Packers Practice Roundup: July 31, 2025
Practice is over after two hours 5 minutes. Hodkiewicz
PARTICIPATION:
Packers Training Camp No. Both G Aaron Banks (back) & Savion Williams (concussion protocol) are practicing Returned: WR Dontayvion Wicks (calf) DNP: RB MarShawn Lloyd (groin) WR Christian Watson (knee) DE Collin Oliver (hamstring) OL John Williams (back). Hodkiewicz
Matt LaFleur doesn’t expect MarShawn Lloyd (groin) to practice the remainder of this week but says it’s not a long-term injury. Schneidman
RB MarShawn Lloyd suffered an abductor injury during Monday’s practice that will require rest, but it’s not expected to sideline him for long. Jordan Schultz
New Injuries: WR Jayden Reed dropped out midway through practice and WR Sam Brown dropped out toward the end. Huber
PERSONNEL:
Starters Love Jacobs
Golden - Doubs Musgrave - Kraft
Walker - Banks - Jenkins - Rhyan - Tom
LVN - Clark - Wyatt - Gary
Simmons - McDuffie - Cooper
Hobbs - Nixon McKinney - Williams
Andy Herman
Two O line is Morgan, Jennings, Monk, Telfort and Belton. [Morgan got a lot of reps with the ones. TGR] 2) Morgan now getting a series at LT with ones in move the ball. Hodkiewicz
OFFENSE:
Morgan & Banks opening up holes for Josh Jacobs on the left side. Nice run. Love with an absolute dime to Romeo Doubs deep right along the right sideline. Bullard in coverage. TD!!! Herman
Jordan Love completed 4-of 6 passes in third-down period. Twice hit Musgrave downfield. Josh Jacobs walks over toward sideline calling it the best period of the day. Solid stuff from QB1. 2) Romeo Doubs with a highlight catch, adjusting to Jordan Love’s back-shoulder throw down right sideline against solid coverage from Javon Bullard. Caught the football over Bullard and kept his feet down the sideline for 35-yard touchdown. 3) Jordan Love with maybe his best ball so far in camp, dropped an absolute dime to Luke Musgrave on an out route to the left sideline. Threaded the final through Xavier McKinney and Carrington Valentine for about 15 yards. Extremely tight window, but Love found it. Wood
Jordan Love had another strong day, going 12-of-18 with one touchdown. The highlight was a third-down period, in which Love went 4-of-6 with four conversions. These weren’t layups. On third-and-13, he fired a rocket over the middle to Malik Heath for a gain of about 15. After a third-and-9 incompletion in which Love and the receivers didn’t appear to be on the same page, he completed a third-and-7 and a third-and-3 to tight end Luke Musgrave – more on those in a moment – and a third-and-2 to Heath. Huber
Two minute situation: 1:40 left. 1st and 10 on own 35. Down 7. 0 timeouts. 1’s up first.
Morgan and Banks on left side. Jacobs run left. Give him 5. Clock ticks. Love prob would have been sacked but complete to 88 for 5. First down. Clock ticks. Check down to Jacobs incomplete. 0:57 left. Ball on own 46. Need 7. Jacobs looked like he missed the chip and Enagbare goes right past Morgan for a sack. Morgan was likely expecting help. They called it incomplete pass on the field. Brooks comes in the next play and stands Enagbare up 1x1. Love complete to Hardman deep over the middle. Love to Brooks swing pass, clock ticks. Goes nowhere. Love incomplete right sideline. Ball on 32. 10 seconds left. No timeouts. Down 7. Love buys time, fires downfield. Looked like Musgrave had a chance but it falls incomplete. Defense wins. Love may have been over the line anyway.
Same situation for the 2’s. Willis to 88 for 7. Wilson short run for 2. Clock ticks. First down Checkdown to Wilson. LVN would have had a sack. Willis deep downfield to Musgrave up the seam who never turns. Easily picked by Valentine. Willis def still forced one there.
