Packers Practice Roundup: July 28, 2025
I should have attended this practice.
One hour, 56 mins practice. Demovsky
PARTICIPATION:
Packers Training Camp No. 5 Returned: OL Elgton Jenkins (back, individuals) LB Quay Walker (ankle, individuals). DNP: WR Christian Watson (knee) DE Collin Oliver (hamstring) OL John Williams (back). 2) LB Quay Walker worked individual drills with the Packers linebackers. [No team work - TGR] 3) As promised, Elgton Jenkins is back and in pads. He’s working as No. 1 center in warmups. [Just walkthroughs; otherwise Jenkins did not participate. Also removed from the NFI list, so he must have passed a physical. TGR] Hodkiewicz
I didn’t see it but apparently Dontayvion Wicks dropped out of practice relatively early with a potential injury. He was not in any of the team drills as far as I saw. Herman
PERSONNEL:
Starters Love Jacobs Kraft - Fitzpatrick Reed - Doubs Walker - Morgan - Rhyan - Monk - Tom Gary - Wyatt - Clark - LVN Simmons - McDuffie - Cooper Nixon - Hobbs Bullard - McKinney Evan Williams was in very next play at S. [Bullard got 1 rep with the 1s next to McKinney. TGR] 2) Walkthrough OL: Walker - Banks - Jenkins - Rhyan - Tom. [Where is Belton?] Herman
Because of Trey Hill’s problems with shotgun snaps, first-year guard Donovan Jennings got a lot of work at center. 2) Second-round pick Anthony Belton continues to work at left tackle with the No. 2s and right tackle with the No. 3s. Will he get a shot to compete at guard? “I think he’s got the talent to do that,” coach Matt LaFleur said. “So, we want to try to get him a little bit more settled on the perimeter at tackle and take it in stride.” 3) Bo Melton continues to get a lot of work at corner with a second unit consisting of Melton and Kamal Hadden at corner and Kalen King in the slot. 4) This was noteworthy, though. Isaiah Dunn, who hasn’t played in a regular-season game since 2022, got some snaps at corner in a secondary that included Carrington Valentine at corner, Nate Hobbs in the slot and Bullard and Zayne Anderson at safety. Huber
OFFENSE:
Jordan Love connects with Matthew Golden for 26 yards on deep out against Keisean Nixon. Golden showed how natural he is catching the football, holding on as Nixon tackled him to ground. Big play from the rookie. 2) Now it’s Savion Williams’ turn. Back from concussion, the rookie catches a 32-yard pass from Malik Willis on a deep corner. 3) Matthew Golden’s first drop since he started wearing a Packers jersey. Jordan Love had him on an in cut beyond the marker on third & 7. Throw was a bit high, but hit Golden’s hands. Couldn’t grab it. Deflection went straight to Nate Hobbs for interception, Love’s third in camp. [Same play as Herman tweet 1 below.} 4) Malik Heath made tremendous adjustment on back-shoulder throw from Malik Willis for 26-yard catch.... Wood
Love throws high for Golden (he needed to to get it there). Golden skies to get it and it bounces off his hands and of course it’s Hobbs with the pick. 2) Couple back to back pretty pass plays on offense with Love to Doubs over the middle and Willis to Hardman on the run along the sideline. 3) Love to Golden along the sideline and Golden went up and got it in an extreme contested catch with great coverage by Nixon. Awesome catch by 22. 4) Offense getting some good looks downfield early. Savion Williams wide open downfield and Willis finds him for a good pickup. Herman
I haven’t seen Golden drop one since he’s been here. Probably not a drop here either but Love’s pass was too high and it went off Golden’s fingers for an INT. Huber [Herman and Wood said it more of a drop, fwiw. That Golden has good hands seems pretty clear, nonetheless. TGR}
Another practice, another great catch by Sam Brown Jr. Skied to snag it and made sure his body landed in bounds as he falls to the ground. Kid just keeps making plays. Nagler
Toss play to Lloyd - Hobbs comes in aggressively and looks to bring him down and Lloyd is hurt. He walks off gingerly with a trainer. 2) Hobbs def went low and brought Lloyd down. Hobbs has not been back in since. Hes along the sidelines with his helmet still. We’ll see if he gets in again. Love has a conversation with him a few plays later to the side. 2) Hobbs now getting back in with the 1’s. [Lloyd did not return. TGR] 3) Amar Johnson has wheels. Bounces a run to the outside for a big gain. Sam Brown man. Skies for a ball on the outside along the sidelines. Dude got up and somehow got both feet down. Not a huge gain but a very impressive catch. 4) Elgersma with arguably his best throw of camp rolling to his left and firing to hit Cornelius Johnson downfield in stride. Herman
