The 2026 NFL training camps have kicked off around the league, and our team reporters are on the ground each day following all the action. The Green Bay Packers' camp is taking place in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and Packers reporter Rob Demovsky has the latest intel on standouts, highlights, position battles, depth chart movement, cut decisions and, of course, the quarterbacks room.
What follows is everything we are seeing and hearing at Packers camp. We will update this file often. Will the revamped WR corps help QB Jordan Love and the offense take another step? Who are the breakout players to watch, especially for fantasy football? And which players on the roster bubble could make the final 53?
Dive into all the updates and be sure to check back for more information until the first full week of the preseason begins Thursday.
Camp updates for all 32 NFL teams
Latest news out of Packers camp
Packers RT changes last name to Bako-Bewele to honor heritage
Packers star TE Tucker Kraft activated off PUP after ACL recovery
Tuesday, Aug. 11
Three weeks and 11 practices into training camp, and something's missing: fighting.
There hasn't even been so much as a scuffle or shoving match.
This is training camp No. 7 for veteran safety Xavier McKinney and when asked if this is the deepest into training camp he has ever gone without seeing a fight, McKinney didn't hesitate.
"Hell yeah," he said. "For sure."
But McKinney doesn't think that's a bad thing. Nor is it a sign that the players are not competitive enough.
"I think we're past that, to be honest," McKinney said. "I think we have a bigger goal, and that bigger goal is to get over this hump that we've been kind of dealing with these last couple years. We're not focused on fighting. Nobody's trying to get kicked out of practice. Nobody's trying to have practice stop early. We're just trying to focus on our technique. We're trying to find ways where we can improve as individuals. We want to be the best group that we can possibly be. We want to be better than what we were last year."
The Packers also haven't had a joint practice yet. So even McKinney said all bets are off when the Cardinals come to town for a practice Aug. 26.
"That always happens," McKinney said.
Other observations:
Just when it looked like the injury list would keep getting longer, a few key players returned to practice. Receivers Matthew Golden (toe) and Jayden Reed (ankle) were back after missing two practices. So was tight end Josh Whyle (neck). All took part in team (11-on-11) periods. Cornerback Carrington Valentine, who dropped out of practice Aug. 2 because of a hamstring injury, returned for individual drills only. The only new addition to the DNP list was rookie edge Dani Dennis-Sutton, but it was because of an illness.
The Packers had a pair of new defensive backs on the field after signing Trey Dean III and Travion Fluellen. They both worked with the safeties during individual drills. Safety Javon Bullard (foot) remained out.
After taking reps with both the second- and third-string defenses Monday, Keisean Nixon was back at his regular left cornerback spot with the No. 1 defense. In fact, he worked exclusively with that group and appeared to be on the field for every snap that the starters took. Brandon Cisse continued to work as the No. 1 right cornerback.
Trey Smack went 4-for-5 during a field goal period. His miss was wide right on a 45-yarder. He hit the right upright on a 41-yarder but it still went through. He's now 20-for-28 (71.4%) during camp.
A day after the NFL said it will allow head coaches to designate a member of their sideline staff to initiate replay challenges, coach Matt LaFleur said he doesn't plan to pass off the red challenge flag. "I probably should give it up based on past actions," LaFleur joked. "So no, I'll probably hold the challenge flag."
Practice No. 1️⃣1️⃣: Matthew Golden (toe); Jayden Reed (ankle) and Josh Whyle (neck) have returned to practice. pic.twitter.com/MRMdcAGotC
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) August 11, 2026
Monday, Aug. 10
It was the kind of practice that would have excited a young, backup quarterback.
But what about a 37-year-old going into his 16th NFL season?
"Oh yeah, the game still excites me," Tyrod Taylor said.
In what was perhaps Taylor's best practice since he signed with the Packers this offseason, he completed passes of all varieties. There was a deep post to Kisean Johnson. A quick-hitting slant to Will Sheppard for a first down. A 20-yarder to Sheppard down the left sideline. A big gain over the middle to J. Michael Sturdivant.
