKinney playing hype man for Brown as he spoke with reporters after picking off three passes in front of almost 60,000 fans at practice. Brown now has five interceptions in nine practices. Advertisement 'MVP! MVP! MVP! Turn me up, O!,' McKinney shouted. 'That's my dog, X,' Brown said. 'Boy had a hat trick!' another teammate yelled. 'Three of 'em!' A couple other teammates chimed in supporting Brown, who originally signed with the Broncos after last year's draft. Denver released Brown after camp, and he signed with Green Bay's practice squad, where he spent most of the year until being elevated twice in the season's final three games. He played eight defensive snaps in a 34-0 win over the Saints and 16 total special teams snaps over Weeks 16 and 18. The Packers' starting safeties appear set in stone — McKinney and Evan Williams — and their next two figure to be Javon Bullard (if he's not playing the nickel) and Zayne Anderson. But Brown is stating a convincing case for 53-man roster inclusion after this year's training camp and the head coach likes what he sees. 'He's done a lot. I mean, he's making plays,' Matt LaFleur said. 'You want to see how guys respond and react when they get those opportunities and he's coming through, so that's really positive … He's definitely a guy we had our eye on coming out in the draft process. We had him in for a 30 visit, so certainly, there was some like there for him. To get him ingrained in our system and to watch him develop, grow, and develop has been pretty exciting. Again, he's making plays.' Brown's first pick of the night came in a red-zone drill with the No. 2 defense. Malik Willis took a snap from the 12-yard line and Brown stared him down from the deep middle of the field. Willis fired into heavy traffic for wide receiver Julian Hicks in the end zone and instead hit Brown. Omar Brown picks off Malik Willis on the goal line. That's the second-year safety's third INT of camp. — Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) August 3, 2025 His second came on a deflection by cornerback Tyron Herring, who broke up a Taylor Elgersma pass for Hicks before the ball fell into Brown's hands behind the play. His third pick was his best, as he ranged over to cover Hicks on a Willis deep ball down the left sideline after Hicks got space on safety Kitan Oladapo. The ball hit off Brown's facemask as he jumped, popped up in the air and he secured it as he fell to the ground. Advertisement 'I don't think the quarterback saw me. I kind of snuck behind him,' Brown said. 'We both went up for it and I just came down with it.' Brown said he's never intercepted three passes in a game, not even in high school, or even had a pick-six. Maybe two picks in a game, he said. He picked a good time to have three, with his mom, grandma and uncle watching from the stands as he tries to secure his first 53-man roster spot in the league. 'He's a stud,' safety Zayne Anderson said of Brown. 'He attacks every day like a true pro. He's always wanting to get better and he's always asking questions, which I think is the first thing and he does his job, which clearly, tonight, he gets those interceptions. He deserves it, man. He works his butt off and it's cool seeing guys in the room — the fruit come from their labor. Everybody in the room is super pumped for him.' That boy can BALL. Omar Brown had 3 interceptions tonight.@emplifybellin — Green Bay Packers (@packers) August 3, 2025 1. Brandon McManus continued his strong start to camp, going 7-for-7 on kicks during team periods at his first Family Night practice. McManus is now 36-for-37 on such kicks through five kicking practices after hitting from 29, 33, 38, 42, 47, 50, 51 and 54 yards on Saturday. His lone miss drifted wide right from 49 yards in a mild wind on Thursday. 'I don't want to jinx anything here,' LaFleur said. 'I'd rather not say too much about him, but he's been pretty consistent.' 2. Tight end Tucker Kraft was the lone new injury. He's dealing with a groin injury, but it doesn't appear to be anything significant. LaFleur said Kraft had been practicing through it and wants to give him a couple days for the issue to subside. Running back Emanuel Wilson left Friday's practice early after suffering a knee injury that looked bad at first, but LaFleur said Saturday, 'It was extremely scary, but I feel like we dodged that one. That is some really good news.' Advertisement Also not practicing Saturday were wide receiver Christian Watson (knee), wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (calf), wide receiver Sam Brown Jr. (ankle), cornerback Nate Hobbs (knee), running back MarShawn Lloyd (groin), cornerback Kamal Hadden (hip), defensive end Collin Oliver (hamstring), defensive end Arron Mosby (groin), left tackle Rasheed Walker (groin), offensive lineman John Williams (back) and offensive lineman Travis Glover (shoulder). 