Green Bay Packers 2025 training camp preview

GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Green Bay Packers‘ 2025 training camp runs from Wednesday to Aug. 21 at Ray Nitschke Field across the street from Lambeau Field.

When a team does something it hasn’t done in 23 years, it becomes the story of the offseason. Enter Matthew Golden, the rookie from Texas. He became the first receiver the Packers drafted in the first round since 2002, meaning quarterback Jordan Love will have something Aaron Rodgers never did. If the belief is that the Packers need Love to take the next step, then at least they did something to help him after never giving Rodgers a first-round receiver.

Here’s a closer look at what we are watching at camp — and a 53-man roster prediction:

Is anyone on the hot seat?

Both coach Matt LaFleur and general manager Brian Gutekunst have two years remaining on their contracts and are coming off back-to-back playoff seasons, but this could be a critical season for both. Ed Policy takes over for outgoing team president Mark Murphy. Policy said earlier this summer that he is not planning to extend their contracts before this season but also doesn’t believe in lame-duck years, which only ups the importance of this season.

Three players to watch

C Elgton Jenkins. The Packers moved the two-time Pro Bowler from left guard to center this offseason, and Jenkins promptly skipped the offseason program (except for mandatory minicamp, though he did not practice). Jenkins is not opposed to the move, but he saw the four-year, $77 million contract the Packers gave to guard Aaron Banks in free agency, and he wants his contract adjusted to protect against future loss of income because of the move to a less lucrative position. The coaches have insisted they’re not concerned about the transition because Jenkins has played center before, but it will take time to build chemistry with Love.

QB Jordan Love. Both the quarterback and coach Matt LaFleur spent time this offseason refuting the notion that Love regressed last year in his second season as a starter. Love’s Week 1 knee injury didn’t help, limiting his mobility when he returned after missing two games. Getting back to his late-season form from 2023, when he had an eight-game stretch with 18 touchdowns and one interception, might not be realistic, but all eyes will be looking to see whether Love can get closer to that than he was at times last season.

CBs Nate Hobbs, Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine. Yes, this is three players in one, but what they can do as a cornerback group might dictate how successful the defense is in Year 2 under coordinator Jeff Hafley. Gutekunst signed Hobbs to a four-year, $48 million free agent contract knowing he likely would move on from Jaire Alexander, which he finally did last month. But it’s not a plug-and-play move. Hobbs has played more in the slot than on the edge, while Nixon also has bounced back and forth. Valentine has played exclusively outside.

Key position battles

Left tackle. Despite starting almost every game the past two seasons, Rasheed Walker does not appear to have a firm hold on the job. Jordan Morgan, a 2024 first-round pick, will get the chance to compete with Walker while also potentially going up against Sean Rhyan for the right guard spot. Morgan played only 186 snaps as a rookie — all at guard — because of injuries, but he was drafted as a left tackle.

Backup running back. It might not seem like a big deal considering the workload Josh Jacobs handled last season (337 combined rushes and catches for 1,671 total yards from scrimmage), but keeping Jacobs healthy and fresh for a playoff run could be critical. This is where MarShawn Lloyd could come in. He played in only one game last season as a rookie because of a myriad of health issues, but if the third-round pick can stay on the field, he could be an upgrade over the likes of Chris Brooks and Emanuel Wilson.

Watson will probably not step on the field during training camp, but monitoring his rehab from left ACL surgery in January could provide a hint at when he might be able to play again. What originally looked like a mid-November return at best could be accelerated. The fourth-year receiver was already running routes in early June. Even before that, LaFleur said Watson has been “doing outstanding, I would say he’s ahead of schedule.”