It didn't matter to Taylor that it was all with backup receivers -- many of whom might not make the team.
"There's a healthy rotation of guys that's going in and out with the group that I'm running with, and it's just up to me to communicate, get them in the right position but also give them a chance to make plays," Taylor said. "We've got a ton of playmakers at our skill positions."
The Packers had one of the best backup quarterbacks in the NFL last season with Malik Willis, who signed with the Dolphins as a free agent. Now, they have one of the most experienced.
"I'm a firm believer that your actions speak louder than your words, especially early on," said Taylor, who has played in 100 career games (with 62 starts) for seven teams. "It's about me coming in, being myself, preparing on the field, off the field, being ready for the opportunities and taking advantage of them as well, and then gradually growing into more of a vocal leader and speaking on things when they fit."
Other observations:
As if it weren't unusual enough to see cornerback Keisean Nixon with the second-string defense Sunday, it was even more surprising to see him taking snaps with the third-stringers Monday. In the very next period, he was back with the No. 1 defense, but it's a baffling way to handle a player who last season was considered the team's No. 1 cornerback. When Nixon wasn't with the starters, Benjamin St-Juste was in his spot along with rookie Brandon Cisse on the other side. Could it be a sign the Packers are thinking about demoting Nixon? "There's always competition," coach Matt LaFleur said. "All these guys got to be prepared for that. As far as the substitution, that's not something that I'm always micromanaging. A lot of that's on the position coach."
Though starting linebackers Edgerrin Cooper (foot) and Zaire Franklin (rest) returned to practice, the offense was still without two of its top receivers, Matthew Golden (toe) and Jayden Reed (ankle). Without running back Josh Jacobs (groin) and with tight end Tucker Kraft (knee) not yet doing 11-on-11 periods, the primary skill position players with the No. 1 offense were MarShawn Lloyd at running back; Christian Watson, Bo Melton, Skyy Moore, Savion Williams and Isaiah Neyor at receiver; and Messiah Swinson and Drake Dabney at tight end.
Add safety Javon Bullard to the injury list. He had a walking boot on his right foot during practice but said afterward that the issue was just a bruise that won't impact his availability for the start of the season. Kitan Oladapo played in Bullard's usual spot in the slot in the nickel package.
Two of the biggest plays of the day came from players fighting to make the roster. Cornerback Jaylin Simpson ended practice with a goal-line interception off undrafted rookie quarterback Kyron Drones. Meanwhile, Melton came down with a true 50-50 ball on a deep throw from Jordan Love. It looked like Nixon might have been in position to break it up or even intercept it before Melton came back for the ball and snagged it. "I just wanted it to be like a 80/20 or 100/0," Melton said. "My ball or nobody's."
Sunday, Aug. 9
If the Packers were looking for someone to emerge behind their top three receivers, then perhaps Sunday's practice will help.
With Matthew Golden (toe) and Jayden Reed (ankle) out, Christian Watson was the only available starting receiver.
Enter Savion Williams, the second-year receiver who had just 10 catches for 78 yards and a touchdown in limited opportunities as a rookie. In fact, last season Williams had more rushes (11) on jet sweeps and end arounds than he did receptions.
Williams got things rolling Sunday when he caught a 60-yard bomb from third-string quarterback Kyle McCord early in practice. Williams took advantage of having linebacker Kristian Welch on him in coverage. But Williams didn't just show his skills with and against the backups.
He caught four more passes -- all from starting quarterback Jordan Love -- including another touchdown in the red zone and two more catches for first downs.
"His measurables are off the charts in terms of his size, speed and strength," coach Matt LaFleur said recently. "And then he's just a young player that's still learning and he's got a long way to go, but I think he's showcased a lot of great traits, and that's why we drafted him and that's why we loved him coming out."
