Approximately 150 spectators turned out to watch as the Green Bay Packers took to Clarke Hinkle Field Monday morning for a special teams practice.
Well over half of the team's roster, 53 players, were involved in the workout while other members of the team recovering from injuries continued their conditioning programs inside the Don Hutson Center.
The players received directions from special teams coordinator John Bonamego via microphone and speaker system the coach was wearing on his back.
Receivers Antonio Chatman, Robert Ferguson and Carl Ford rotated fielding punts from B.J. Sander and Nathan Chapman. Both Rob Davis and James Broyles worked as long snappers during the practice.
Bonamego urged players to "attack the wedge" as they worked in a kickoff coverage drill. In addition to Ford, Ferguson and Chatman, taking turns returning kickoffs in the drills were Ahmad Carroll, Najeh Davenport, Scottie Vines and Chris Watson.
The special teams practice saw another innovation as an implement featuring a red prosthetic leg was introduced to aid in a punt blocking drill. One line of players worked on blocking kicks off the foot of Chapman, while on the opposite side of the field, another line would swoop in to meet the ball coming off the artificial limb and gather the rolling ball.
The full Packers squad returned to Lambeau Field to practice under the lights Monday night. Players were in full gear and the popping of shoulder pads resonated around the empty bleachers on numerous occasions during the spirited practice.
Tight end Bubba Franks and defensive tackle Grady Jackson both returned to practice after spending time on the sidelines over the past few days. Franks missed nearly a week after landing awkwardly on the ball after catching a long pass in practice last Tuesday.
Rookie linebacker Jermaine Taylor gave Dahrran Diedrick a good pop as he tackled him near the sideline during a 9-on-7 drill early in the evening. Sixth-round draft choice Corey Williams made a number of tackles in run defense.
The first-team defense stifled the starting offense in the first few plays of a red zone drill, with Cletidus Hunt knocking down an attempted Brett Favre screen pass and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila teaming with Jackson to stuff Ahman Green on an attempted run off guard. Green got revenge with a TD run on draw play on the next play.
Favre and Tim Couch each tossed touchdown passes to tight end Steve Bush in a later goal line situation.
Rookie receiver Sam Breeden made a nice grab, stretching to snare a pass rifled by Favre along the right sideline. The ball was threaded in between cornerback Michael Hawthorne and safety Darren Sharper with Favre's surgical precision.
Wide receiver Reggie Love, who was signed earlier in the day, made an impression as he got behind the defense to catch a touchdown pass from Doug Pederson. Pederson then followed up with another TD strike to Shockmain Davis.
In injury news, linebacker Hannibal Navies (forearm) and center Scott Wells (elbow) left practice early.
The Packers will resume their schedule of two-a-day, full team practices Tuesday with sessions set for 8:45-11:15 a.m. (no pads) and 2:45-4:10 p.m. (pads) at Clarke Hinkle Field (weather permitting).
Where: Clarke Hinkle Field (a.m.), Lambeau Field (p.m.)
Weather: 72°, hazy (a.m.), 69°, cloudy (p.m.)
Did Not Participate: Ja'Dae McGuire (abdominal strain), Craig Nall (hamstring), Chukie Nwokorie (hamstring), Joey Thomas (knee sprain), Javon Walker (quadriceps), Donnell Washington (arch), and James Whitley (blow to head).
Physically Unable to Perform List (PUP): Mike Flanagan (knee tendinitis), Chris Johnson (stress fracture), Mike Wahle (knee contusion),
Non-Football Injury List: Brennan Curtin (boil)
Reserve/Did Not Report List: Mike McKenzie