3’s up next in 2 minute. Clifford to Shepherd for 6. Out of bounds. Brinson would be sack but they say Clifford got it off. 4th down Clifford to Shepherd deep down the field but shepherd can’t come down with the 1 handed catch. Maybe some PI but not called. Defense wins. [Offenses went 0-3 in the various 2-minute drills. TGR] Herman
Love hits Musgrave again with anticipation on a corner route. Valentine in good position but ball arrives just as he’s trying to locate it and Musgrave makes a good adjustment to bring it in as he goes to the ground. 2) Phenomenal catch by Musgrave up the left sideline. Perfect work laying out for it while keeping his feet in bounds. Nagler
DEFENSE:
Devonte Wyatt big time run stuff up front. 2) Brinson beats Jennings clean for a would be sack up front. Best play I’ve seen from him. 3) Brinson nice job resetting the LOS on a run. Nice day from him today. 4) Nice fill by Oladapo on a Wilson run. Coaches are fired up today. Couple plays back to back where coaches got on players for poor attention to detail. Hey guess who. Nazir Stackhouse with a run stop inside. Amar Johnson the victim this time. 5) Kadeem Telfort just absolutely blew up Jamon Johnson on a block on an inside run. Herman
Some good 1v1 battles between Zach Tom and Rashan Gary. Tom mirrored Gary on an outside speed rush first rep. Later in period, Gary won two reps on speed. Best on both sides going at it. 2) Good burst into the backfield from rookie Barryn Sorrell, dropping running back Israel Abanikanda for a 4-yard loss. [3rd string caveat. TGR] 3) Carrington Valentine with his third pick of camp. Malik Willis got wires crossed with Ben Sims down the middle, and Valentine played the football. [I certainly do think there is some genuine competition going on during this training camp, but I think the coaches have their thumb on the scale for some players. I'd guess Hobbs is going to be the starting perimeter CB, unless the coaches decide Hobbs is going to move to the slot, leaving Bullard in the cold. My guess is Valentine is the guy who will be out in the cold, though. TGR] Wood
What a catch by Doubs, reaches over the back of Bullard for a catch of about 20, then runs another 15 for the TD. Huber
Warren Brinson had a nice rush from three tech vs Telfort too. 2) Barryn Sorrell looked good, had a competitive three reps vs Belton. Finished with a nice shed of OT Brant Banks. [Deep 3rd string caveat. TGR] 3) Van Ness had a very good rush vs Morgan. He’s had a nice day overall. Hodkiewicz
One-on-ones between the running backs and linebackers consisted of routes/coverage and blitzing. In the passing portion, linebacker Kristian Welch had excellent coverage to prevent a deep completion to Amari Johnson, Chris Brooks beat Isaiah Simmons on a crossing route, Jamon Johnson closed quickly to prevent a completion to Josh Jacobs and Jalen White dusted new linebacker Jared Bartlett. [Welch over Simmons. TGR] 2) In the blitz portion, new running back Israel Abanikanda had an excellent protection snap against Ty’Ron Hopper. Later, Hopper used a tremendous move to beat Brooks. [Hopper hanging there. TGR] 3) During one-on-ones between the young linemen, Anthony Belton had a couple of quality wins against Barryn Sorrell, but Sorrell turned the tables once and Arron Mosby used a swim move and speed to earn a pair of wins against Belton. [Yeah, I did not realize the coaches were not training Belton at guard in addition to OT. I had felt good about Belton but maybe the reason they left him to work on one position is that Belton needs a lot of work. TGR] 4) Speaking of defensive tackles, it was a good day for the rookie Georgia tandem of sixth-round pick Warren Brinson and free agent Nazir Stackhouse. On a running play, Stackhouse enveloped Amar Johnson. A few plays later, Brinson had an excellent pass rush on a completion from Malik Willis to Luke Musgrave. During the next period, Brinson had a tackle for loss against Johnson. [2nd string caveat. TGR] Huber
1x1s:
Heath had a step on Hadden. Incomplete overthrown
Zayne pbu vs Fitzpatrick
Hardman sick comeback vs King. Easy money
PI by Herring on Brown
Hicks complete vs Dunn
Sims wins nice route vs Omar Brow
McKinney pbu vs Kraft
Doubs drop vs Hobbs - Doubs had him deep
Golden easy slant vs Nixon
Fitzpatrick has Zayne on a deep corner. Dropped it.
Baldwin pbu vs Swinson
Cornelius great double move for a deep completion
Lumpkin turns around Oladapo for a deep completion
Hadden great coverage on Heath
Bo good coverage on Doubs. Incomplete.
Williams with good coverage and forces an incompletion. I think Kraft.