Williams, a third-round pick, is in competition with the likes of Bo Melton, Skyy Moore, Isaiah Neyor and J. Michael Sturdivant for the backup receiver spots.
Other observations:
Zach Bako-Bewele's return to team drills for the first time since last season's knee injury might have cleared up the right guard situation. Instead of Anthony Belton going back to right guard, where he was a starter last season, the Packers instead went with Jacob Monk. Belton took mostly backup snaps at right tackle. Jager Burton took left guard snaps with Aaron Banks (knee) still limited to individual drills.
For the first time in camp, cornerback Keisean Nixon took reps with the No. 2 defense. It might not have been a full-fledged demotion because Nixon still got some first-team reps, but there were periods in which Brandon Cisse and Benjamin St-Juste were at the corners with the starting defense.
Defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt (ankle/leg) took 11-on-11 snaps for the first time in camp. Previously, he had done only individual drills.
Defensive tackle Javon Hargrave (knee) and running back Chris Brooks (hamstring) were activated off PUP and NFI, respectively, and did individual drills. Hargrave said his knee issue was something that lingered from the offseason program, while Brooks said his injury happened during the break between minicamp in June and the start of training camp.
Rookie Trey Smack went 2-for-3 on field goals, missing from 48 yards off the right upright. He's now 16-of-23 in camp.
Not only did the Packers have an extended period at the end of practice that featured end-of-half/end-of-game special scenarios, but LaFleur was the one who directed each drill. It was another sign that LaFleur is focused on improving the way they finish games after blowing several leads last year.
Both starting inside linebackers, Edgerrin Cooper and Zaire Franklin, missed practice. Cooper has a foot injury, and Franklin had just returned from the Pro Football Hall of Fame inductions. He attended the induction of former Colts teammate Adam Vinatieri. Tight end Josh Whyle (neck) also sat out.
Friday, Aug. 7
Nothing like a deep-ball touchdown to cover up an offense's warts. That's what Matthew Golden's 52-yard touchdown catch from Jordan Love did on Friday night, when the annual Family Night crowd at Lambeau Field otherwise didn't have much to get excited about when it came to the Packers' offense.
Everyone, however, probably left the stadium with visions of what Love and Golden can do in their second year together. Now, it's possible that edge rusher Brenton Cox Jr. could have blown up the whole play if tackling was allowed because he appeared to be closing in on Love, but everything else about it was picture-perfect. From the throw that sailed through the air to the over-the-shoulder catch by Golden, who got safety Javon Bullard turned around, it was the kind of play that Golden didn't make much last season as a rookie. He's expected to have a much bigger role in the offense this season.
High schooler ties Matthew Golden and Will Sheppard by catching (and holding onto) five punts before the sixth one blows it all up.
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) August 8, 2026
One of the best parts of Family Night. pic.twitter.com/fEQ8CHUnU1
"I feel real confident just taking it day by day and just building chemistry with Jordan, being on the same page with him, communicating as much as I can," Golden said. "I feel like each and every day we go out there in practice, I feel like the chemistry between us is growing for sure."
Trey Smack might have taken some of the pressure off himself after a solid showing. The rookie kicker, who came in 8-for-13 on field goals so far in camp, went 6-for-7 on Friday night. His lone miss was a 51-yarder wide left. Instead of kicking one after another like he had been doing in practice, the coaches gave Smack just a single rep at the end of each team period, making it more game-like. "Definitely, built a little bit of confidence up tonight," Smack said. "But we can always kick better." He will get only one more chance to kick in Lambeau in front of fans before the season because the Packers have just one home preseason game this year.
For a defense that wants to increase its takeaways from last year, there sure were some missed opportunities. Both Evan Williams and Xavier McKinney dropped potential interceptions during the team periods. The Packers had only 13 takeaways on defense last season after getting 29 in 2024.
