Receivers make plays amid absences
During a recent full-pads practice at Nitschke Field, several receivers for the Green Bay Packers demonstrated strong performances. This came as Matthew Golden, dealing with a toe injury, and Jayden Reed, recovering from an ankle injury, both missed their second consecutive practice session. Their absences provided more opportunities for other players to step up.
Christian Watson maintained his usual productivity, while second-year receiver Savion Williams continued to impress for a second straight day. Williams secured two third-down catches in traffic, helping to move the chains. His performance included a quick slant against Keisean Nixon and a downfield hook route in front of Brandon Cisse. Fellow receiver Bo Melton praised Williams’s composure, noting his joyful approach to the game.
Melton also had a significant practice, making a couple of key plays. One notable moment involved him outjumping Nixon on a deep pass. He also found himself open on a trick play, leading to an easy catch. Quarterback Jordan Love distributed multiple throws to receiver Skyy Moore during the session as well. Melton emphasized the importance of desire in contested catches, stating his specialty is taking the top off the defense.
Defensive plays and injury updates
On the defensive side, cornerback Jaylin Simpson, who spent much of the last season on the Packers’ practice squad, made a significant play to conclude practice. He intercepted a pass from quarterback Kyron Drones that was intended for the front pylon of the end zone. Simpson then ran the ball back, potentially for a field-length pick-six, marking the final play of the practice session.
Before his interception, Simpson received encouragement from safety Javon Bullard, who advised him to “be greedy.” Simpson and Bullard both hail from towns in Georgia and played for rival SEC schools, Auburn and Georgia, respectively. Simpson has been active in breaking up passes throughout training camp, with this interception being his most notable play. The 2024 fourth-round pick, initially drafted by Indianapolis and also having spent time with the Jets, has been playing various positions in the defensive backfield, primarily boundary corner with the reserve units, as he competes for a roster spot. Bullard expressed admiration for Simpson’s game, calling him a “baller.”
In terms of injuries, Javon Bullard was a new addition to the injury report, sitting out practice due to a foot injury he described as a bad bruise. This is the same foot that required surgery after his rookie year and occasionally causes him issues. However, Bullard indicated he was not overly concerned and expected to return quickly, stating he would play if there were a game the next day. Safety Kitan Oladapo stepped in for Bullard in the slot with the first-team defense.
The first-team defensive unit saw constant rotation at corner. Nixon and Cisse formed one pair of starting corners, while Cisse and Benjamin St-Juste comprised another pair during different periods. Head Coach Matt LaFleur expressed confidence in all the competing corners, stating the team would let the competition unfold. Elsewhere on the injury front, linebackers Edgerrin Cooper, who had a foot injury, and Zaire Franklin, who was on excused travel, both returned to practice.
Starters progress and preseason plans
Two key starters, right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele and defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt, continued their recovery from season-ending injuries sustained last year. Both players began taking 11-on-11 repetitions on Sunday and participated in full-pads 11-on-11 drills for the first time on Monday. While they are currently taking limited snaps and have not yet joined the one-on-one drills between rushers and blockers, they were observed working against each other on the side, suggesting their workload may soon increase.
Regarding the preseason, Coach LaFleur indicated that any healthy player should be prepared to play. He also stated his preference for starters to get some preseason work, citing his experience that playing in the preseason leads to better early-season performance. He also mentioned data suggesting that a certain amount of preseason snaps can significantly reduce the likelihood of regular-season injuries. However, LaFleur has not yet determined the specific number of snaps or which games starters will play. He noted that the third preseason game against Arizona is the least likely for extensive starter participation, as they will receive significant work during joint practices with the Cardinals two days prior to that finale.
Defensive lineman Nazir Stackhouse also had a strong showing, contributing to the defensive line’s dominant performance. He made a tackle for loss on an end-around play and another on a handoff to MarShawn Lloyd. Stackhouse, who made the roster last year as an undrafted free agent, played 159 snaps across 13 games, recording 12 tackles. He credits his improved confidence and understanding of formations and down-and-distance situations to his growth mindset and coaching.
The practice on Monday, August 10, marked the 10th practice of training camp for the Green Bay Packers.
Source: packers.com
Mason Reed
Sports reporter covering football, basketball and international competitions.