Packers immediately provide three major answers to lingering lineup questions during first week of OTA practices
Green Bay started the most important phase of its offseason program this week, and the coaching staff has shared some valuable glimpses.
The Green Bay Packers have impactful questions in regards to who’s expected to start at certain spots throughout the lineup. However, we already have reasonable clarity about several of those aspects after just two days of OTA practices.
The Packers started their phase 3 of the offseason program this week. On Wednesday, the practice was open to the media, and the lineup on the field brought some intriguing discussion topics.
Micah Parsons’ replacement
Head coach Matt LaFleur confirmed that Parsons will start training camp on the physically unable to perform list (PUP), and he is also expected to miss the first few games of the regular season. Without him, there wasn’t an obvious answer in regards to who’s set to start opposite Lukas Van Ness.
Now, we know who begins the process ahead of everyone else. It’s last year’s fourth-round pick Barryn Sorrell. He didn’t play many defensive snaps last year, but had a solid game against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 18. Now, Sorrell starts the process ahead of players like Brenton Cox, Collin Oliver (who started OTAs with the rehab group), and rookie Dani Dennis-Sutton.
CB competition
Keisean Nixon in the boundary and Javon Bullard in the slot are essentially locks to start at cornerback. The second outside spot is more open, though. Initially, the new coaching staff is going with experience and familiarity over change.
Carrington Valentine started opposite Nixon, over free agent signing Benjamin St-Juste and rookies Brandon Cisse and Domani Jackson. That doesn’t mean it can’t change down the road, but Valentine has the first opportunity.
MarShawn Lloyd will finally have his shot, but it will take some time
Without Josh Jacobs, the Packers may not have great RB options. The good news is former third-round pick MarShawn Lloyd is finally healthy. He moved well in individual drills. However, despite what happened in the walkthrough, Brooks started over him in team drills.
The other offensive positions don’t bring much. Luke Musgrave and Darian Kinnard started at tight end and right tackle, respectively, because Tucker Kraft and Zach Tom are recovering from injury.