Brown with gorgeous route vs Junior
Bo Melton another fantastic rep and pbu
Hicks nice catch vs great coverage by Bullard
Fitz beats Zayne on a slant
Golden beats Valentine on a short in route
Heath catches a short one but Hadden celebrates like he won it
Hardman beats Bullard on a corner
McKinney all over Musgrave incomplete
Johnson deep vs Robinson easy win deep
Dunn great coverage vs Sam brown
Lumpkin wins vs Baldwin
Doubs goes up to get it vs Hobbs but incomplete.
Gary just beat Tom cleanly twice in one on ones… [This is stud vs. stud. TGR] Nagler
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Took a week, but Brandon McManus finally has his first miss in camp. After connecting from 45R and 46L, McManus wide right from 50M. All 3 kicks into a stiff wind. McManus is now 28-of-29 in camp. Wood
MISCELLANEOUS:
Five players who stood out in 1-on-1s between pass catchers and DBs today: Mecole Hardman Cornelius Johnson Xavier McKinney Kamal Hadden Bo Melton. [But note: Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks both on the bikes during 11-on-11. TGR] Schneidman
Watched Jordan Morgan at LT with the ones for the last period and he looked solid save for one play where LVN flew past him. Overall some nice work. First extensive snaps at LT with the ones for Morgan. 2) WR Cornelius Johnson has made a couple of really nice plays today. Talented young player. Nagler
Commanders WR Terry McLaurin has requested to be traded, per source. Jhabvala
It’s 2 padded practices. Nobody is calling Matthew Golden a WR1 this early. But the rookie has already shown every trait—aggressive hands, late hands, route running, physicality, field stretching, playmaking, and a quick study—to match 1st-round pedigree. [Nah, trust me, Golden is WR #1 all day and twice on Sundays. TGR] 2) Rich Bisaccia believes Bo Melton will be an "elite" special teams play, impressed with what he's doing as he transitions to cornerback: "16, green man. He's still Bo Melton. He's fast. He's still got a smile on his face." Seems to bode well for his shot at a 53 spot. [The coaches are rooting awfully hard for a couple of players. TGR] 3) Adam Stenavich says he doesn't know how starting offensive line is going to crystalize for the season. Asked when he ideally needs to know his best five, Stenavich says there's no hard deadline: "It might go into the season. We've rotated guys." [This one I believe. Morgan is not the new Royce Newman. He is not a particular favorite of the coaches, it is strictly a money thing. TGR] 4) DC Jeff Hafley says he was "excited" about the idea of moving Bo Melton to cornerback. Notes his quick feet in back pedal and reactionary skills that give him a chance. Knows it's going to be a process, but says he'll be patient with Melton: "Chances are the guy is going to succeed. I believe in him." 5) eff Hafley on Nate Hobbs: "I love him. He's physical. He brings a toughness, he brings an edge, he brings a level of competitiveness. He's strong. He gets hands on people. He can play inside and outside." [Hobbs is going to start. This is pre-determined. At the least, the coaches will give Hardman every chance to win a spot. TGR] Wood
Here’s another interesting one. At one point, Bo Melton replaced Keisean Nixon with the No. 1 defense. That doesn’t mean Melton is challenging Nixon for a starting job. Far from it. Rather, it’s a sign of how Melton has acclimated to his new position and his strong chance of making the roster. [You can pencil in Melton on the 53. Not quite ink, yet. TGR] 2) Here’s another interesting one. Throughout training camp, the No. 2 defensive tackle tandem has been Karl Brooks and Colby Wooden. On a few occasions on Thursday, rookie Nazir Stackhouse joined Brooks as the No. 2 pairing. [Colby Wooden needs to really step it up. I don't think he is going to make the 53 if he does not start putting on a show. TGR] 3) Second-round pick Anthony Belton continues to take second-team reps at left tackle and third-team reps at right tackle. Huber
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Comments (27)
Thegreatreynoldo
August 01, 2025 at 02:06 am
I don't have any interest in Terry McLaurin who is due $19.4M in cash for 2025 with $2.8M of that guaranteed. McLaurin wants an extension. He turns 30 in September. In his 6 seasons, he put up 919 yards as a rookie and in the other seasons he had between 1002 to 1191. He not quite a dominant #1 but he is a great #2 or a low end #1, unless you think a high quality QB can unlock his full potential. He had 13 TDs last year with Daniels after years of 4 or 5 TDs per season. Since Metcalf got $30M, that is where I would start for McLaurin if I were his agent.