Brandon Cisse, Bo Melton, Jacob Monk and Chris McClellan all dropped out of practice. Cisse, the rookie second-round pick who was at right cornerback with the No. 1 offense, said he was cramping and needed to hydrate better. McClellan, the rookie defensive lineman, who made a few tackles got rolled up on but said he was fine. Coach Matt LaFleur did not know what happened to Monk, who was the starter at right guard.
LaFleur said one of the best parts of Family Night -- besides the post-practice fireworks show and a near-packed stadium -- was having referee Shawn Hochuli and his crew officiate the practice. The Packers have local officials work training camp, but this was the first visit by an NFL crew this summer. "In terms of how they call defensive holding there was a number of those, there was a couple offensive holdings," LaFleur said. "So I think that was really good for our guys to get exposed to that."
A local high school football player tied Golden and Will Sheppard by catching five punts off the Jugs machine while having to hold each ball as he caught the next. With four in his arms and one between his knees, he couldn't hold onto No. 6.
Thursday, Aug. 6
It would be hard to blame running back MarShawn Lloyd for getting excited after he scored a touchdown in practice on Thursday.
And it would be hard to blame coach Matt LaFleur for telling his oft-injured running back to find a different way to celebrate it.
After he caught a touchdown pass from Jordan Love, Lloyd celebrated with a backflip in the end zone.
When the period ended, LaFleur walked over to Lloyd on the sideline.
"He said it was cool," Lloyd said. "But he said let's not do that."
Receiver Christian Watson has used the same move to celebrate.
"And he told him the same thing: Stop doing them," Lloyd said.
Lloyd, a third-round pick in 2024, has already made it further into camp than he did last season, when a recurring hamstring injury kept him out the entire season. Previously, he had hip and ankle injuries along with appendicitis that limited him to 10 snaps as a rookie.
"Got a long way to go, but when he's out there, he's making plays and he's turning heads," GM Brian Gutekunst said before Thursday's practice. "He always kind of has done that since he's been here, when he's been able to be out there. So yeah, excited for where he's going."
More observations:
It's looking more and more like Skyy Moore will have a spot on the opening-day, 53-man roster. And not just as a return specialist. The Packers have liked what they've seen in him as a receiver. The Packers gave Moore a $1 million signing bonus in free agency, but they've cut players with similar bonuses before; kicker Brandon McManus was released this offseason only weeks after he was paid a $1 million roster bonus. "I think Skyy's going to help us as a returner and as a receiver," Gutekunst said. "I expect him to be part of our squad moving forward."
Speaking of backup receivers, Isaiah Neyor made an impressive touchdown catch from backup QB Kyle McCord. Neyor fought off tight coverage from safety Kitan Oladapo and spun in the air to bring in the ball. Neyor, who was on the practice squad last season, and undrafted rookie J. Michael Sturdivant could be fighting for the last receiver spot on the roster. Studivant also has been impressive.
The coaches want to take a long look at offensive lineman Jacob Monk. With left guard Aaron Banks (knee) still not doing any team drills, Monk has been with the starters. He had been mostly at left guard but moved over to right guard Thursday, which meant Anthony Belton bounced out to right tackle, where regular starter Zach Bako-Bewele (knee) is also not doing team drills. "I love Monk's playstyle," offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said. "He's got the right mindset. He tries to get after people and plays the game the right way. So I've been happy with how he's played so far this camp."
Running back Josh Jacobs (groin) missed his first practice of camp. However, the injury is not expected to be a long-term concern.
The Packers closed Thursday's practice to fans but are expected to have nearly 60,000 in Lambeau Field for Friday's annual Family Night practice.
J.J. Watt was a visitor at practice. The Milwaukee-area native never got the chance to play for his home-state team, although he was reportedly interested in doing so before he signed with the Cardinals in 2021. Watt is expected to be part of the CBS broadcast crew for the Week 1 game against the Vikings.
