Packers have five must-watch position battles as training camp intensifies ahead of preseason opener against the Jets
The Green Bay Packers are entering the most important part of training camp. After two weeks of acclimation period, the group prepares for the first preseason game on Saturday, against the New York Jets at Lambeau Field. Over the next few weeks, the Packers will have joint practices and preseason games against the Indianapolis Colts […]
The Green Bay Packers are entering the most important part of training camp. After two weeks of acclimation period, the group prepares for the first preseason game on Saturday, against the New York Jets at Lambeau Field. Over the next few weeks, the Packers will have joint practices and preseason games against the Indianapolis Colts and Seattle Seahawks as well, ahead of the regular season opener versus the Detroit Lions on September 7.
This week, the Packers practice on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday ahead of the Jets game on Saturday evening. As those checkpoints are getting closer, significant positional battles will heat up.
Left tackle
Rasheed Walker didn’t practice on Family Night due to a groin injury, and somehow it helped his stock, because Jordan Morgan had an underwhelming performance at left tackle. Second-round rookie Anthony Belton had snaps at LT with the twos and some at RT with the ones and felt more natural than Morgan, but certainly not enough to take over the job. Earlier in camp, general manager Brian Gutekunst had already indicated that it won’t be easy to surpass the incumbent starter.
“Shido’s started a lot of games and has a lot of experience, so there’s a comfort level there with him,” Gutekunst said. “I think Jordan [Morgan], in his time last year when he was playing at right guard, played really, really well. He had a really good spring. But that’s an open competition. Certainly, when you’ve got 30-some starts under your belt, there’s a comfort level there that something would have to overtake.”
There will be some follow-up questions about the future, since Walker is in a contract year, but he seems to be the heavy favorite to win the job.
Right guard
Right now, Sean Rhyan is the starter. But while Elgton Jenkins was out, Rhyan had to move to center and allowed Jordan Morgan to have many snaps at guard as well. If or once the coaching staff decides Morgan won’t be the left tackle, the right guard competition may heat up once again—and Morgan would have a better chance in this one, for sure.
Rhyan brings a level of physicality that the Packers like, but Morgan has shown good flashes, especially as a run blocker. Playing inside, his issues to anchor and the lack of hand-placement consistency aren’t nearly as impactful, and his athleticism to move to the second level of the defense shows up.
Rhyan will also be a free agent next offseason, so Morgan getting the starting job would probably be the favorable outcome—however, the former first-rounder will have to earn it on the field.
Wide receiver rotation
The Packers drafted two wide receivers in the first three rounds, including Matthew Golden in the first, so how much each wide receiver will play is a big part of the discussion all offseason. Well, Golden will play a lot. He’s already a starter even in 12 personnel, and nobody was on the field for more wide out snaps than him on Family Night.
With Jayden Reed limited to the slot, Golden and Romeo Doubs have been the starters on the boundary. Dontayvion Wicks didn’t practice on Saturday, but him, Mecole Hardman, and Malik Heath are battling for the snaps. Third-round rookie Savion Williams is getting integrated more slowly.
Cornerback
The Packers’ preferred starting trio at cornerback has Keisean Nixon and Nate Hobbs as boundary defenders, with safety Javon Bullard in the slot. That’s how it’s been when all players are available throughout training camp.
It might sound weird, because Carrington Valentine always plays well when he has the chance—like he did on Family Night with Hobbs out due to a knee injury.
Valentine in the starting lineup would free up the Packers to play Hobbs in the slot, which is his natural position, but the staff seems more inclined to make the most out of the big free agent signing and maximize his value playing him as an outside corner.
QB3
The Packers are set at quarterbacks one and two with Jordan Love and Malik Willis, respectively, but there is a fun competition between Sean Clifford and Taylor Elgersma at QB3—the winner will probably end up on the practice squad. So far, Clifford is ahead. The third-year fifth-round pick shows he’s more experienced and more consistent, which puts him in position to get earlier and more reps with the threes.
Games will be a big part of the evaluation, and it’s possible that the Packers prefer to keep Elgersma due to a higher ceiling. But so far, Clifford is ahead. And if the Packers cut both after training camp, they will have to wait and see if you or both pass through waivers unclaimed to return to the PS.
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