I am feeling a little cynical about training camp. I think there is plenty of competition for the #5 and #6 CB spots (if they keep 6) but I think the 4 guys, Nixon, Hobbs, Valentine, and Melton, are going to make the team short of a disastrous camp. I also think the coaches have their thumbs on the scale a little too much in other cases.
I am not interested in Hardman, who could not make it as a WR in KC with poor competition and Mahomes to throw the ball to him, making the Packers because he can return punts. Hardman is a known quantity as a WR, as far as I am concerned. Doubs, Reed, Wicks, Golden, Williams are absolute locks to make the team. GB would have to manufacture a 6th WR roster spot and give it to him. That leaves Heath out in the cold, though that is not a catastrophe. Julian Hicks turned some heads last year in training camp but has been more up and down this year as the staff gives him more chances. Cornelius Johnson has made some plays, but no one really had lit it up as a UDFA wide receiver. The top 6 OL are set and Belton is going to make the team as a redshirt if nothing else so he would be 7. It sounds like Monk is going to make the team and the 9th guy could be Glover or Telfort or Donovan Jennings. I would give OG Williams a chance but he has to bring it in camp and the preseason.
Who knows? Maybe the Packers do some wild things when cut downs arrive. I am going to practice next week to see what I can see.
TKWorldWide
August 01, 2025 at 05:58 am
Which particular players appear to be benefiting from the thumb on the scale?
PS Thanks for your meticulous work!
Thegreatreynoldo
August 01, 2025 at 07:36 am
Bo Melton, Mecole Hardman, Isaiah Simmons, and some guys who don't need it like Hobbs and LVN. No question there could be some rhyme to the method. Obviously the coaches need to give reps to players so they can develop and to move players up from playing against the twos and threes when they deserve it, when they can learn from it, and so the coaches can make better assessments.
I did not buy the team's assertion that Lloyd had a non-contact injury prior to Hobbs' tackle. I think they just did not want their shiny new toy to get smudged. LVN is getting a lot of work. That makes sense trying to get more out of a first round pick. Last year I was wondering why he was always playing against backups. OTOH, Melton is doing some good things but I would have thought that he should be doing them on the PS rather than the 53. To make the team, Hardman has to be a great PR if that is all he can do.
Simmons is a guy I wonder about. He is a guy who has no instincts. He is so gifted, but how do you really find out if he can read and react if the other team is playing a vanilla offense with their backups during the upcoming preseason games, and no one is trying too hard to fool him? The coaches are spoon feeding him so he is going to look tremendous in shorts. The thing is that Kristian Welch has proven that he can help a team and Jamon Johnson has real potential. There is a numbers problem here: Quay, Cooper, McDuffie are locks, and some think Simmons is #4 and Hopper as a former 3rd rounder is not going anywhere, so 5 LBs. Many think there will be a market for Welch and Johnson as waiver wire prospects such that the Packers won't be able to get them to the PS. So, the Packers signed LB Jared Bartltelt because they think no other team would make a waiver claim on him so they will be able to get an LB to the PS who knows the system (a notion mentioned by Justis Mosqueda). I don't think Justis is wrong but it is a little absurd in the abstract. the team has two guys that other teams will hire if they are let go at cutdowns so the team hires a guy because it thinks that no competitors will want him.
To be clear, I think Doubs will be the X. Golden will be wide but off the line of scrimmage, though I think he can play X as well. I thought Wicks could play X but the advanced stat sites suggest that the coaches did not put him at X much. I now am reassessing whether Wicks can play X like I think he can. X has to be on the line of scrimmage and cannot go in motion. I would prefer that Golden not be the X so LaFleur can have Reed or Golden available to go in motion. I think that can help disguise things.
PeteK
August 01, 2025 at 08:03 am
Looks like they're giving veterans the extra reps early to see what they have. It sets up an early cut if they don't work out so that they can catch on with another team. I have no problem with that approach.
Guam
August 01, 2025 at 08:05 am
The Hardman signing was a bit of a head scratcher for me and I always felt it was a Bisaccia/special teams signing rather than any attempt to boost the receiver corps. As you so aptly pointed out, if a WR can't make it in receiver poor KC with Mahomes throwing the football, why would that guy excel anywhere else? Is kick returner a sufficient reason to keep Hardman - I dunno. Seems pretty thin logic to me.