3. Linebacker Isaiah Simmons showcased his coverage skills in 1-on-1s, with a pass breakup against tight end John FitzPatrick on an in-breaking route and a breakup near the front-left pylon against tight end Luke Musgrave. Simmons has played defensive back before in the NFL, but the Packers are keeping him at linebacker. Remember when De'Vondre Campbell credited the Packers' staff for simplifying his defensive role at linebacker (compared to what he did previously in Atlanta) after he made the All-Pro First Team in 2021? Simmons probably won't be an All-Pro since he's the Packers' fourth linebacker on the depth chart behind Edgerrin Cooper, Quay Walker and Isaiah McDuffie, but if anything, he offers intriguing depth on defense in addition to playing a significant role on special teams. Jordan Love sees a lane and takes off for an 18-yard run — Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) August 3, 2025 4. Green Bay's defense had a handful of standout plays during Saturday's practice. It should be noted that, because the entire night was livestreamed, the Packers kept everything 'pretty vanilla,' like they would in a preseason game. However, there were five interceptions, Brown's three, cornerback Kalen King jumping a Willis pass on the sideline intended for Hicks and cornerback Carrington Valentine shutting down a Matthew Golden go route before making a lunging grab on Jordan Love's pass that drifted well ahead of Golden during the starters' two-minute drill (unclear if Valentine simply disrupted Golden's route that much or if Love overthrew the rookie). In the first team period, defensive tackle Kenny Clark snuck past center Elgton Jenkins to stuff running back Josh Jacobs, Cooper blew up a Golden end-around and defensive end Lukas Van Ness bull-rushed left tackle Jordan Morgan to sack Love. Brown had another run stuff of Chris Brooks while coming off the edge in the red zone, while Brooks got caught up behind a scrum. McKinney had the same against Jacobs, and defensive end Brenton Cox shed tight end Johnny Lumpkin for a stuff of running back Izzy Abanikanda in the red zone. Other standout plays included cornerback Bo Melton's impressive coverage of Golden on a go ball that fell incomplete, defensive lineman Keith Randolph's would-be sack of Elgersma on Brown's second interception, Cooper's potential sack after lining up in the A gap and curling around the right side of the offensive line and defensive end Kingsley Enagbare beating left tackle Anthony Belton for a tackle for loss on running back Amar Johnson. Defensive end Barryn Sorrell also cleanly went around Belton for a sack of Willis during the two-minute drill. 5. Morgan is getting extensive work at left tackle with Walker nursing a groin injury. General manager Brian Gutekunst indicated recently that it would take a significant effort for someone to unseat Walker on Love's blind side, but the 2024 first-round pick is getting the chance to prove himself at his college position after playing strictly right guard as a rookie. That's where the Packers placed him last year since they felt it would be his best chance to start, and Morgan rotated with Sean Rhyan until a shoulder injury ended his season after six games. Morgan said this week that he's most comfortable at left tackle and has been playing there his whole life. He might be the Packers' left tackle of the future, assuming Walker walks in free agency next offseason, but is there a chance he's their left tackle of the present, too? 'There's been a lot of good moments and then there's some things we have to clean up,' LaFleur said. 'It's like that for a lot of players, especially young players. What did he play, six games last year? And this has been primarily inside. To get him outside at left tackle, there's going to be some hard lessons along the way, but I love how he's attacked this thing and the work that he put in throughout the course of the offseason has been pretty evident. You can tell by his body. We'll continue to push him to be the best he can be.' (Top photo of Omar Brown: Tork Mason / Imagn Images)
Forbes
03-08-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
The Good, Bad And Ugly From The Green Bay Packers' Family Night Scrimmage
The Green Bay Packers held their annual Family Night Scrimmage Saturday night — a practice inside of Lambeau Field where fans were charged $10 to watch the 2-hour session. Amazingly, 59,175 spectators piled into Lambeau Field to get a first-hand look at their heroes. Here was the good, bad and ugly from Saturday night's GOOD DIE HARDS: When it comes to fan bases, it's tough to beat the one in Green Bay. Packer Nation filled Lambeau Field to watch a practice — 'we talking about practice' as Allen Iverson once said — on a gorgeous summer night where temperatures were in the mid-70s throughout. Following the 2 ½-hour practice, fans were treated to a fireworks display. 'It's a fun night, it's special, you get to go out there and have a practice in the stadium and feel what it's like to play in Lambeau and we do a lot of fun stuff,' said quarterback Jordan Love. 'It's fun.' MAKING A MOVE?: Reserve safety Omar Brown had three interceptions on the night and now leads the team with five picks through nine practices. Brown intercepted a pass from No. 2 quarterback Malik Willis intended for Julian Hicks early in practice. Later, Brown intercepted a deflected pass from No. 3 quarterback Sean Clifford again intended for Hicks. Then late in practice, Willis threw high for Hicks and Brown made an acrobatic interception. Many years, there's a player that seemingly comes out of nowhere and makes the 53-man roster. Perhaps Brown will be that guy in 2025. He's done a lot," Packers coach Matt LaFleur said of Brown. 'I mean, he's making plays. You want to see how guys respond and react when they get those opportunities, and he's coming through, so that's really positive.' MR. AUTOMATIC: Kicker Brandon McManus continued his remarkable summer, going 8-for-8 — including four field goals beyond 50 yards. McManus is now an incredible 36-of-37 this summer (.973). On Saturday, McManus made a 54-yard field goal, one from 51 and two from 50 yards. He also connected from 42, 38 and 29, and made an extra point (32 yards). 