GREEN BAY – The Packers conducted a lengthy, full-pads practice on a warm but pleasant Wednesday at Nitschke Field.
Here are five things we learned:
- Christian Watson survived an injury scare.
On the final play of practice, with the No. 1 offense trying to score in the two-minute drill, Watson and rookie safety Evan Williams went up for Jordan Love's bullet of a pass in the back of the end zone.
Williams got his hands on it in front of Watson for an impressive interception, but after both players tumbled to the ground, Watson stayed down for several minutes getting looked at by the athletic training staff.
He eventually walked off on his own, though visibly uncomfortable, but said everything's fine.
"I think we just came down a little awkward," Watson said. "I don't know if it was his knee or his cleat, but something just kinda hit me in the knee. It hurt a lot worse in the moment. I'm just thankful and obviously was praying that it wasn't too serious, and it wasn't."
He termed it a bruise and said he doesn't feel he'll have to miss any practice time or Saturday's preseason opener in Cleveland, but that could depend on how sore it is moving forward.
As for the play by Williams, the fourth-round pick has made his share in camp, and this one certainly ranks up there, especially with the athleticism he showed.
"I was able to go get it," Williams said. "I've got a pretty good vert. I've always been able to get the ball at its highest point. I think that's one of my strong suits."
- Javon Bullard is handling some extra duty.
The fellow rookie with whom Williams is competing for the starting safety spot, Bullard, has been getting some extra work as a slot corner with the No. 2 defense.
Bullard played both the slot and at safety in college at Georgia, so the versatility is nothing new and was certainly a factor in the Packers drafting him in the second round. If Bullard proves adept at handling the slot at this level, it would give new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley more options with defensive sub-packages, such as the dime with six defensive backs.
The one-on-one drill earlier in practice signaled Bullard would be getting some slot snaps. Normally in one-on-ones, safeties are matched up against tight ends, but Bullard's reps on Wednesday came against receiver Samori Toure.
- The Packers' first-round draft pick will be out about a week.
Jordan Morgan, who seemed to have solidified his spot at right guard with the No. 1 offensive line, injured a shoulder Tuesday and is out for a week or so, Head Coach Matt LaFleur said. LaFleur added the injury doesn't appear to be anything long term, and he doesn't feel Week 1 is in jeopardy for Morgan.
His absence puts third-year pro Sean Rhyan back in as the right guard with the starting line, after Morgan had assumed the lion's share of the first-team reps in their competition for the spot.
Rhyan feels he's a better player now than he was late last season when he was rotating in games at right guard, and his extra work in this training camp at center has helped him understand the offensive scheme that much better.
While nobody wishes an injury on a teammate, the reality is however long Morgan is out provides an opportunity for Rhyan to display his improvement.
"Now I have to, not be perfect, but be pretty damn close to it," he said, adding that his goal for the preseason opener at Cleveland is to show "that I'm a pretty good right guard."
- There's yet another new kicker in town, and he got to work right away.
For the third time since the start of the offseason program, there's a third kicker in the competition with Anders Carlson and Greg Joseph. The latest entry is Alex Hale, an undrafted rookie from Oklahoma State who's originally from Australia.
Hale grew up a soccer player and didn't move to the United States until he finished high school. He decided to pursue a college sport, and the first time he put on pads and a helmet was in his first practice as a walk-on at Oklahoma State.
"There's nothing like a college football or pro football arena in the U.S.," Hale said of his motivation. "The fan bases are crazy. It's an amazing sport to be a part of."
Hale, a second-team All-Big 12 selection last year, worked out for the Packers on Tuesday, signed later that day, and was kicking field goals during the live kicking periods on Wednesday. He went 5-for-6 in his first Packers practice, missing his last kick wide right from 45 yards.
- The injury list had a few changes.
In addition to Morgan being out, wide receiver Jayden Reed missed practice with a calf injury.
Meanwhile, defensive lineman Kingsley Enagbare was back from a hamstring injury after missing Family Night and Tuesday's practice, and linebacker Quay Walker returned after sitting out the last couple of team periods Tuesday. No injury was specified and LaFleur said the rest was about being smart with Walker's workload.
The following players also currently aren't practicing: WR Dimitri Stanley, CB Carrington Valentine, DL Deslin Alexandre, DL Keshawn Banks, LB Edgerrin Cooper and G/T Donovan Jennings.