One of the knocks on Simmons has been his tackling in prior years as well as his inability to diagnose plays. I think the padded practices will start to determine whether this guy can actually play or is just an underwear hero. I would like to see him succeed, but I am always very skeptical of guys trying to rejuvenate their careers after bombing with multiple prior teams. I think he is a long shot even though the Packers need another coverage LB.
Good stuff TGR. Thank you for the coverage.
LambeauPlain
August 01, 2025 at 08:56 am
Simmons really didn't "bomb" at AZ. He had some solid production with his best season in his 3rd year...but the Cardinals gave up on him. They played him at LB, pass rusher, Hybrid LB and S. They made him a jack of all trades and master of none. As a Swiss Army knife, AZ decided he was a luxury player they couldn't afford and did not know his best role.
Traded to the Giants, he spent two years buried on the depth chart.
His tackling HAS to improve and if any DC can sharpen that skill, it would be Hafley. It could be his instincts are subpar and it is difficult to coach that up...kind of like speed, either you have it or you do not.
Good plan to focus Isaiah at LB and see if he can put all that athletic talent to work.
Guam
August 01, 2025 at 09:07 am
I'd be okay if it were just Cardinals that had given up on Simmons, but a bad Giants team also did the same. Two large red flags have to be a concern. I agree the plan to keep Simmons at one position will help, but he has to prove he can diagnose and tackle. I would like to see him succeed as the Packers need another coverage LB, but I refuse to hop on the bandwagon until he shows what he can do in pads. I've seen too many great athletes shine in shorts and then fizzle in pads. Let's see what happens over the course of TC.
Coldworld
August 01, 2025 at 09:21 am
Melton is clearly being given a chance as a core STer as well as a DB, but let’s face it, where’s the competition for 4+ in the CB room to make that tilted? I’m pretty dubious about the claims any other depth CB is really making a push at this point. Hadden is not really making a splash, just so far not as invisible as the others behind Melton. However, a few media types like him and so he gets mentioned more (rather like Chris Brooks. Wilson gets more yards and gets less attention than a Brooks catch for a yard. Only Brooks pass pro is mentioned). Beware commentator bias too.
Simmons is likely either on the roster or not with the team, plus they are trying to get him settled in a specific role. For what it’s worth, Hopper seems to be getting more and more chances with the top of the roster. As a core STer he will make the roster and probably, like Valentine, play a lot in preseason. I am curious to see if they really see Simmons as a plausible Mike reserve though. They’ve had the much lighter Hopper there though too so perhaps a Hafley Mike prototype is also different?
Hardman will either be a returner or move on. I do not see him being favored: he’s not starting. He’s an obvious stand in if guys like Reed, Wicks or Golden are off the field. Perhaps lately we’ve started to see Hicks/Johnson/Brown be trusted to get more opportunities, but initially Hardman was the vet option. Reed and Wicks were absent throughout group activity yesterday. Additionally, I see him (if he wins as a returner and makes the roster therefore) as a player who is going to be active in game day and then getting a feel for what he can do and where he can fill in.
Belton has struggled with bend; he’s a big man for a G to start with. As you said he also needs technical work at T, but that’s his familiar position. Get him as good as we can at T please. G for him is likely not an automatic or quick transition. Stenavich’s ridiculous proclivity for in season rotations needs to be knocked on the head by LaFleur. It’s never benefited anyone player obviously or overall play. In fact quite the opposite: players left to settle because of injury to the other have been better.
The odd thing is they don’t seem to have Walker or Morgan play any RT. If Tom were to be hurt, is Belton then starting? If Morgan did supplant Walker, would we just thrust Walker in at RT without practice? Or is it a sign they’d just try to trade him and have Belton back up both? After the farcical mismanagement of completely failing to prepare Glover as G depth last year, is this just another example of Stenavich not adequately coveting his bases?
By next week we should start to have enough evidence to distinguish which players are truly climbing not simply being looked at. Some of the rookies seem to be getting a little more comfortable and thus able to show up too. One or two of the true depth players are starting to get some media notice. Unfortunately, as fans, we don’t have a way of knowing that they might be worth attention till they have already got themselves on the radar of those present and reporting.
