The Green Bay Packers had their annual practice at Lambeau Field on Saturday night and will now transition, starting on Monday, to the next phase of training camp: joint practices and preseason games. The Packers will go to Cincinnati this week for a practice and preseason game. But first, a quick practice Monday afternoon.
So, what will Day 9 bring for LaFleur’s team?
Here’s everything to know from Monday, Aug. 7, the ninth training camp practice of 2023:
What to know from Matt LaFleur's pre-practice press conference
— On releasing Danny Etling: Difficult decision. Lots of respect for Danny in the building. Tough to rep four quarterbacks, necessary move to get everyone the reps.
— Can Packers have a rookie as the backup quarterback: References season in Washington with rookies Robert Griffin III and Kirk Cousins as the top quarterbacks.
— On rookie Sean Clifford: He’s a gamer. Resilient guy, can bounce back. Built the right way, just need to refine mechanics. More reps will help.
— On Rashan Gary: Off PUP list on Monday. He’ll do mostly individual stuff. No team periods. Eric Stokes isn’t ready to come off PUP list.
— Road trip to Cincinnati: Good chance to bond on the road and opportunity to face a top AFC opponent. “Great test for our football team.”
— On Malik Heath/Bo Melton: Both have flashed. Said Heath is a “goon” type they like. Melton is a scrapper. Need consistency.
— On preseason playing time: Possible they could play “everybody” but a select few in preseason opener vs. Bengals. Joint practice will help determine play time.
Live practice news, updates
— Newcomer Arron Mosby is working with the edge rusher/outside linebacker group, per Andy Herman.
— Darnell Savage intercepted Jordan Love on the first play of a team period.
— Anders Carlson made 2-of-3 kicks, including an extra point, during his first kicking session.
— Next set for Carlson: 3-for-3, including two over 50.
— Packers defense allowed just two touchdowns in six third-and-goal opportunities during a competitive period.
— Like Family Night, Love finished Monday’s practice strong.
Injury updates
— The Packers brought back Rashan Gary (ACL) from the PUP list and rookie receiver Grant DuBose (back) from the NFI list.
— Left tackle David Bakhtiari and left guard Elgton Jenkins returned to the practice field. Tight end Josiah Deguara (calf) remains out.
— Defensive back Innis Gaines (quad) and running back Lew Nichols (shoulder) are both out of practice on Monday.
Rashan Gary is back
Here’s Gary, who tore his ACL on Nov. 6 of last year, going through individual drills to start Monday’s practice. He came off the PUP list and will eased back into action.
Rashan Gary back on the practice field for the first time since tearing his ACL, doing individual reps. pic.twitter.com/73wQgRJ9nE
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) August 7, 2023
DuBose also back
Grant DuBose, the Packers’ seventh-round pick, missed all of the offseason workout program and the start of training camp with a back issue. He returned on Monday:
Grant DuBose making his #PackersCamp debut pic.twitter.com/Wl5Il2PDLy
— Wes Hodkiewicz (@WesHod) August 7, 2023
Quick red zone note
File this one away (see No. 5 in tweet below): the Packers lined up rookie Jayden Reed in the backfield and had him run a route against a linebacker in the red zone. The result? A touchdown. Could be an interesting wrinkle for the Packers in 2023.
Red zone for Love.
1. Incomplete to Watson. Nowhere to go was basically a throw away. Great coverage by Rasul.
2. Quay on a blitz. Offensive line holds up. Love throws a jump ball to Davis but it’s high and Savage had great coverage.
3. Love to Goodson in the flat for a TD…
— Andy Herman (@AndyHermanNFL) August 7, 2023