Special teams coordinator Cam Achord, cleats and all. pic.twitter.com/ysNQAcSpha
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) July 30, 2026
Wednesday, Aug. 5
While much has been made about rookie kicker Trey Smack's early struggles in training camp (see Monday's camp report), special teams coordinator Cam Achord explained why those practice kicks are only a small part of the evaluation.
Some of that has to do with the wind. Smack kicked in one especially windy day on Ray Nitschke Field, and Achord -- who is new to town -- was surprised at the difference in the wind on the practice field compared to inside Lambeau Field.
"We go in there and it's like, wow, you don't feel anything," Achord said. "So I don't put as much stock on the practice stuff as I will in the stadium stuff."
Lambeau Field has tricky winds of its own, but Achord said he believes gusts of 25 miles per hour outside "really feels like a light breeze almost inside. Whereas at practice you're out there and you're looking at the flags and it's moving. You're like, whoa, it's a tough day to kick."
Add into the mix that regular long snapper Matt Orzech has been unavailable because of a calf injury and holder Daniel Whelan is getting used to putting the ball down the way Smack likes it, which coach Matt LaFleur said is different than how previous kicker Brandon McManus wanted it held.
Achord was asked to explain the nuances of holding and didn't just explain it, he demonstrated it in the Packers' media auditorium. That demonstration can be seen here:
And QB1 to TE1 (for now) pic.twitter.com/MHPpVRhBxT
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) August 4, 2026
Achord, defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon and offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich spoke to reporters on Wednesday, when the players were off.
More observations:
Achord might be the only Packers coach ever to wear cleats to practice. He said he started wearing them in 2018, when he joined the Patriots' staff because he likes to get hands on with his players: "I got tired of getting thrown on the ground doing gunner releases with Matt Slater," he said. "Justin Bethel broke my nose. ... I'm 165 pounds and they're athletes, and I tell them like, quit pulling me like you're gonna pull a coach. I was like, pull me like you're gonna pull the freaking vise, yank. So they started yanking and broke my nose, fell down. So after that, I started wearing cleats just for better grip."
LaFleur has rarely played veteran starters during the preseason but with a new defensive coordinator in Gannon, might LaFleur want his players to get some exhibition game reps? Said Gannon: "I'll probably punt that one to Matt what we're going to do. How do I say this the right way to you guys? I think that our players have earned the right to play our stuff and get really good at it and go play."
Gannon on his plans for Micah Parsons when he returns from his ACL rehab: "We were talking the other day, he could see himself in a bunch of different spots in different calls, so that's kinda cool. Then it will be our job to make sure he gets his touches, which he will."
Six practices in, and MarShawn Lloyd is still healthy. That's an accomplishment for the third-year pro, who has played in exactly one NFL game and missed all of last season after getting injured on the first day of padded practices last summer. Asked whether his confidence in Lloyd has grown, offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said: "Every day he's out there and doing it, I have a little bit more. ... But I think this preseason's going to be a huge telling point of what we can do with him this year."
The Packers have a closed (to the public) practice Thursday and then hold their annual Family Night on Friday at Lambeau Field, where they will practice in front of a full stadium of fans.
Can Achord with an amazing tutorial on holding when asked how Trey Smack likes the ball held (LaFleur said yesterday that it's different than the way McManus wanted Daniel Whelan to hold it). pic.twitter.com/rBfwDdUQgC
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) August 5, 2026
Tuesday, Aug. 4
If there were any questions about how new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon plans to come up with a pass rush until Micah Parsons returns from his torn left ACL, the first six training camp practices have offered a glimpse.
It's been blitz, blitz, blitz.
"Linebackers, safeties, corners, nickels," cornerback Benjamin St-Juste said. "Pretty much everybody."
St-Juste, who has been working mostly with the No. 2 defense, had what would have been a sack if tackling was allowed. He also had one on Monday. So did rookie cornerback Brandon Cisse, who has been working with the No. 1 defense. Another cornerback, Jaylin Simpson, had a QB pressure during Tuesday's practice.
