GREEN BAY, Wis. — Speaking with reporters for the first time this offseason, Packers linebacker Quay Walker had no interest in talking about his contract situation.
The Packers didn’t exercise the fifth-year option on Walker’s deal this offseason. That would’ve guaranteed him about $14.8 million in 2026. General manager Brian Gutekunst has said he wants to keep Walker long term, but does Walker feel the need to prove himself since he’s now in a contract year?
“I ain’t really gotta prove nothing,” the 2022 first-round pick said after Tuesday’s practice. “I just gotta prove myself right. Ever since I got drafted, I been in this situation where people may feel otherwise, but I ain’t really quite worried about it. Everything will take care of itself.”
Does Walker want to be in Green Bay long term? He was asked that and took a short pause.
“Of course,” he said. “But it’s out of my hands.”
Walker was then asked a third question about the topic and decided that was enough contract talk.
“I don’t mean to cut you off,” Walker said. “I don’t really wanna talk about the contract situation today … I don’t wanna really wanna talk about it.”
Walker, still only 25 years old, hasn’t quite lived up to his first-round billing. He hasn’t been a bust, either. This could very much be a make-or-break year for his Packers future.
Walker participated in 11-on-11s for the first time in training camp on Tuesday, albeit in a limited capacity. He’s been dealing with an ankle injury after having surgery in late May. Walker indicated he’s been dealing with the injury since before last regular season began. He missed the final three games of the 2024 regular season with an ankle issue and said he rolled it again in the playoffs against the Eagles.
Walker thought he suffered a high-ankle sprain, but he realized it was more serious upon resuming workouts in Green Bay early this offseason and opted for surgery so the injury wouldn’t linger into the 2025 season. Throughout camp and including Tuesday when he wasn’t participating in 11-on-11s, Walker has stood on the field well behind the defense with his helmet on.
“Just trying to get any pre-snap clues that I can take,” Walker said. “Pretty much just treating it like I am out there playing, so I’m just still taking the reps even when I can’t. So I’m just in the back, mirroring and doing things like that, saying the calls because I get the calls in my helmet with Haf (defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley), as well, so it’s pretty much just practicing by myself, I’d say.”
With about a month until the Packers open the season against the Lions at Lambeau Field, Walker said there’s no doubt that he’ll be ready for Week 1.
Seven things to know
1. Packers cornerback Nate Hobbs had a significant limp walking through the locker room on Tuesday after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus on Saturday. Hobbs, perhaps the talk of Packers camp through the first week for the physical playstyle he has brought to Green Bay after four years with the Raiders, said that he suffered the injury last Thursday during a practice collision. Hobbs is slated to start at outside cornerback with Keisean Nixon this season and is expected to see time at the nickel, too. Head coach Matt LaFleur wouldn’t put a timetable on Hobbs’ return, only saying, “We’re hoping to get him back here sooner than later.” Hobbs didn’t rule out playing Week 1 and said he’s just glad the injury wasn’t more serious.
Packers CB Nate Hobbs stood up with a smile when asked how he was feeling after his knee surgery.
He said at Thursday’s practice it was a minor collision that turned out to be something deeper. Said he found out his meniscus was torn on Friday and had the procedure Saturday.… pic.twitter.com/VYKtoinOIK
— Kelly Hallinan (@kellyhals) August 5, 2025
2. Tight end Tucker Kraft returned to practice in a limited capacity after missing Family Night on Saturday with a groin injury. Running back Emanuel Wilson, who has missed the last two practices with a knee injury after taking a scary fall during Friday’s practice, said his injury “wasn’t anything too bad” and he wants to play in Saturday night’s preseason opener against the Jets. The Packers waived/injured wide receiver Sam Brown Jr., who flashed early in camp but recently suffered an ankle injury, and signed offensive lineman Lecitus Smith to replace him. They also signed cornerback Corey Ballentine, who started seven games for the Packers and appeared in 37 from 2022 to 2024 before the Colts signed him this offseason.
Other than Hobbs and Wilson, the DNP list included left tackle Rasheed Walker (groin; not long term, per LaFleur), running back MarShawn Lloyd (groin), wide receiver Christian Watson (knee), wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (calf), offensive lineman Travis Glover (shoulder), cornerback Kamal Hadden (hip), defensive end Collin Oliver (hamstring), offensive lineman John Williams (back) and defensive end Arron Mosby (groin).
