GREEN BAY – The Packers' 2024 training camp began Monday with a roughly 90-minute, non-padded workout at Ray Nitschke Field.
Here are five things we learned:
- The Packers are close to finalizing a new contract for QB Jordan Love, but he won't be practicing until it's done.
Love was at practice, and he's participating in all meetings and other team activities during camp, but he's eliminating any injury risk by not practicing until his new contract is completed.
"We're working really hard to get that done," General Manager Brian Gutekunst said prior to practice. "I think it's really important for us. The thing that I have confidence in is we both want the same thing. We want Jordan here for a long time."
Gutekunst indicated the finish line on the new deal is in sight, but whether it'll take one day or several isn't known. Earlier in the offseason, Gutekunst expressed hope everything would be taken care of before the start of training camp. The reason(s) it didn't weren't specified.
Love participated in the entire voluntary offseason program, including OTAs, along with the mandatory minicamp while negotiations were ongoing.
"We certainly understand where he's coming from," Gutekunst said. "We'd like him to be out there."
In the meantime, second-year pro Sean Clifford and rookie seventh-round draft pick Michael Pratt will take all the QB reps during practices. Clifford ran the No. 1 offense in the opening workout and plans to make the most of the first-team reps.
"They mean the world," Clifford said. "At the end of the day, really this is practice for whatever could happen. I'd never wish anything upon Jordan. He's a fantastic player, the leader of this team, the heartbeat of this team.
"But this is football. Things happen. So this is a great rep for me to be able to be ready … to work with the whole starting lineup so that way they know they can count on me when and if the time would ever come."
- Zach Tom returning from injury was good news on the health front.
Tom got clearance to return to practice from his torn pectoral muscle that kept him out all spring. He's limited for the time being and not taking any 11-on-11 reps, but getting back into drills is a major step forward.
"It was just staying patient, because with that type of injury, you don't want to rush back," Tom said. "You want to make sure you're ready to go. This is really just the next step. We'll see how this goes and go from there."
Tight end Tucker Kraft also had a torn pec this spring but hasn't returned, and rookie safety Kitan Oladapo isn't back from the foot injury that kept him out all spring.
New to the injury list and not practicing were receiver Jayden Reed (toe), rookie running back MarShawn Lloyd (hip), cornerback Corey Ballentine (hamstring) and offensive linemen Caleb Jones (hamstring) and Donovan Jennings (knee).
Reed's toe injury isn't considered serious, and he called it a "freak accident" that occurred during a summer football camp he was coaching. Gutekunst doesn't expect him out long. He added that Oladapo could be back soon as well.
- Competitions are underway, and the early look at the depth chart is always intriguing.
Cornerback Eric Stokes took the first 11-on-11 snaps with the No. 1 defense, with Carrington Valentine rotating in. They'll be battling for the starting job opposite Jaire Alexander.
Elsewhere on defense, rookie second-round pick Javon Bullard was paired with veteran Xavier McKinney at safety with the first team, while Isaiah McDuffie worked alongside Quay Walkerat linebacker in both base and nickel.
On offense, Sean Rhyan was first up at right guard with the first team, with rookie first-round pick Jordan Morgan rotating in. That's another competition to watch.
With Tom limited, veteran Andre Dillard played right tackle with the starters.
- The newest kicker got the first crack.
James Turner, claimed on waivers from the Lions after minicamp ended, is the third kicker in the competition but was first up in a live field-goal period, going 4-for-6 at distances ranging from 33 to 46 yards. His misses were from 43 and 46, both wide right.
Neither Anders Carlson nor Greg Joseph kicked Monday, so perhaps the competitors will be kicking on separate days, rather than on the same day as they did in the spring.
Asked how long before three kickers will be whittled down to one, Gutekunst replied, "As long as it takes. We'll keep churning it and moving down that road until somebody wins it."
- There was an eagerness to get going, and now that energy must be channeled into proper focus.
The GM, head coach and players all talked about the positive vibes present as camp kicks off, and how much excitement exists for this team in 2024.
But there's a clear message nothing can be taken for granted, no matter the expectations internally or externally.
"I think they're energized, I think guys are ready to go, they're ready to get back at it, but ultimately, we've got to go out there and do the work and put the work in," Head Coach Matt LaFleur said.
"Everything we do matters … how deliberate we are about our practice, how intentional, mindful, how we're going about our business each and every day. The habits that we create are going to help forge the identity that we want on the field."
Confidence and camaraderie are both in a good place for the long road ahead.
"I do feel really good about this group," Gutekunst said. "I like the way they work together. I like what's important to them. I like their ability to put the team before themselves.
"But every year is a new year. There's so many different challenges. The thing that I'm most confident in is whatever challenges are thrown at them, they won't blink."