The young tight ends had their moments. First, Johnny Lumpkin got a high-five from the coaches after clearing a lane for running back Amar Johnson to explode through for a nice gain. Moments later, Messiah Swinson pancaked cornerback Tyron Herring. 2) It was a good day for safety Evan Williams, who broke up a pass on the sideline to Luke Musgrave and forced a fumble by Tucker Kraft. Kraft has at least a couple fumbles this summer. 3) It was short of the first down, but Willis went sidearm to get the ball to tight end John FitzPatrick on third-and-7. 4) Willis and Heath got their revenge on the next play, with Willis throwing a superb back-shoulder pass for a gain of 26 against Bo Melton. Willis made the catch at the sideline, displaying textbook late hands to not give Melton an inkling the ball was coming. He hit the turf hard but was back on his feet in short order. Huber
Two minute drill: 1:45 left. Down 30-28. No timeouts left. 1st and 10. Ball on their own 30.
2’s up first: Donovan Jennings at center. Swing play to Wilson on first for a first down. Clock ticks. Valentine jumps a ball intended for Heath but can’t make the pick. Valentine has such great instincts on the outside. Malik Heath with an incredible twisting catch with Melton in great coverage. 26 yards. First down and out of bounds. Malik banged up on the play. Williams with a catch over the middle followed by two runs by Wilson and a QB spike. Willis got them to the 20 yard line. 37-yard fg upcoming for the win. McManus drills it. Offense gets the win. Herman
1’s up next: Love incomplete to Reed. Low and behind him a bit. Bullard in coverage. Love to Golden for about 5. Clock ticks. Love to Reed for a first. Love to Reed on a slant for 9. Love to Reed up the seam for about 20. Jacobs up middle for 3. Love gets the offense to the 25. 43 yarder for the win. Drilled per usual. Offense wins. Huge drive for Reed. That does it for practice. Herman
DEFENSE:
Nazir Stackhouse stacked the LOS to hold up Wilson at the line. He bounced outside but Simmons was there to clean up. Herman [Nagler noted that Stackhouse was a force playing mostly aganst the 2s. TGR]
Defensive tackle Colby Wooden shot in from the backside to tag Jacobs in the backfield. Huber
It was hard to see one on ones today but Lukas Van Ness opened the drill with a wicked spin move. I believe it was vs Walker. Hodkiewicz
Defensive end Lukas Van Ness was impactful all day, especially against the run. On the second play of the day, he stopped Jacobs at the line. 2) Defensive end Brenton Cox roared into the backfield and popped running back Jalen White for a big loss. Huber
Great coverage by Micah Robinson on a deep ball down field to Golden. Clifford went long but it was well out of bounds and uncatchable. Sam Brown is a fun player. Tenacious block on Micah Robinson on the outside. 2) Nice play to leak Kraft into the flat for a nice gain but Williams strips the ball out at the last moment. It lands out of bounds into the hands of a fan but Nixon strips that out too and takes it away. Defense is everywhere. Herman
Sean Clifford threw a bomb to rookie first-round pick Matthew Golden. Rookie seventh-round cornerback Micah Robinson’s superb coverage led to an incompletion. 2) Speaking of Robinson, a bootleg pass from Malik Willis to tight end Ben Sims resulted in a minimal gain because Robinson closed quickly. If this were truly live, it would have been a heck of a collision. Huber
SPECIAL TEAMS:
A lot is made of Bo Melton position switch but not much has been said about his role on special teams. Top returning flier and also working opposite jammer with Valentine in punt return. Hodkiewicz [Deep DB reserves Rochell (1 defensive snap) and Ballentine (76 snaps) handled the jammer duties last year. So, why the hell is Valentine doing this?? I am rather unhappy about this. (See the Herman quote right below, though.) TGR]
Edgerrin Cooper, Xavier McKinney, Javon Bullard, LVN, Evan Williams all on kick coverage team. Break the idea that teams aren’t for starters. The idea is dead. Returner, coverage, doesn’t matter. Best guys on the field. Herman [Andy immediately rebukes me for my comment above. That's okay. TGR]
McManus made all nine field-goal attempts to improve to 23-of-23 in camp. Huber
