Packers training camp: 3 Most important position battles

CARSON, CA - NOVEMBER 03: Ty Summers #44 of the Green Bay Packers, Allen Lazard #13 and Chandon Sullivan #39 walk onto the field to play the Los Angeles Chargers at Dignity Health Sports Park on November 3, 2019 in Carson, California. Chargers won 26-11. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
CARSON, CA - NOVEMBER 03: Ty Summers #44 of the Green Bay Packers, Allen Lazard #13 and Chandon Sullivan #39 walk onto the field to play the Los Angeles Chargers at Dignity Health Sports Park on November 3, 2019 in Carson, California. Chargers won 26-11. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /
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Green Bay Packers (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
Green Bay Packers (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Packers camp position battle No. 2: Linebacker

Players competing: Christian Kirksey, Oren Burks, Kamal Martin, Krys Barnes, Curtis Bolton, Ty Summers

Every team has one or two positions where they are seemingly perpetually looking for an answer but can’t find one. In Green Bay, linebacker is one of those spots. After losing Blake Martinez in free agency this offseason, they are in the position of hitting reset once again having brought in free agents and some young players to fill the void.

Signing Christian Kirksey, formerly of the Cleveland Browns, was one of the biggest moves of the offseason for the franchise. He showed flashes at his former stop and has been a good NFL player. The one thing holding him back to this point in his career, though, has been his injuries. He’s missed 24 games in all to this point.

Outside of the newcomer veteran, the Packers linebackers are another group comprised of young players. Rookie fifth-rounder Kamal Martin out of Minnesota showed flashes in college but, as he was used in multiple roles, he is still rounding out as a player. He joins a group of other players who have yet to fully realize their potential.

Green Bay defensive coordinator Mike Pettine loves to get creative with blitz packages in his defense and often leaves his linebackers on an island to fend for himself when he does this. While the Pack may be weak at the position, finding the players best fit to play that type of role in the Pettine defense will be critical for this group.