"Feel like Micah Parsons a little bit," Simpson said.
It's not just the corners. Safety Evan Williams got into the act with a sack of Jordan Love and a pressure to force an incompletion, while safety Kitan Oladapo got home and forced a scramble. Linebacker Edgerrin Cooper has also been a regular blitzer.
Gannon was not blitz heavy as coach of the Cardinals the past three seasons. They ranked 19th, 17th and 32nd in the NFL in blitz rate. Before that, as the Eagles' defensive coordinator, Gannon's units ranked 22nd and 30th in blitz percentage. But he might have to be now -- at least until Parsons is available.
"He's got the personnel here to do it," St-Juste said."
More observations:
It was the first day for one-on-one pass block/pass rush drills, and in the featured matchup, new left tackle Jordan Morgan blocked Lukas Van Ness on three straight reps. Van Ness tried a power rush, a speed rush and an inside move, and Morgan turned away all three. Morgan, however, did lose a rep against Barryn Sorrell.
Speaking of Sorrell, the second-year edge had perhaps his best day. He not only went 2-0 in the one-on-one drill, but he had a pick-six of Love on a backside screen for Josh Jacobs. Sorrell perfectly timed the play, and plucked Love's pass out of the air. "They ran a play like two plays later, and I was out there and I told Josh, 'Not again. Not again,'" Sorrell said. "Then next thing you know, it happened."
No wonder defensive tackle Anthony Campbell is so good at batting down passes (see Sunday's and Monday's camp reports). He won all four of his reps in the one-on-one pass rushing drill Tuesday.
Short on tight ends because of injuries, the Packers signed two of them: McCallan Castles and Drew Biber. They have been without Luke Musgrave (neck), Luke Lachey (foot) and RJ Maryland (hamstring) plus Tucker Kraft (ACL recovery) has been limited to individual drills only. The Packers then waived/injured Lachey and Maryland. Without Musgrave and Kraft, Josh Whyle, who had five catches in eight games last season, has worked as the No. 1 tight end.
As promised, Tucker Kraft is in full pads even though he won't be doing anything live yet.
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) August 3, 2026
He's getting extra work in with Love and the QBs. pic.twitter.com/gZvcHCd4DG
Monday, Aug. 3
Patience may be the operative word when it comes to kicker Trey Smack. The rookie had another uneven day on Monday, the first practice in full pads and the second in which the Packers kicked field goals during live periods.
After going 3-for-5 in windy conditions on Sunday, Smack had a 5-for-8 day in slightly calmer conditions on Monday.
It started with a miss wide right from 33 yards. He then made from 40, 43 and 48 before missing badly right from 55. The bigger tests came during end-of-game simulations in which the offense was down 28-26 with 50 seconds left from its own 30. With the No. 1s, Smack missed a 52-yarder that clanked off the left upright, but he then connected from 33 and 51 yards after drives by the second- and third-stringers.
The sixth-round pick from Florida has a two-day mark of 8-for-13. He's currently the only kicker on the roster.
"I'd like to have some patience here, but at the end of the day, any player, if he's costing us opportunities to win football games, then we're going to have to look at that," general manager Brian Gutekunst said at the start of camp. "But again, we really have a lot of confidence in Trey and what he's going to be able to do, but he is a rookie kicker and he's got a lot to learn and earn before he gets there."
More observations:
There were no skirmishes or big hits in the first practice with full pads. It appears coach Matt LaFleur's message got through, especially as it pertained to the quarterbacks -- something he was previously unhappy with. "That's the one thing that I've been probably most disappointed with is how many guys we've had in the quarterback's lap," LaFleur said before practice. "That was definitely stressed this morning. We had a couple instances yesterday in practice when we got guys that just veer off. You can't get close to them. There's going to be a time and a place for that, and that'll be in our first preseason game."