I do not really see too much preferential treatment at this point TGR. I see logical reasons for those you cited getting work and attention at this stage. Then again, I think we are only now getting to the point where the actual “depth” begins to evolve out of experimentation and allowing new players to settle somewhat.
Thegreatreynoldo
August 01, 2025 at 11:23 am
I have my own biases, to be sure.
I'd be happier and more interested if Isaiah Simmons had signed a 2-year deal. Year 2 could have been for whatever, say $8M, as long as it isn't guaranteed. Maybe they want the comp pick? A team can only get 4 comp picks.
Good point as to Melton. The other CBs have shown a little but there is no one so far is forcing their way onto the 53. I wrote on APC that I thought the #5 CB is not currently on the roster (not the best sign when Mosqueda's #4 was Melton who might not be ready to play in the NFL at CB. That's subject to change. As my mentor says, lotta game left.
Agree on Simmons, Hardman, Melton, and Heath are all primarily making the team as ST options if they make it at all. I guess Sims and Swinson, Hopper, and another CB also make it as ST-only guys. We don't know if Sorrell or Oliver and Stackhouse or Brinson, can play, so maybe they can help or they get a red shirt year along with Belton. 9Edit: Stackhouse and Brinson have to show something to make the team - no redshirt years for them, necessarily. They could be PS candidates, too.) I don't see how Savion Williams gets more than 225 snaps, but he has missed some time so it is hard to tell whether he can press for time.
I got a bit upset with Mosqueda's 53 man roster prediction: 4 RBs, 4 TEs, and some more dead wood at the back end of some of his rooms (like CB). Heck, Musgrave made some plays, but I know he can run and catch, but can he block and break a tackle? If he is just a big WR, he will make a living as someone's #3 or even #2 TE for a few years. Can't GB do better than Sims and Swinson?
Belton is getting reps but the RT reps are only against 3rd string teams. I imagine taking on Adrian Hutchison after looking at Colby Wooden/Alexandre/Sorrell might be eye-opening.
We have had second round picks come in and start (Jenkins, and OC was handed to Myers on a silver platter). Colledge started as a 2nd round rookie as did Clifton. I just can't help being a little disappointed with that development.
Who did not start as a second round offensive line pick? Jason Spriggs.
We did have some first round OL picks who did not start as rookies. Morgan, due to injury. Sherrod, due to injuries but he looked a little shaky as well. Verba started 11 of 16 games and John Michel 5 of 9 games as rookies. GB needed a LT back then because Ruettgers got old and maybe stretched a wee bit.
My bias is mostly watching Stokes play over Valentine last year, the rotations with runyan/Rhyan, Morgan/Rhyan, Nijman/Rasheed while Myers got handed the starting center position every year. I think I am going to see the sequel this year. I think Valentine is much better in coverage than Hobbs on the perimeter. I don't pay CBs to tackle. Indeed, Hobbs' missed tackle rate is 11.4% while Valentine has a 9.5% percentage, but Hobbs is far more physical.
I have already promised you that I would give Bullard a chance. He did most things well as a rookie and he was a 2nd round pick. I don't really have any bias as to Hardman, Simmons, Melton, LVN, or Hobbs. I can see logical reasons, too. They gave CB Melton reps with the ones at one point.
GregC
August 01, 2025 at 06:59 am
"Nah, trust me, Golden is WR #1 all day and twice on Sundays. TGR"
Whoah, that's a mighty strong endorsement of Golden. I like to hear it!
I don't think the Packers have to "manufacture" a #6 WR spot. In recent years, they've usually kept six, and they kept seven one year. I realize that Christian Watson should be coming back around mid-season, but I think they will go with six until he returns. I heard good things about Mecole Hardman in minicamp, but I have not been hearing much about him in training camp. I still think he has the inside track at #6 WR due to his punt return abilities, but maybe Heath can beat him out on the strength of his WR talent, and they can go with Golden and/or Reed as punt returner.
PeteK
August 01, 2025 at 08:09 am
I would prefer to keep my two ( maybe) top receivers resting during special teams. Melton was a good returner in college and could vie for that position.
GregC
August 01, 2025 at 08:17 am
They've had six players receiving punts in practice, and Melton is not one of them. I don't think he's done it in the pros, and he has his hands full learning to play CB in addition to his other special teams duties.