'I just feel extremely comfortable,' McManus said. 'As I continue to play longer and longer – this is my 13th training camp – I've really honed in on my technique. I still have a powerful leg, but I used to be more of a younger, wilder power leg. Now, I'd say it's more of a controlled power. And then I've really been able to feel where my body is and make sure I'm kicking how I want to.' BO KNOWS: Wideout turned cornerback Bo Melton was the first corner to work with the No. 2 defense. Melton seemed like a longshot to make the 53-man roster earlier this summer, but certainly has a reasonable chance now. On one play late on practice, Melton blanketed rookie, first round draft choice Matthew Golden and Jordan Love's deep ball fell incomplete. 'When he was coming out of college, all his testing numbers kind of screamed corner — his short shuttle, his three cone, his explosive numbers, his speed,' Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said of Melton. 'They screamed receiver, too, but again, right when we brought him in, it was something that we discussed as a personnel group, but then again he took off as a receiver and certainly we needed (that) in some of those occasions. It's very, very early, but … he's done some really good things for us.' HIGHLIGHTS There were several other highlights from the practice, as well. Here's a handful: • Lukas Van Ness bull rushed left tackle Jordan Morgan for a sack. 'He came back in really good shape, he's healthy,' Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley said of Van Ness. 'I just think he's a year older and it's another year in the scheme for him where I think he's starting to feel comfortable.' • Cornerback Carrington Valentine had his fourth interception of camp, making a pick on a ball from Love intended for rookie Matthew Golden. 'I'm just showing them who I always was,' Valentine said. 'I mean, that's kind of what it is. I'm just trying to find my way onto the field at this point. That's really what it is.' • Kalen King jumped an out route and intercepted a Willis pass. King, a seventh round draft pick in 2024, appears to have a solid chance to make the roster after spending last season on the practice squad. 'I just feel like year by year I want to get better,' King said. 'I feel like I'm taking those steps to getting better, whether that's my approach, whether that's film study, whether that's production on the ball. Just everything as a football player I want to increase and improve on that and I feel like me compared this year to last year I'm doing that.' • Quarterback Jordan Love fired a dart to Jayden Reed for a short touchdown. • Kenny Clark blew up an inside running play to Josh Jacobs. • Willis and rookie wideout Savion Williams hooked up on a big pass play over the middle. • Defensive end Barryn Sorrell had a sack while working with the No. 2 defense. • Practice ended when No. 4 quarterback Taylor Elgersma hit wideout Will Shepherd with a 23-yard TD. THIS AND THAT: The No. 1 offensive line was (from left) Jordan Morgan, Aaron Banks, Elgton Jenkins, Sean Rhyan and Zach Tom. Rasheed Walker, the left tackle the last two seasons, was out with a groin injury. … Isaiah Simmons was one of the starting linebackers, along with Edgerrin Cooper and Isaiah BAD FROM THE INFIRMARY: The following Packers didn't practice due to injury: tight end Tucker Kraft (groin), running backs Emanuel Wilson (knee) and MarShawn Lloyd (groin), offensive linemen Rasheed Walker (groin), John Williams (back) and Travis Glover (shoulder), wideouts Christian Watson (knee), Dontayvion Wicks (calf) and Sam Brown (ankle), defensive ends Collin Oliver (hamstring) and Arron Mosby (groin) and defensive backs Nate Hobbs (knee) and Kamal Hadden (hip). Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Kraft had been 'powering through' his injury, but they decided to give him a couple of days off. As for Wilson's non-contact knee injury, LaFleur said: "It was extremely scary, but I feel like we dodged that one. That is some really good news." OFFENSIVE: It was a rough night for the offense. The top three quarterbacks all threw interceptions — including three by Malik Willis. And the offense struggled to find the endzone throughout. THIS AND THAT: Reserve offensive lineman Donovan Jennings snapped a ball over the head of No. 3 quarterback Sean Clifford. … Center Trey Hill snapped a ball over the head of No. 4 quarterback Taylor Elgersma. … Rookie wideout Savion Williams dropped out of UGLY THE COLOR OF MONEY: The Packers reported a profit of 83.7 million for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025. Green Bay also has $579 million in its corporate reserve fund. The Packers' passionate fan base will buy almost anything that's green and gold, meaning the organization has a license to print money. So why charge the fans $10 — technically $12.42 with fees — to come to Lambeau for a practice? Granted, $10 is less than a movie or a car wash these days. But on principle alone, it would be a nice gesture if a Packer organization — one with an endless stream of cash — would tell their fans 'it's on the house' just one night. After all, it was just a practice the paying customers watched.
