7 Highlights From The First Week Of Packers' Training Camp

Forbes

a day ago

Youth plus experience.
That's a rare blend for most teams, but it's exactly what the Green Bay Packers have.
The Packers fielded the NFL's youngest team each of the last two seasons, and let many of those players sink or swim. Several of those same players remain early in their careers, but already have a great deal of experience.
It's one of many reasons expectations are extremely high in Green Bay.
'It's a great combination that we have of a lot of guys that are still really young, being in Year 3 or 4, but we've all played a lot,' wideout Jayden Reed said. 'It's just a great combination.'
Green Bay is hoping that combination helps it move from a team that lost its Wild Card opener in 2024 to a group that can make a big postseason run in 2025. The Packers are just seven practices into their month-long training camp, but there's been a lot to like.
Here are my biggest takeaways from the start of camp.1. GOLDEN TICKET
Let's preface this by saying Matthew Golden hasn't played a single snap in an NFL game.
Still, in a league packed with remarkably gifted athletes, some are just different.
Golden looks like he could be one of those players.
Green Bay's first round, rookie wide receiver has been one of the stars of his first camp.
Golden has caught almost everything thrown his way. He's shown off his 4.29 speed repeatedly. And he's practiced with a fire and competitiveness coaches love.
'It's very, very early in the beginning stages, but he's done a very nice job with his opportunities,' Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said of Golden. 'He's really smart, you know, and another one of our guys that's adjusted really well.'
During a practice on July 29, Golden showed why the Packers made him their first Round 1 wideout since Javon Walker in 2002.
During 1-on-1's, Golden made a tremendous adjustment on a go route from quarterback Jordan Love. There, he drew a pass interference penalty from cornerback Carrington Valentine, but still hauled in the pass.
Later, Golden ran a double move and beat both cornerback Nate Hobbs and safety Evan Williams for a 60-yard touchdown from quarterback Jordan Love.
'I'm learning more as each day goes on,' Golden said. 'I'm learning different nuances of the offense. For me, it's starting to click to where I can go out there and play faster.'2. WHOLE LOTTA LOVE
Quarterback Jordan Love had a stretch late in the 2023 season — his first as a starter — where he threw 23 touchdowns and one interception. It was a remarkable run that Packer greats like Brett Favre, Bart Starr and Aaron Rodgers never accomplished, and it appeared Love was the next big thing in Green Bay.
After Love experienced an injury filled, up and down 2024, though, some questioned if greatness was in his future. Through one week of training camp, the answer seems to be a resounding yes.
Love has been razor sharp, has taken on a greater leadership role and is moving extremely well in the pocket again.
If Green Bay is going to catch teams like Philadelphia, Detroit and Minnesota, Love has to advance from good to great. So far, so good.
'I think the movement aspect of my game, being able to move in the pocket, was something that was limited for a good amount last year when I had my injuries, but definitely something I want to have a focus on going into the season to amp up and do more of,' Love said. 'I think there's so many instances where a defense does a good job covering the first couple reads where you can work the pocket, kind of get out and scramble and just keep that play going and extend them a little bit more and even take off and use my legs in running. It's one of those things I think will really come alive this season.'3. FIESTY NEWCOMER
Free agent cornerback Nate Hobbs drew the ire of coach Matt LaFleur for being overly physical in some early practices.
During the Packers third practice — a non-padded one in which tackling wasn't allowed — Hobbs took wideout Dontayvion Wicks to the ground. Two days later, Hobbs went low while tackling running back MarShawn Lloyd.
Lloyd limped off with a groin injury, and hasn't practiced since. The Packers later determined that Lloyd suffered the injury, though, before making contact with Hobbs.
Still, LaFleur wasn't pleased with that overaggressive nature and benched Hobbs for a stretch of that practice.
'He sat me for a second,' Hobbs said of LaFleur. 'Put me in timeout. Let me think about my decisions. And I thought about it real good.
'You've got to know how to tone it down or turn it off, but by nature, I'm aggressive, you know what I'm saying? I don't even know how to play real game-like football but one way.'
While Hobbs may have irritated LaFleur during a random July practice, his play style should be welcome when the season arrives.
Green Bay's physicality — or lack thereof — has been called into question in recent years. And it appears Hobbs will play with a toughness the Packers certainly need.
'There's a certain kind of physicality you have to have and Nate Hobbs brings all that,' Gutekunst said. 'That's why we brought him here. It's very important that all our guys have that kind of edge to them.
'You want to keep guys off the ground and you want to make good decisions while you're going through camp and keep guys healthy. But the same time, I'd rather be pulling the reins and making sure we got enough guys in that room that have that kind of edge.'4. MR. AUTOMATIC