Matthew Golden closed punt period with some returns. 2) Mecole Hardman also gets a punt return. 3) Jayden Reed and Keisean Nixon take turns turning Daniel Whelan punts. Whelan looks in midseason form. Wood
MISCELLANEOUS:
Nazir Stackhouse talks openly about the challenges of living with narcolepsy. Huber
Elgton Jenkins said he’s long considered moving to center later in his career. Asked what kind of center he can be: “I feel like the sky’s the limit, honestly. I can be an All-Pro, Pro Bowl. Same guy. Probably even better, honestly.” 2) Elgton Jenkins said he expects no change to contract coming with move to center, but he’s on board. Had 2 conversations with the Packers this spring, one to consider move and second to accept. Jenkins cited family reasons for not participating this offseason, not position move. Wood
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Comments (31)
Coldworld
July 29, 2025 at 12:27 am
I wouldn’t worry try about Valentine. Yes, Rochell and Ballentine were depth, but the DB rooms are rather different. Who else had the speed to Jam (Melton has done it before of course, but there’s no obvious WR candidate)?
Reed and Golden aren’t likely to Jam, if they are playing STs it’s likely as a returner. Hadden and King don’t have the speed one looks for. Perhaps some one else does I don’t know of, but it is a pretty small selection. We could use Hobbs, but I think he is an every down player and Nixon will return kicks if he’s going to play STs too.
Look at it this way, if Valentine is a jammer then he’s active and will get snaps. It might actually help him improve his physicality too, which is what has held him back. Steve Tasker, who was All Pro 7 times largely based on his prowess as a gunner, described the battle with jammers as “ a 60 yard running street fight at a sprint.”
I believe it was Jamming that convinced the Packers Melton was physical enough to handle corner. This may be intentionally trying to help Valentine learn to improve the physical aspects of game as well as just athletic fit. We and they know he can cover (and well) and he has proved it again thus far. Improve his physicality and associated technique and his path to real success opens up dramatically.
Re Stackhouse;
I have been saying for a while that Stackhouse is a different proposition from Brinson or even Slaton. I liked Slaton but, despite his size, Slaton was not a premier run player in college or early on here. He improved in that respect. Stackhouse is a man who was known for his ability to hold his ground against double teams with remarkable consistency and to pull in and occupy OL to open up opportunities around him at the highest college level of competition.
Stackhouse has natural bend that Slaton struggled with combined with surprising lateral ability to handle outside zone plays and ability to diagnose plays. He’s not just a big man, hex not just a strong one, he’s a guy who was the heart of an elite run D. He’s just not likely to burst through into the back field, but he made it a heck of a lot easier for those next to him to do so, notably Brinson.
We were amazingly lucky to pick him up as a UDFA. It’s not often I get excited by a UDFA NT but, despite his lack of penetration, we should give thanks to a freakishly strong draft class for that. If we use a true run stuffer, Stackhouse may very soon remind us why we appreciated Gilbert Brown so much and how he helped those around him as well. In that limited role, I firmly believe that he’s a different caliber of prospect than we’ve had in many a year.
Thegreatreynoldo
July 29, 2025 at 01:11 am
Very well. I will try to modify my exasperation with the Packers as to Valentine and predetermining who is going to win jobs.
Coldworld
July 29, 2025 at 01:19 am
I don’t necessarily say that the Packers have always had the openness to allow truly open minded level competition. I just don’t see this as necessarily that. FWIW, I think Valentine and perhaps Melton will play more in certain defenses and situationally, depending on the opponent match ups. Now, if Valentine takes a significant step in the physical side of the game, he might get out there far more. There’s no doubt his pure cover skills were better than any other returning CB by some way last year. I’m hoping that this is part of a coaching strategy to unlock that missing dimension: there are few other avenues left to do that in practice under the modern CBA.
LambeauPlain
July 29, 2025 at 09:56 am
"I believe it was Jamming that convinced the Packers Melton was physical enough to handle corner."
