The Green Bay Packers hit the practice field only once Tuesday, but it probably felt like more, even to the 750-plus fans in attendance.
The Packers' afternoon workout at Clarke Hinkle Field was under an unrelenting sun on an 85-degree day.
"When it's hot, nothing moves quite as fast as you'd like it to move, players and coaches alike, at times," GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman said. "But you've got to fight through it. I thought they did."
After an opening period of special teams, the Packers moved into team drills.
The No. 1 offense looked different than usual, starting at quarterback where Doug Pederson filled in for Brett Favre, who was granted the afternoon off. Donald Driver also had the afternoon off, with Robert Ferguson sidelined due to injury.
That left Javon Walker and Karsten Bailey at receiver, but when Walker became ill early in practice, he was replaced by rookie Carl Ford.
Tyrone Davis worked at tight end, with both Bubba Franks and David Martin sidelined.
In his normal spot however, was fullback William Henderson, who less than 24 hours earlier had been taken to the hospital because of a kidney stone.
Henderson is still considered day-to-day.
On the defensive side of the ball, Gilbert Brown, Cletidus Hunt and Joe Johnson made their training camp debuts. Brown was re-signed earlier in the day, while Hunt is coming back from a bout with gastritis and Johnson is recovering from a quadriceps injury. All played only limited snaps.
Among the practice highlights, former UW-La Crosse and NFL Europe standout Jeremy Unertl made a fine defensive play, closing on Karsten Bailey to break up a Pederson pass.
Craig Nall hit Brian McDonald for a 15-yard gain down the right sideline, and then completed a 30-yard pass to Ford down the middle.
Later on, Nall was pestered by the defensive line. Working against Kevin Barry, Jamal Reynolds got around the outside for a sack, before Kenny Peterson slipped through for another quarterback 'touch' on the following play.
In injury news, Tony Fisher returned after being sidelined with a strained Achilles ... Aaron Kampman missed practice due to a contusion on his left calf ... Al Harris missed practice with an injured hip.
The Packers didn't practice in the morning, but attended the Welcome Back Packers Luncheon in Green Bay, continuing a tradition that dates back to Vince Lombardi's 1960 squad.
Weather permitting, the Packers return to Clarke Hinkle Field for a pair of practices Wednesday: 8:45-11:15 a.m. (pads) and 2:45-4:10 p.m. (shells).
Where: Clarke Hinkle Field
Weather: 85 degrees, sunny
Did Not Participate: Keith Burnell (hip), Najeh Davenport (hip), Donald Driver (hamstring), Brett Favre (coach's decision), Robert Ferguson (tailbone), Bubba Franks (knee), Al Harris (hip), Jorg Heckenbach (kidneys), Aaron Kampman (calf contusion), James Lee (hip), David Martin (hamstring), DeAndrew Rubin (back), Terdell Sands (ankle), Lamar Smith (knee), Adam Tate (knee), Rod Walker (shoulder), Steve Warren (back), Reggie White (knee), Jerry Wisne (calf).
Click here for the training camp schedule.
Click here for information on Packers training camp, including a visitor's guide.