LambeauPlain
August 01, 2025 at 07:25 am
Always a go to article for me, TGR. Great recap and observations.
Here's one I am not totally understanding: "Morgan is not the new Royce Newman. He is not a particular favorite of the coaches, it is strictly a money thing."
I am understanding the first sentence, not the second...?
"Thumb on the scales" seems to be at CB. It could be Ainsley and Hafley prefer more veteran CBs because the young guys are getting buried on the depth chart.
Also "thumbs" at OL. I too am skeptical about the Best Five on the line, more like the Favorite 5....Stenovich is again talking another in season competition at RG. I guess he can decide on the Best at the other 4 spots but has feet of clay at RG...again. Does any other team rotate O lineman? LaFleur and Stenovich seem enamored with it.
Thegreatreynoldo
August 01, 2025 at 08:21 am
Half joke, half reality. Some of us did not understand how Royce Newman kept making the team. Newman played 1718 snaps in GB over 3 seasons with 24 starts but last year he got 3 offensive snaps (0 ST snaps) in TB and is now on Arizona's 90-man roster. I only meant Morgan is getting snaps and rightly so because the Packers want to save money on the cap in 2026, not because they have a b*ner for Morgan. They just don't wat to pay rasheed $20M per year. Last year I kept writing that I wished Rasheed would become a little better as a run blocker because he is going to get big money and I would have to hold my nose if he doesn't improve. I'd be fine at $14M/year, but I don't know about $20M. Looking for him to improve or another option. That's what GB is doing.
When the coaches and FO start making pejorative comments in the offseason like they did with Rasheed and Valentine, that does not bode well for them.
I smell draftocracy in preferring Bullard at slot and Hobbs outside. There is a chance that IS the best distribution. Bullard was a second round pick for a reason. That said, I think Hobbs is an average CB when outside and nothing more. Either way, Hobbs is a starter, it just is whether Valentine or Bullard is the odd man out in nickel.
I am keeping an eye on Stackhouse (who has a natural fit as a backup NT role) and Brinson (who is looking squarely at Wooden and Brooks). So far, Stackhouse and Brinson have been getting reps with the twos and sometimes the threes. If they get some run at times with the ones, then I think Colby Wooden needs to really start making plays. I think Karl Brooks needs to spruce up his run defense but making him the backup NT (1 or 2 technique) did him no favors. Per PFF, Brooks had 25 pressures in 488 snaps. LVN had 20 in 427, and Wooden had 6 in 234 snaps (paired with a 46 run grade). Brooks and Wyatt are good at some things, so they are worth developing into complete players if it can be done.
LambeauPlain
August 01, 2025 at 09:09 am
OK...I got it. Thanks, TGR.
Walker may get some "thumbs" treatment to the benefit of the #1 pick Morgan vs the #7 pick (hope not). Walker has certainly acquitted himself well....now set up for a big payday somewhere if not GB.
Yet I do want the very best player at LT...not "shoe horning" a first rounder into the spot just due to draft status.
TKWorldWide
August 01, 2025 at 01:42 pm
It’s not “shoe horning”; it was Paul Hornung. Duh!
😉😉😉😉😉😉😉
Guam
August 01, 2025 at 09:10 am
If Stackhouse and Brinson keep making plays, I think Wooden is gone. He has been minimally productive in his several years in GB and rookies who are already being productive should easily surpass him.
Thegreatreynoldo
August 01, 2025 at 11:32 am
I think Enagbare is also a goner. His $3.4M cap number is part of the problem, but numbers also work against him. Gary, LVN, Cox, Sorrell, are locks and Oliver if he gets healthy is a good bet as a 5th rounder. That is 5. Maybe they keep 6? That leaves Mosby out in the cold, as well.
It is only Wooden's third year. I though he was in year two. Yeah, I still think he has to play much better to make it.
Leatherhead
August 01, 2025 at 12:03 pm
Why is Enagbare a goner, when Doubs isn't?
Both have $3.4 against the cap. Enagbare has never missed a game, and Doubs has a very concerning medical history. If we're moving Cox, Sorrell, and Oliver ahead of him, why aren't we moving Golden and Williams ahead of Doubs.? Enagbare is our #3DE. and the only real veteran.? He's always available, he knows what he's doing out there and he's a good, veteran, dependable piece on defense. I wouldn't be so eager to just chuck that.