That's a keen observation, CW. Never considered coaches seeing his ST game day play and reviewing his tape playing STs might have seeded both LaFluer and Hafley to see if Bo could go at CB. So far so good. Maybe it will sharpen Valentines tackling skills and toughness, too.
Thegreatreynoldo
July 29, 2025 at 02:01 am
Jaire Alexander is going to miss a practice because the doctors are going to drain his knee. Last year, he tried to rest his knee, though the Packers notoriously conservative medical staff apparently felt that he could play through the posterior cruciate ligament tear/strain. He had arthroscopic surgery on or about January 1. LaFleur said he was probably done for the season, but a source told Shefter that the only way Alexander could return would be if the Packers made the super bowl. Well, he apparently passed a physical in Baltimore, so GB should be off the hook, but it does not sound like his knee is sound.
Malik Heath and Brenton Cox both left practice and did not return. Heath said after practice that he just had the wind knocked out of him. I never heard any updates about Cox.
LVN has gotten a pulse, and I have read tweets about Gary and Cox. There has been a news blackout on enagbare, Mosby, Oliver (because he is injured) and Sorrell so far.
So they are keeping Belton strictly at tackle for now. Interesting. Huber's info was pure gold. Jennings at OC at 323 pounds!
The Packers had $719M in total revenue! That is mind blowing. They got $432M through revenue sharing and $286M through local revenue, though that was helped by having 9 home games. The local revenue is particularly impressive. I remember it was $202M a couple or several years ago. That is about a 10% increase in revenue. I don't mind if people get rich, and it might as well be the players as the owners.
Oppy
July 29, 2025 at 05:13 am
I'm sure to get the downvotes again, but it's interesting that Jaire is having fluid drained from his knee (similar to Bakhtiari's continued issues a few seasons ago), and despite the Packers' historically notoriously conservative training staff, and despite MLF's at some point shutting down Alexanders return, there were many instances of both coach and GM stating "at some point, he's got a get on the field and play", in somewhat annoyed tones. As I mentioned a few days ago, I have heard David Bakhtiari speak on radio shows that there was a bit of a dichotomy between the official message from the training staff / organization of making sure player health is the priority, and the underlying, constant pressure / glancing comments and general atmosphere of "you need to figure it out and get back on the field."
It sounds to me as though there is a bit of a gap between how the training staff and/or coaches view the status of the physical state of a tendon injury vs. the resultant trauma from actually playing on it. Bakhtiari didn't feel right continuing to play on a reconstructed knee that was producing inconceivable amounts of fluid every time he stressed the joint, and it doesn't sound like Jaire was either. It seems as though the team thought they both should have played through it, which is seemingly unusual for the Packers.
Packers strength & conditioning team was shaken up in 2023-2024, a̶n̶d̶ l̶o̶n̶g̶ t̶i̶m̶e̶ D̶r̶. M̶c̶K̶e̶n̶z̶i̶e̶ l̶e̶f̶t̶ t̶h̶e̶ o̶r̶g̶a̶n̶i̶z̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ i̶n̶ t̶h̶e̶ s̶a̶m̶e̶ t̶i̶m̶e̶ p̶e̶r̶i̶o̶d̶, t̶o̶o̶.a **EDITED due to inaccuracy. Please see LP & Leotis' posts below** I wonder if there is any correlation in these changes and what might be perceived as a bit of a shift in the way the Packers view player injury and recovery.
As to revenue, Title town is doing Title town things. I also wonder what the books will look like when the 2025 draft impact hits the books.
I'll never understand fans getting upset about players earning massive contracts. If not the players, who's more deserving? Players make the league viable. One nice thing about the Packers, no owners to pocket the extra money. It goes into football- players, facilities, camps, outreach, it goes into community & giving back, or it goes into investments and coffers to help buffer the Packers' viability should something like league TV revenue profit sharing ever go away. I love the Packers.
Guam
July 29, 2025 at 07:27 am
Upvote from me Oppy. I will draw a distinction between Bahk and Alexander. Bahk was really unable to even practice on his damaged knee while Alexander regularly practiced during the week and then didn't play on Sunday. I aways thought Alexander's situation was odd. Don't have any idea why it was that way but practicing and then not playing is unusual.
