Highlights from Day 1 of Packers Training Camp

Here are lineup changes, injury updates, the play of the day, practice video and more from the start of Green Bay Packers training camp.

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Believe it or not, the first day of Green Bay Packers training camp on Wednesday included a practice.

For about 1 hour, 40 minutes, the Packers conducted an OTA-style helmet-and-shorts practice. That will be the case again on Thursday.

“I think every year has got new challenges and I think it all starts in training camp, how you come together as a team, because that team cohesion, that team camaraderie, chemistry, that’s an important part of it,” coach Matt LaFleur said before hitting the practice field. “We know what the winning formula is around here, and it's taking it day by day, one game at a time. I know it's cliche and I'm sure some of you guys are rolling your eyes at me right now. But that is the truth. We’re just going to take it one day at a time and watch this team come together and we'll see where we're at.”

De’Vondre Campbell, Eric Stokes Among Starters

There were two new faces in the defensive starting lineup. With veteran cornerback Kevin King starting camp on the sideline with an undisclosed injury, first-round pick Eric Stokes moved into the starting lineup.

Far more noteworthy was linebacker. Instead of lining up with the second-year tandem of Krys Barnes and Kamal Martin, the Packers went with Barnes and veteran addition De’Vondre Campbell.

“He’s been moving fast, picking it up,” safety Adrian Amos said of Campbell, a 70-game starter who joined the team in June. “A lot of times when you have more players on a defense that have played a lot of ball and can come in and get stuff going, and they can pick up on it fast because you just know football. When you know football, it’s easier to switch schemes or get with a new team.”

Elgton Jenkins at Left Tackle

When All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari was out for the NFC Championship Game with a torn ACL, the Packers shifted Billy Turner to left tackle and inserted veteran Rick Wagner at right tackle.

How might the Packers line up for Week 1 at New Orleans if Bakhtiari isn’t quite back? On Wednesday, Pro Bowl left guard Elgton Jenkins moved out to left tackle and Turner stayed home at right tackle. The left guard snaps were split by Ben Braden and Jon Runyan. Rookie Josh Myers was the center and Lucas Patrick was at his customary spot at right guard.

Bad Start

Let the record reflect the first play of training camp was a botched center-quarterback exchange between Aaron Rodgers and Myers.

Brief Scare for Davante Adams

During the aforementioned red-zone period, Davante Adams was unable to pull in a pass from Rodgers against Sullivan. Adams stayed on the turf for perhaps a half-minute before coming off the field. No problem, though. He was back in later and ended the day with a touchdown.

Adams is coming off one of the great seasons in NFL history. Now, he wants to be even better.

“It’s not numbers-based for me,” he said. “It’s about the way my film looks. Typically, if my film looks good, my quarterback is going to find me, which turns into the numbers kind of take care of themselves. Obviously, I want to elevate. I want to do better in every category than what I did. But I’m not going and saying, ‘OK, now it’s 20 touchdowns or whatever.’ I would love to have 20 touchdowns. When I see that film, I want to see me impose my will on the defense. I just want teams and players to still feel the same way or be even more scared as what they were previously.”

Play of the Day

While Rodgers looked sharp as far as Day 1s go, showing he put in the work during the offseason, it was Jordan Love who might have made the play of the day. During a red-zone period, rookie receiver Amari Rodgers got a step beyond Chandon Sullivan. Love dropped the ball over an unsuspecting Sullivan’s shoulder and into the hands of Rodgers for the score. For the most part, though, the defense won the period.

Rodgers did deliver his own gem. Earlier in the day, Equanimeous St. Brown got free of Jaire Alexander on a corner route and Rodgers lobbed one into the front corner of the end zone for the score.

Packers Injury Report

Injured: None. Non-football Injury List: CB Kevin King, S Will Redmond, S Henry Black, OLB Za’Darius Smith, LB Isaiah McDuffie, DT Kingsley Keke. Physically unable to perform list: RB Patrick Taylor, TE Dominique Dafney, LT David Bakhtiari, TE Josiah Deguara.

Returned to Practice: OLB Tipa Galeai opened camp on the non-football injury list but passed his physical and practiced.

Packers Training Camp Schedule

As established by the collective bargaining agreement, the first three days must contain zero contact. On Days 4 and 5, teams can practice in “spiders and shells” (helmets and light practice gear). Day 6 is a mandatory day off. Day 7 is when training camp really begins, with full pads and contact.

Officially speaking, Day 1 of Packers training camp was Tuesday, meaning Sunday is their day off. The pads, if LaFleur chooses, would go on on Monday.

Here is the practice schedule.

All eyes were on Aaron Rodgers for Day 1 of training camp.


Aaron Rodgers, coach Matt LaFleur and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett.


Aaron Rodgers throws a pass at practice.


Quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love


LB Kamal Martin reacts after catching a pass.


LB Ty Summers goes through drills.


WR Reggie Begelton does the "Man Hands" drill by catching a ball straight from the JUGS.


CB Jaire Alexander is always in style.


From left: Jordan Love, Kurt Benkert and Aaron Rodgers


DT Kenny Clark goes through pad work at practice.


Aaron Rodgers tries to make an acrobatic catch.


Rodgers smiles with QBs coach Luke Getsy


Rodgers and Love discuss drills.


Rookie DL Carlo Kemp strikes a pad.


DT Kenny Clark takes a water break on a steamy day.


LB De'Vondre Campbell catches a pass during drills.


P Ryan Winslow, LS Joe Fortunato and K JJ Molson are challenging for specialist jobs.



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Bill Huber
BILL HUBER

Bill Huber, who has covered the Green Bay Packers since 2008, is the publisher of Packers On SI, a Sports Illustrated channel. E-mail: packwriter2002@yahoo.com History: Huber took over Packer Central in August 2019. Twitter: https://twitter.com/BillHuberNFL Background: Huber graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where he played on the football team, in 1995. He worked in newspapers in Reedsburg, Wisconsin Dells and Shawano before working at The Green Bay News-Chronicle and Green Bay Press-Gazette from 1998 through 2008. With The News-Chronicle, he won several awards for his commentaries and page design. In 2008, he took over as editor of Packer Report Magazine, which was founded by Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Nitschke, and PackerReport.com. In 2019, he took over the new Sports Illustrated site Packer Central, which he has grown into one of the largest sites in the Sports Illustrated Media Group.