Packers Training Camp Offers First Look at Green Bay’s New Season
GREEN BAY, Wis. — With a new NFL season approaching, Green Bay Packers training camp provides one of the first opportunities for players, coaches and fans to see how the team is taking shape.
Things to watch
- Health – Packers look for key players to get healthy as the season approaches.
- Tucker Kraft – Kraft is off the PUP list and padded up at yesterday’s practice. He has yet to get involved in contact drills but has done individual drills and ran routes.
- Javon Hargrave – Hargrave will be a key rotational piece on the defensive front. He has not yet practiced with the team and remains on PUP.
- Micah Parsons – Parsons continues to be present at practice while on the PUP. Pundits have indicated that he’s aiming for a week 6 return against his former team, the Cowboys. The Packers schedule is weak leading up to week 6 so that is helpful and have a cakewalk week 7 at the Lions before the schedule turns difficult, allowing for Parsons to ease back into the mix.
- Zack Africa – Tom avoided the PUP to start the season but he continues to work his way back into the mix. Kinnard is getting snaps with the ones at RT.
- Position Battles – The Packers roster is mostly set with very few position battles.
- Cornerback – both starting spots are up for grabs. Nixon is bad and not good even though he thinks he’s God’s gift (Andrew Quarless) to cornerbacking. Nixon, Valentine, Cisse, and St. Juste have all gotten time with the 1s and Kamal Haden is already returning from his late 2025 season injury.
- Interior Dline – this position has proven to be fluid in Gannon’s scheme. Brinson, Stackhouse, Brooks, and rookie McClellan have all gotten time. Additionally, DDS has bumped inside on occasion, and we know LVN thrives inside. Note: Wyatt continues to work his way back into the rotation, coming back from his 2025 injury.
- Edge – LVN is firmly holding down one side while a slew of players are getting a look at the other, each getting time with the 1s. Sorel, Oliver, DDS, Cox, and yes, even Cooper have gotten time on the edge. Reports so far don’t show any particular guy moving ahead of the Pack (sicc pun bro).
- Rookie Watch –
- Parsons – first round pick super stud and future HOFer is working his way back from a bogus injury in which he was about to sack the quarter back even while not getting a holding call.
- Cisse – second round pick Cisse has looked good (mostly). O/U week 3 before he secures a starting spot.
- McClellan – third round pick has been the standout of the rookies at camp. He could easily prove to be the best pick of the Packers 2026 draft. By mid-season, I expect him to make such an impact that they will not want to remove him from the field.
- DDS – fourth round pick super steal DDS has been impactful in camp as they use him on the outside and bump him inside. Hot take, he appears to be LVN 2.0. That’s probably not a good thing nor a bad thing. Effort guy who will impact the game but doesn’t have the moves to make tackles look silly like the top tier pass rushers.
- Jager Burton – Anthony FIF Fauci round pick has been a pleasant surprise at camp. Burton has gotten time with the ones at both guard spots and has excelled. He did suffer a soft tissue injury but is now back. My guess is that if/when Banks and/or Belton suck, he will win one of their starting spots at some point.
- Smack – I look forward to another season of our kicker missing critical FGs and me raging. Inconsistent would be a understatement of his performance thus far at camp.
The Packers have their Family Night practice this Friday and I look forward to gathering more hot takes to share with you. Please do keep in mind that I have the best takes, believe me.