Coldworld
July 29, 2025 at 09:28 am
Not really, whether by pressure or a desire to play, practice also shows what a player is able to do. Bakh practiced at times only to have setbacks.
I go back to LaFleur’s comments at the time that he pulled Alexander from consideration because they could tell from practice film that he wasn’t moving right. Later in the season LaFleur mentioned that Alexander was still struggling with knee swelling. It’s now clear that he still is.
To me that suggests that perhaps Alexander comes out of this better than the standard take here. It also makes the Packers stance on needing to rework his deal (or the lack of willingness to assume that contract) look far more reasonable and logical as there are clearly ongoing issues even 8 or 9 months and an off season later.
Bitternotsour
July 29, 2025 at 10:29 am
sort of provides some perspective to all the assholes calling him a malcontent. football is a brutal and unforgiving career.
13TimeChamps
July 29, 2025 at 10:41 am
I don't know. It's kind of understandable for fans to wonder why a player can practice all week but then sit during the games. And it happened fairly often. I hardly think it justifies calling them assholes.
But whatever, it's not the Packers concern anymore.
Bitternotsour
July 29, 2025 at 01:46 pm
to wonder is human, to jump ahead to assume bad intent is the realm of the asshole.
13TimeChamps
July 29, 2025 at 02:09 pm
Wow...that was really deep.
Oppy
July 29, 2025 at 06:11 pm
"Realm of the Asshole" is not only deep (not touching that joke with a 10' pole.. or THAT joke), it's also the name of the Nu-Metal band I play with on the weekends.
Bitternotsour
July 29, 2025 at 09:33 pm
Oppy, that's awesome.
Oppy
July 29, 2025 at 06:14 pm
Wondering is one thing, frustrated is one thing, but the level of whole-sale assumptions and character assassination some players endure from fans when dealing with injuries is not understandable to me. It's poor form and unseemly, in my opinion.
Football is rough business and it takes a toll.
Bitternotsour
July 29, 2025 at 09:32 pm
hear hear - i know it's difficult some times, but assuming good intent is a most Christian thing to do...
LambeauPlain
July 29, 2025 at 10:06 am
"Packers strength & conditioning team was shaken up in 2023-2024, and long time Dr. McKenzie left the organization in the same time period, too."
Oppy: The Packers currently list 5 Doctors on their team org chart. Dr. McKenzie remains as Team Physician with 3 Associate Team Physicians reporting to him.
Did I miss something?
LeotisHarris
July 29, 2025 at 03:08 pm
You're correct, LP. Dr McKenzie changed affiliations from Bellin to HSHS, but no movement away from the Packers as I understand it. His Practice isn't exclusive to the Packers.
Oppy
July 29, 2025 at 06:18 pm
Nope, apparently I did (miss something).
I believed Dr. McKenzie was directly on the Packers payroll as his primary employer. I had seen the notifications that he had left his previous employer and moved to Bellin; not realizing he was employeed by Aurora previously (as opposed to the Packers), and my errant assumption was that this meant he left the Packers to return to public practice.
Thanks for the correction LP and Leotis.
T7Steve
July 29, 2025 at 06:58 am
1st padded practice and Lloyd is banged up. I hope it's minor and he can get back and put in some work. Don't want to be saying "What if?" already. Kind of made it sound like a cheap shot but not if it was in a real game.
LambeauPlain
July 29, 2025 at 10:10 am
Hobbs seems to enjoy bringing the lumber...he's a hitter. LaFleur is obviously irritated since he deplores live action tackling in most practices. I know there is an NFPLA agreement to reduce practice time and live tackling but LaFleur is even more restrictive.
Meanwhile, I have a feeling Hafley is inwardly smiling after Hobb's missiles..
GregC
July 29, 2025 at 11:31 am
My understanding is that Hobbs went for the legs, which is not the kind of tackle they want players making in practice. At any rate, they are now saying that Lloyd appeared to injure his leg BEFORE the hit by Hobbs, which could be a very bad thing indeed.
LambeauPlain
July 29, 2025 at 11:46 am
Hobbs stated when he was about to get to Lloyd the RB lowered his shoulder pads so the CB got lower with his pads. He said the hit was not intentionally going for the legs but knows how it looked. It was a good form tackle and was a legal hit...but not for LaFleur's camp directive to "take care of each other." Matt only wants thud tackles.