There were a few plays that would've ended with a sack but instead were allowed to continue. One of those may have been on a 60-yard touchdown from Jordan Love to wide-open receiver Jayden Reed, when linebacker Edgerrin Cooper might have gotten to Love, and another in which edge Brenton Cox Jr. may have gotten home.
A year ago, Bo Melton was trying to learn the cornerback role. This year, he's back at his natural receiver spot and on Monday made his best play of camp -- an over-the-shoulder catch from Tyrod Taylor down the right sideline against cornerback Jaylin Simpson.
While Love and Taylor both hit some deep shots, the defense had their share of wins, too. Safety Evan Williams and cornerback Brandon Cisse knocked the ball away from Christian Watson on what would have been a deep completion from Love. Watson may have dropped it, but Williams said, "I'd like to think I got a hand in there. I don't know if it was on the ball as much as just raking through his arm a little bit."
Cisse worked almost exclusively with the No. 1 defense. Cornerback Carrington Valentine did not practice after dropping out Sunday with a hamstring injury. Tight end RJ Maryland (hamstring) and guard Aaron Banks (knee/load management) did not practice. Tackle Brant Banks (hamstring) returned.
For the fourth time in camp and third time in the past two practices, defensive tackle Anthony Campbell batted down a pass at the line.
Normally, the quarterbacks throw into nets early in practice. On Monday, they instead threw to tight end Tucker Kraft, who is looking to get in some extra reps until he's cleared for more than just individual drills as he comes back from a torn right ACL.
In addition to the PUP/NFI guys, CB Keisean Nixon (hamstring) is not practicing.
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) July 29, 2026
Here's the rest of the cornerback group: pic.twitter.com/d2LlsRPuXq
Sunday, Aug. 2
Given what his lower left leg looked like before he had to be carted off the field in Week 17 against the Baltimore Ravens, cornerback Kamal Hadden barely flinched when he looked down at the pinkie finger on his right hand and saw that it was bent sideways.
After an expletive or two, he calmly sought out a member of the training staff and had it popped back into place.
If only that ankle had been so easy. It was so gruesome -- he not only dislocated his ankle but broke his fibula and tibia -- that the replay of him tackling Ravens running back Derrick Henry was never shown on the TV broadcast.
The dislocated pinkie happened during his first drill after being activated off the physically unable to perform list earlier Sunday.
"Once you seen something like [a foot pointing the wrong way] ... everything else is kind of like, 'Let's get things going and just move on,'" Hadden said after practice.
Despite playing only 37 snaps on defense last season, Hadden should be in the mix to earn a roster spot in part because of his special teams ability.
"I think he's really matured and handles his business the right way," Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. "I know just going back, he was kind of challenged and he answered the bell. So that's always a really cool thing to see, and I think it's really impacted his ability to go out and play."
High schooler ties Matthew Golden and Will Sheppard by catching (and holding onto) five punts before the sixth one blows it all up.
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) August 8, 2026
One of the best parts of Family Night. pic.twitter.com/fEQ8CHUnU1
More observations:
In his first field goal attempts of training camp, rookie Trey Smack went 3-for-5. He made 28-, 33- and 42-yarders but missed wide left from 38 and 45. On the 38-yarder, fill-in long-snapper Cal Adomitis' snap was a bit low. Smack was kicking into a decent wind.
In 26 college games at Louisiana-Monroe and the University of Miami combined, Anthony Campbell had exactly two pass breakups. The first-year defensive tackle equaled that total in one practice. The 6-foot-6, 307-pounder batted down a pair of passes from backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor. He had at least one other batted pass in an earlier practice and might lead the team in PBUs so far. "I haven't been counting," he said. "I've just been doing my job."
As if sailing one shotgun snap over the quarterback's head isn't bad enough, backup lineman Donovan Jennings did it on consecutive plays. There was an audible gasp around the practice field when the second one soared even higher over Taylor's head than the first. Jennings, a decent bet to make the roster because he can play any of the interior line positions, then moved over to the left guard and John Williams jumped in at center.