On offense, we could go with Reed and Golden as our two main WRs, with Wicks and Williams fighting it out for #3 and #4, at least until Watson returns. Hardman, if he's going to be your return guy, has to be active so he's at least #5, and you can keep one more person on the 53. Do you want that to be Doubs, with the concussion history and $3.4M on the line, or would you rather it be somebody like Cornelius Johnson, for minimum wage?
We don't throw it that much. We want to throw it more to Kraft, and Musgrave. You're going to have Golden and Reed on the field, and Wicks and Watson......why do we need to keep Doubs and pay the $3.4M?
WestCoastPackerBacker
August 01, 2025 at 12:54 pm
Enagbare is a backup. Doubs has been a reliable starter who has scored more TDs than the first WR taken his draft class. He’s got a good to great connection with Love and until we see if Wicks/Reed can hang on to the ball we need Doubs.
Thegreatreynoldo
August 01, 2025 at 01:45 pm
They will keep Enagbare if Sorrell or Oliver look terrible or if they are willing to keep 6. His salary is not that big of an obstacle. Maybe they like him more than I do. He is not a stiff: he had 4.5 sacks and 25 pressures in 511 snaps.
I can think of a lot of dead wood the team is planning to keep who they can cut rather than a decent WR like Doubs who is their X receiver. Doubs is worth an easy 5th round comp ($10M area) and has a good chance to be a 4th rounder ($14M in 2025). I don't think Doubs will command $20M+ which is what will be necessary for a 3rd round comp pick.
Here I am not wanting to roster Hardman just to catch punts (they can fair catch them if they have to) and I don't get your approbation! Oh well, just like Old times. At least I like our top 6 OL.
Justis Mosqueda found roster spots for Colby Wooden, Junior Gregory, Bo Melton, Isaiah Simmons. I would give any one of those spots to Enagbare instead. To be honest, I would find a home for Brinson who did not get a spot (Stackhouse did) by dumping Colby Wooden, and a spot for Enagbare by removing Gregory Junior. My other preference would be to go with just 3 TEs (probably Kraft, Musgrave, and one of Sims/Swinson) to make room for Enagbare.
Bitternotsour
August 01, 2025 at 01:58 pm
we've had this discussion. fair catch punts or watch them roll to a dead stop. the risk isn't worth the reward, penalties, turnovers, injury, for an occasional field tilt. count on the offense to move the ball, not special teams.
Similarly, punt the damn ball out of bounds or so high that there's no option save fair catching it.
GregC
August 01, 2025 at 02:55 pm
So you're afraid to return punts AND you're afraid to allow the opposition to return punts. That doesn't add up. I know you want to eliminate random factors, but you are doing it at the expense of giving up yards on each change of possession. That adds up over the course of a game.
Bitternotsour
August 01, 2025 at 05:01 pm
You mistake intelligence for fear. Injuries happen on both sides of the ball, kicking and receiving it., as do penalties, so yes, I want to eliminate the variable that is the kicking game as much as possible. Including punting at all. Philly had it right. Go for it on 4th down.
Guam
August 01, 2025 at 03:22 pm
If LVN and Cox are truly developing as the media would lead us to believe, then Enagbare's days with the Packers are numbered. I still want to see that development in pads against other teams before I write Enagbare off but it seems increasingly likely.
I like the Packer DTs much more with Stackhouse and Brinson than I did with Slaton and Wooden. Couple Stackhouse and Brinson with Clark, Wyatt and Brooks and I like the Packer interior DL. Also would position the Packers better for 2026 if Clark has another bad year and they need to move on from him.
Coldworld
August 01, 2025 at 04:56 pm
Right now (FWIW), at DT it looks like Stackhouse is perhaps the 3rd, Brooks the 4th and Brinson seems to be ahead of Wooden now too.
At Edge it’s vs pretty clearly Gary, Van Ness and Cox then Enagbare but Sorrell has started to make some plays and could also be rising. Who knows if or when we will see Oliver, but it seems unlikely he would be waived given their statements about his distinctive attributes. Enagbare and Sorrell seem to me likely to be the two facing off for the last DE spot. If Oliver is not able to compete, it could well be Mosby, who filled the closest role late last season who benefits anyway.,
Gman1976
August 01, 2025 at 01:39 pm
THANKS TGR. These daily reports are some of my favorite reads.