LambeauPlain
July 29, 2025 at 11:50 am
Hobbs is making plays which is good to see.
Coldworld
July 29, 2025 at 12:13 pm
Listening to Herman, who saw it live, is interesting. Not dirty, not overly aggressive or a premeditated take down, just a bang bang play, certainly not anything improper in league terms. LaFleur has an issue with anything where a player is brought to ground per him, whether or not there was intent. Herman also said the practice yesterday was very physical generally. What I’m getting from this is that LaFleur is just more conservative in his definition of what is acceptable in non tackling but otherwise full contact practices.
Guam
July 29, 2025 at 07:37 am
Too early for any conclusions, but I find it interesting that Morgan is playing largely at guard (both LG and RG) and Belton is the backup LT. The longer that continues the less likely Morgan will be able to compete with Walker for the LT spot. In fact if that pattern continues it will look more like that LT competition was never intended to happen and the coaching staff views Morgan as a guard, at least for this year.
Also excited to hear Stackhouse has been excelling at run stuffing. I was concerned when the Packers let Slaton go that their run defense might suffer. Stackhouse might well be the answer.
Coldworld
July 29, 2025 at 08:55 am
I’m glad they are letting Belton focus. I’d rather he is as ready as possible ready to play one position than be half baked at two. It makes sense that the initial focus is the one he is most familiar with too, and where we lack the most depth T if a player goes down. Perhaps the handling of players last year, notably Glover thrust in at a position he hadn’t really played or practiced even in preseason during the playoffs, has resulted in a change of approach?
GregC
July 29, 2025 at 11:38 am
Maybe part of it is that Belton is unlikely to make an impact at guard, as they already have Banks, Rhyan, Jenkins, and Morgan. Also, Belton didn't play guard at all in college. But we'll see, training camp is just getting started.
Thegreatreynoldo
July 29, 2025 at 05:14 pm
Yeah, that makes sense, I will grudgingly agree. After watching Belton's film and looking at his general quickness and his kick step, I thought perhaps a move inside might be possible or even advisable. I will have to watch to see how he moves at OT relative to NFL pass rushers. Lotta ball game left.
This team might lack enough elite talent but it is well-stocked at most positions with at least NFL average level players, when they are not better than that. Absent injuries, I think I know who the starters at 4 of the 5 OL positions will be. I do not know who is going to play RG. Maybe the Packers are going to give Morgan enough reps at LT to mount a real challenge to Rasheed, particularly when the pads come on. There is value in finding who can make paying Rasheed Walker huge money unnecessary next year.
Another place I need to get more flexible about is about Bullard. He was a 2nd round pick for a reason and did a lot of things well for a rookie. I might think Hobbs is made to play slot, but it is perfectly possible that Bullard wins it outright, in which case Hobbs and Valentine just will have to duke it out at perimeter CB. I thought I knew who the best 5 would be in nickel but I have to evaluate Bullard fairly.
Another padded practice was held today. 1 on 1s today. There is a lot of time for players to make a statement on the depth chart.
Oppy
July 30, 2025 at 03:53 pm
TGR, I thought that Bullard was shaky at absolute best in slot coverage in 2024. As I have stated previously, unless his coverage improves a great deal (which is entirely possible for a young player), I would only want him on the field as the nickle defender for run support.
I'm also probably in the minority in saying that even with Valentine being young and not being entirely sold on his potential being realized at this point in his career- I would feel better about placing Valentine ahead of Nixon in my personal pecking order. I know the Packers don't agree. Even while I have to admit that Nixon played better than I thought he would last season, he's at the age where he is what he is most likely, and I don't think it's at the level you want to see in a #1 CB. If the pieces are Bullard, Hobbs, Valentine, Nixon- and Bullard claims slot duties- I would personally prefer to roll the dice on Valentine and Hobbs on the edges than Nixon and anyone else.
Rory P Scrotem
July 29, 2025 at 08:52 am
Just curious...so the Packers Head Coach warns his players to take care of one another.
And, the very next day a defensive player FOR THE 2ND TIME lays out an offensive player.
IS NATE HOBBS A DUMB SHIT OR WHAT???
I'm just sayin'