The Green Bay Packers have an important week ahead. Between Tuesday and Wednesday, the team practices in Wisconsin, but then on Friday they will have a joint practice with the Denver Broncos in Colorado, ahead of their preseason matchup on Sunday night.

Head coach Matt LaFleur indicated that starters are not expected to play in the game, because the coaching staff will utilize the joint practice to test what they want to see from the main pieces of the roster.

So, let's discuss three players who have to show good things in Denver.

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Zach Tom

The starting right tackle missed the start of training camp because of a pec injury he sustained while lifting weights. He came back last week, but didn't have enough time to be on the field against the Cleveland Browns.

That absence forced the Packers to start Andre Dillard to protect Jordan Love. And if starters won't play on Sunday in Denver, it's imperative for the offensive line to play as close as possible to full strength.

For Zach Tom, in particular, is a huge opportunity to pick things up from where he left off after a strong 2023 season. Next offseason, Tom will be slated for his first contract extension in the NFL.

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Devonte Wyatt

Wyatt is not a full-time starter at this point in his career, but the 2022 first-round pick is a huge asset for the Packers because of his ability to rush the passer from the interior. Against the Browns, he was double-teamed four times in five pass-rushing snaps and got two pressures.

Cleveland used mostly backups, though, and this sequence of a joint practice and a preseason game versus the Broncos brings a huge opportunity for Wyatt to show how he can impact the game against top-level competition, even if his ability to stop the run is questionable and limits his floor to operate on a three-down basis for the defense.

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Keisean Nixon

Nixon played 12 defensive snaps against the Browns and he is expected to be the team's primary nickel corner, so this point is not about that — even though Javon Bullard had some nickel reps as well.

It's more about special teams. Nixon was a First-Team All-Pro as a kickoff returner in each of the last two seasons, so his game-changing ability comes from that area. With new kickoff rules, though, he has to adapt.

The Packers used backup options to return in preseason, which makes sense to protect their top players from injury risks. Emanuel Wilson, for instance, returned early on. Therefore, a joint practice is a good opportunity to test what Nixon can do, the angles, and how the new rule will affect the game with a different opponent and a new perspective.

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