This is a very important week for the Green Bay Packers. Between Tuesday and Thursday, the roster comes together for the mandatory minicamp, the last week of offseason activities before the summer break — and after that, it's training camp time.

Most of the team was already in Green Bay for OTAs, which made head coach Matt LaFleur excited for what's ahead.

"Our attendance here, I know we had one guy (cornerback Robert Rochell) missing today for a personal matter," LaFleur mentioned. "But we've had almost 100% the entire offseason, which has been the best that we've had since I've been here."

Anyway, the mandatory minicamp is another chance for players to be on the field together. As the practice time has been limited over the last decade, each and every opportunity to get on the same page is invaluable.

The offense keeps developing after a year that went much better than anticipated in 2023. Quarterback Jordan Love mentioned how better the group can be in 2024.

"Guys know exactly where they're gonna be at. We have so much chemistry from last year and built-up reps," Love said. "It's definitely a big difference."

And the mandatory minicamp is a big spot for these three players.

Christian Watson

Nobody on the Packers' roster has a bigger chance of reaching WR1 status than Watson. But to realize that potential, he needs to stay healthy and show that for a full season. After a visit with Badger Athletic Performance on the campus of UW-Madison, Watson found out a muscle imbalance in his legs. Now that he knows what caused the issues, it's time to put up work to be ready.

"It really was the asymmetry between the legs," Watson explained. "It comes from a lot of things. Obviously, the issues I've had in the past with hamstrings, not fully recovering from those strength-wise. I've been attacking the strength side of it, trying to get that symmetry back and it's been huge for me. I feel really, really good. I gotta continue grinding at it."

After an efficient season in 2022 as a rookie, Watson didn't repeat it last year. Jordan Love had a 71.4 passer rating when targeting Watson, the worst for the Packers' quarterback with his receivers in 2023. But even so, Love trusts that they can get better if Watson is healthy.

"That's the key, is trying to stay healthy throughout the season," Love stressed. "So we can have him out there every game, which is something I know he's working hard on. He's a difference-maker when he's out there, he's a playmaker."

---

MarShawn Lloyd

The Packers' starting running back will obviously be Josh Jacobs. But as a third-round pick, MarShawn Lloyd has a chance to surpass AJ Dillon as the immediate backup and, why not, get a decent share in the backfield as soon as this year. But it depends on how he will perform during the offseason and training camp. The Packers are willing to give him a shot.

"I would like to get him out there as much as possible," Packers offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said. "He's got a skill set that's a little bit different than AJ (Aaron Jones)'s as far as his speed. He's not quite the bruiser that (Dillon) is obviously, but he's got a different type of skill set. So it'll be nice to get him the ball in space and just see what he can do. I think he's gonna add a good explosive element to the offense, for sure."

His speed is certainly what caught Brian Gutekunst's attention, and it's an important element to add to the running back room after the team decided to part ways with Aaron Jones.

---

Sean Rhyan

Last season, Rhyan shared snaps with Jon Runyan for most of the season. When he was in, the Packers had 0.78 more yards per rushing play. But his PFF run blocking grade was a below average 50.2. Now, after Runyan signed with the New York Giants in free agency, the third-year player has a chance to start at right guard.

"I was really able to showcase that I'm able to play at this level as well as show myself that I can play at this level," Rhyan said. "In that last game (against the San Francisco 49ers) blocking Arik Armstead a couple times, going back and forth with him, it's fun. It's comforting knowing that I can still play the game to the level that I expect myself to."

When the Packers drafted Jordan Morgan in the first round, the initial expectation was that the rookie could challenge Rhyan at RG. However, Morgan has practiced at left tackle, left guard, and right tackle. So far, Rhyan has no competition. And if he plays well, there's no reason to change that.

Three key Packers defensive players to watch in the mandatory minicamp

Green Bay has the last activities of the offseason this week