GREEN BAY – On the eve of Family Night, the Packers practiced in shells for 1 hour, 40 minutes on Friday at Nitschke Field.
Here are five things we learned:
- The Packers scaled back practice due to “a combination” of injuries and Family Night.
With seven new players on the injury report and Family Night scheduled for Saturday, Head Coach Matt LaFleur pulled back the reins a bit.
Cornerback Nate Hobbs (knee), tackle Rasheed Walker (groin), offensive lineman Travis Glover (shoulder), cornerback Kamal Hadden (hip), defensive end Arron Mosby (groin) and receiver Sam Brown Jr. (ankle) did not practice.
The Packers also had three wideouts – Jayden Reed (toe), Dontayvion Wicks (calf) and Savion Williams (concussion protocol) – working in a limited capacity.
“It would be a combination of both,” said LaFleur when asked if the team adjusted Friday’s practice due to injuries or Family Night. “This is kind of what we had scheduled anyways, knowing that tomorrow night those guys will get after it pretty good.”
During practice, running back Emanuel Wilson appeared to sustain a lower-body injury while adjusting to an end-zone pass from quarterback Jordan Love in team 11-on-11.
Wilson walked off under his own power alongside members of the training staff but didn’t return to practice. At running back, the Packers already are without former third-round pick MarShawn Lloyd, who hasn’t practiced since suffering a groin injury on Monday.
- Without Walker, Jordan Morgan again took first-team snaps at left tackle.
After finishing Thursday’s practice at left tackle with the starting offensive line, the Packers’ 2024 first-round pick took all the first-team snaps at left tackle with Walker sidelined.
Morgan started camp rotating in at guard while Elgton Jenkins and Aaron Banks each dealt with back injuries but now is getting a chance to rep the position he predominately played during his four years at Arizona.
“I thought he did a nice job,” LaFleur said. “There’s always going to be a couple plays that we just gotta make sure we clean up, and that’s why you practice.”
Morgan was limited to just seven games during his rookie season due to a recurring shoulder injury that eventually required season-ending surgery. He was cleared in time for the team’s offseason program, though.
While admittedly most comfortable at left tackle, the 6-foot-5, 311-pound offensive lineman also understands having to compete for a starting job all across the offensive line.
“It’s part of the game, honestly. You’ve got to win your spot,” said Morgan earlier this week. “You’ve got to do everything you can, even if it means playing multiple positions during camp. It doesn’t bother me because I’m getting the work.”
- Happy to be back, John FitzPatrick is making plays.
The 6-foot-7, 262-pound tight end made a couple nice sliding snags from backup quarterback Malik Willis – one near the sideline in an early team period and another on a 5-yard touchdown in team red zone.
Known for his blocking prowess, FitzPatrick has been looking for openings to show pass-catching ability in his first training camp in Green Bay. On Friday, opportunity knocked.
“It’s just an easy corner route,” said FitzPatrick, who signed with the Packers off Atlanta’s practice squad last October.
“Malik put the ball perfect and made a play. We just talked about getting your knee down if it’s even gonna be close rather than trying to drag two feet. Maybe I didn’t need to slide, but made it happen.”
The fourth-year veteran re-signed with Green Bay in April and is part of a wide-open competition for the third-string spot behind Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave.
Coincidentally, tight end is the only non-specialist position where the Packers did not sign or draft a new player in the offseason. All six players spent time with Green Bay last year.
“I always wanted to be back here,” FitzPatrick said. “I really love it here. I love the people here. When the opportunity presented itself, it was really a no-brainer. It was nice just being able to go through the whole offseason program. The OTAs and the lifting, all the meetings and practices, I think has just helped me a ton.”
- There’s a method behind how the Packers arranged their locker room.
Last week, Green Bay unveiled its brand-new locker room and with it came a new blueprint for how lockers are situated.
To promote cohesiveness, LaFleur and the coaches arranged to have alternating lockers between offensive and defensive players through the space, which fits 81 lockers.
“There’s definitely a lot of thought that goes along in it,” LaFleur said. “For the most part, I do like the format of having an offensive player next to a defensive player. I just think you want guys to get around people other than what’s on their side of the ball or within their position room. So, there’s definitely some strategy.”
- Everyone is excited for Family Night.
The Packers will run back out onto Lambeau Field for the first time in seven months when the team holds its annual Family Night practice at 7 p.m. CT on Saturday.
The event, which includes post-practice fireworks and a laser show, will be streamed live on packers.com.
It’s a special night for rookies and veterans alike. In addition to players practicing in front of more than 70,000 fans, it’s an opportunity for players to enjoy a workday with their families.
“It means everything, for sure,” cornerback Bo Melton said. “My son, he’s getting older so he’s starting to recognize stuff more. I’m definitely hyped to see how he reacts when he sees all these lights and all these people. I’m just happy to be in his presence, with my girlfriend, and to be able to enjoy that moment with him now that he’s getting older.”
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