3. Brandon McManus is now 44-of-46 on kicks during team periods through 10 training camp practices (he kicks every other practice). McManus went 8-for-9 on Tuesday with a 53-yard attempt clanging off the left upright. McManus made his lone attempt from 29 yards or fewer, and he’s 10-for-10 on attempts between 30-39 yards. He’s 22-of-23 from between 40-49 yards and 11-of-12 between 50-56 yards.
4. There were some spirited 1-on-1 battles between pass catchers and defensive backs, most notably with cornerback Carrington Valentine and wide receiver Romeo Doubs. Valentine had air-tight coverage on their first rep, but Doubs made a nice catch for a short gain in the red zone. Valentine then broke up a 50-50 ball in the back-right corner of the end zone and flexed on Doubs in front of the crowd. On their third rep, Doubs hauled in a touchdown on a fade to take a 2-1 advantage. The sometimes soft-spoken receiver gave it right back to Valentine, letting him know the score of their three matchups loud enough for reporters to hear on the opposite sideline.
Wide receiver Jayden Reed beat nickel Javon Bullard twice for touchdowns. Nixon and wide receiver Matthew Golden faced off three times and Nixon came out on top twice. On the first rep, Golden faked a go route and cooked Nixon on a slant. On the second, Nixon’s tight coverage helped force an incompletion in the back-right corner of the end zone. On the third, Nixon maintained good coverage on a fade to help force an incompletion. Safety Kitan Oladapo looked strong in a couple of reps against tight end Ben Sims and the play of the period went to tight end Johnny Lumpkin for his Mossing of safety Evan Williams.
For Dad. Mom. Everybody. Thank you. 💚💛 @PlayersTribune https://t.co/2ehcnwHbze
— JLove (@jordan3love) August 4, 2025
5. Defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt was in the backfield a couple of times on Tuesday, and stop me if you’ve read this before, but undrafted rookie Nazir Stackhouse stuffed another run up the middle. Green Bay’s linebackers continued flying around, too. That group could do damage this season. On a toss to running back Josh Jacobs to the right, Edgerrin Cooper rocketed into the backfield for a tackle for loss. Isaiah McDuffie smothered a reverse to Reed later in the period. Isaiah Simmons has flashed his mobility around the line of scrimmage at times in camp, too. One of the standout defensive plays of the day came from cornerback Kalen King, who blew up a Malik Willis screen pass to receiver Malik Heath. King punched at the ball before Heath even caught it, helping knock both Heath and the ball to the ground. It’s plays like that which will help King secure a spot on the 53-man roster. The only locks to make the team at cornerback, in my mind, are Nixon, Hobbs, Valentine and Bo Melton, if only for his special teams prowess. There might only be two more spots, maybe even one, for King, Hadden and Ballentine.
6. The play of the day on offense came courtesy of quarterback Jordan Love and Doubs, who ran a post route past Bullard and Williams before hauling in Love’s perfectly thrown bomb down the middle for a 55-yard touchdown. The ball was slightly ahead of Doubs, but traveled about 50 yards in the air and essentially hit him in stride as Doubs made a fingertip catch around the 10-yard line before easing into the end zone.
Made 55 yards in the air look easy@emplifybellin pic.twitter.com/B10K9q4BaO
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) August 5, 2025
Honorable mention goes to Willis and wide receiver Mecole Hardman for connecting on a beautiful fade for a 15-yard touchdown over King in the No. 2 offense’s two-minute drill. Willis followed the bucket-drop with a sidearm completion to wideout Julian Hicks for two points and the win.
“Malik is nice, man,” Hardman said. “He’s real nice. Even when he was at the Titans. He’s a Georgia boy, so I’ve known Malik for a minute now, so it’s good to get out there with him on the field. He’s a great QB.”
7. LaFleur said he has decided whether Love and other starters will play on Saturday night against the Jets at Lambeau Field. The head coach, however, didn’t divulge his exact plan. He only said every player on the team should expect to play because “they’re football players” and added that playing time will be determined by “however I’m feeling in the moment.”
(Photo: Sarah Kloepping / Imagn Images)
