Green Bay Packers: 5 Early standouts at training camp
By Joe Kipp
The Green Bay Packers kicked off training camp on July 25. After one week, here are five takeaways of players who have impressed so far.
It’s officially been one week since the beginning of training camp for the Green Bay Packers. With seven practices down and 13 practices left to be attended, players still have plenty of time to make a lasting impression on the coaching staff. But it’s always better to get off to an early lead. After all, impressing early and often means more reps later in camp.
The Packers have a few position battles we’ll need to keep an eye on as camp rolls on. The wide receiver and offensive line groups will be particularly competitive, with several spots still to be determined. Early indications show Justin McCray has been a major piece to the offensive line, sliding in as the No. 1 backup at both guard spots and center.
As for the receiver position, the Packers have star receiver Davante Adams firmly entrenched in the No. 1 role, with Geronimo Allison and Marquez Valdes-Scantling fighting for the No. 2 spot. After that, the Packers have a bevy of players fighting for rights in the pecking order.
Overall, training camp has had a much different vibe than in the past. During Mike McCarthy’s 12 years as head coach, practices played out at a slow, steady pace. Under Matt LaFleur, practices have been relatively short (mostly under two hours) and players are constantly moving from drill to drill. Additionally, the team and fans around Ray Nitschke Field are able to listen to music through loud speakers, something that never happened under McCarthy.
The Packers will hold joint practices starting Monday, Aug. 5 against the Houston Texans, culminated by a preseason matchup at Lambeau Field on Thursday, Aug. 8. In the meantime, the team will host their annual Family Night celebration on Friday, Aug. 2. Family Night is always a time for players to show out in a big way.
Furthermore, there are plenty of practices left for players on the metaphorical roster bubble to make an impact. But they’ll need to act fast. In the meantime, here are the players who are already impressing at training camp.