Remember when Matt LaFleur had to pray each time Anders Carlson lined up for field goals in 2023? Things were even worse when Brayden Narveson was given the kicking job for the first six weeks of 2024?
Today, Green Bay's kicking position might be the best it's ever been — and that's saying something for team that's employed Mason Crosby, Ryan Longwell and Chris Jacke over the past 35 years.
But kicker Brandon McManus has been about as close to perfect as you'll find since the Packers signed him last October.
McManus made 50-of-51 regular season kicks in 2024 — 20-of-21 field goals and all 30 of his extra points. So far, McManus is a remarkable 28-of-29 on kicks this camp (96.6%).
'As I continue to play longer and longer – this is my 13th training camp – I've really honed in on my technique,' McManus said. 'I still have a powerful leg, but I used to be more of a younger, wilder power leg. Now, I'd say it's more of a controlled power.'
McManus went undrafted in 2013 and spent that training camp in Indianapolis. McManus knew he wouldn't make the team with future Hall of Famer Adam Vinatieri already there, but he impressed and has enjoyed a stellar career since breaking into the league in 2014.
'I had a chance to learn a lot from (Vinatieri), be a sponge, listen to him and talk through each situation and scenario,' McManus said. 'When I was there, I did a lot of listening vs. now, me having experienced all of that stuff, I'm the one who's talking.
'But Vinatieri was phenomenal. We're still friends to this day. He's been great.'5. BO KNOWS … CORNERBACK?
The Packers moved 26-year-old Bo Melton from wide receiver to cornerback this offseason. Typically, a position change this late in a player's career is a death knell.
But maybe, just maybe, Melton has a chance.
Melton has taken quickly to his new spot, and in just the second practice of camp, he broke up a pass for Savion Williams and snuffed out a keeper by quarterback Malik Willis. He's played at a surprisingly high level since.
'He's one of those guys that, from the time we scouted him coming out of college, we thought he had that kind of ability,' Gutekunst said of Melton. 'When we brought him here, it was something we had in the back of our minds, that hey, this might be something we could do with Bo.'
Troy Brown moved from wide receiver to corner in 2004 and helped New England win a Super Bowl. Aside from that, though, not many players have successfully made this transition.
Melton has a lot going for him, though, highlighted by his blazing 4.34 speed in the 40-yard dash. The biggest challenges have been learning the defense, tackling, and having his eyes consistently in the right spot.
Melton has leaned on his brother, Max, who's a cornerback for Arizona, but knows this challenge is immense.
'It's the calls more than the movements. That's the hardest part,' Bo Melton said of playing corner. '(Defensive back) is really about your eyes and where you put your eyes at. That's the transition I'm trying to make right now is having my eyes in the right spot. But athleticism-wise, I feel like I've made plays here and there, made some good plays this camp.'6. TOUGH TO STOP
Packers tight end Tucker Kraft is an emerging star, and during the fourth practice of camp showed off a skill the Packers should take greater advantage of in 2025.
With quarterback Jordan Love under pressure, he threw a 50-50 ball for Kraft. The Packers' 6-foot-5, 259-pound tight end boxed out 5-foot-11, 200-pound safety Evan Williams and hauled in the pass for a 12-yard touchdown.
'I can go up and get the ball,' Kraft said. 'I've shown that time and time again. It's just getting the opportunity to showcase that.'
In addition to being a football star at tiny Timber Lake High School in South Dakota, Kraft was also a basketball standout. As a senior, Kraft earned second-team all-state honors after averaging 14.2 points and 8.0 rebounds.
His ability to box out an opponent for a rebound is something he's carried to the football field with jump balls. And Green Bay would be wise trying to utilize that skill more often than past years.
'I wanted to play basketball more than football when I was growing up,' Kraft said. 'Hooping was my first true love. But it was after my junior season I realized that football was going to be my thing.'7. FIRED UP COACH
Packers coach Matt LaFleur was about as angry as he's been during his seven years in Green Bay following a scuffle between left tackle Rasheed Walker and defensive end Kingsley Enagbare on July 29.
After Love completed a pass to wideout Romeo Doubs late in practice, Walker didn't let go of Enagbare and pulled him to the turf. Extracurricular activities between Walker and Enagbare ensued, and a furious LaFleur ordered Walker to run a lap.
'I haven't run a lap since probably like freshman year of high school,' Walker said.
The thing is, he didn't do it alone.
Tight end Tucker Kraft, running back Josh Jacobs, and offensive linemen Jordan Morgan, Elgton Jenkins, Sean Rhyan and Zach Tom all joined Walker.
All for one, one for all.
'One unit, man. If we get punished, we get punished together,' Kraft said. 'That's just the way I see it.'
While the Packers' support of Walker was noble, getting your head coach enraged is never a good idea.
Just how angry was LaFleur?
'Definitely probably like top three, for sure,' running back Josh Jacobs said of how fiery LaFleur was. 'But I think we need to see that from him sometimes. I think it's good for the team. At the end of the day, he's the leader. Everybody is looking to him.'