Brandon Cisse, the Packers' top 2026 draft pick at No. 52, worked at left cornerback with the No. 1 defense most of the practice. Carrington Valentine, who is competing for that spot, dropped out of practice after doing only individual drills.
Former Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin, who served as the interim head coach for the final four games of the 2018 season after Mike McCarthy was fired, was a visitor at practice. He is living part time in nearby Door County, where his wife Diane co-owns a gift shop.
LaFleur on tight end Tucker Kraft, who is practicing (still on a limited basis because of last year's ACL surgery) despite not having a new contract: "I think Tuck just wants to go put in the work, and that's the guy that we drafted. I think that's big time of him."
Friday, July 31
Despite the defense getting the better of the offense Friday, receiver Matthew Golden made two standout plays. They were perhaps the best catches of training camp so far.
Early in practice, the second-year pro made a leaping, outstretched catch deep down the middle between defenders Zaire Franklin and Xavier McKinney. Later, the 2025 first-round pick made a deep over-the-shoulder catch for what might have been a 58-yard touchdown against Keisean Nixon.
A day earlier, coach Matt LaFleur said that while Golden clearly has grown as a receiver, it's the little things like blocking and what you do when you don't have the ball that have impressed him just as much.
"That's always important, trying to find things to do whenever the ball isn't in your hands," Golden concurred. "I feel like that's what makes a lot of players great. For me, when the ball's not in my hands, you're obviously trying to get somebody else in the end zone. Just being able to block, get open, do everything that a receiver's supposed to do and more, I feel like you add more value and just overall help in the run game and stuff like that."
More observations:
A day after he returned from a hamstring injury, Nixon had a strong showing with a pair of eye-catching pass breakups during a hurry-up drill. First, he knocked a Jordan Love pass away from Christian Watson on first down. Watson ran a fade route, and Nixon was in perfect position to jar it loose. Two plays later, he broke up Love's pass intended for Skyy Moore to end the drill.
Speaking of defensive plays, cornerback Benjamin St-Juste had a pick-six off backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor. St-Juste, who signed a two-year, $10 million contract in free agency, has been playing mostly with the No. 2 defense. "I didn't really see any action the first couple of days of training camp," he said. "I was still in the right spot, but I wasn't really chasing the play. ... I just let it come to me, and then finally the ball came, and I was going to capitalize."
Even though they finally had a long snapper after signing veteran Cal Adomitis, the Packers still didn't do any live field goal kicking on Day 3 of camp. Regular long snapper Matt Orzech is on the PUP list because of a calf injury. The Packers are trying to break in a new kicker, rookie Trey Smack, and LaFleur said the first live kicking period will come Sunday.
TE Tucker Kraft has been activated off the PUP list and has started easing back into practice.
After three practices, the Packers have Saturday off.
Thursday, July 30
Cornerback Keisean Nixon was back on the practice field after missing the first day of camp with a hamstring injury. And Nixon insisted that was the only reason. While he has hinted at the desire for a raise from the $5 million he is scheduled to make this season, he insisted that missing Wednesday's practice was not a contract hold-in situation.
Nixon, who became the Packers' No. 1 cornerback last season, is in the final year of a three-year, $18 million deal he signed in 2024, before he was a full-time starter on the outside. His $6 million average per year on that deal ranks outside the top 40 among NFL cornerbacks.
"It had nothing to do with that," Nixon said. "I just woke up and my [hamstring] was tight, so I just really wanted a scan, so they told me I had to chill for a day, go get a scan, so I was ready to go today for real though."
On the field, Nixon appeared to be on a limited snap count. He opened each drill at left cornerback with Carrington Valentine at right cornerback. Rookie Brandon Cisse would then replace Nixon a few plays into team periods.
More observations:
The Packers have to like what they've seen from their two slot/nickel defensive backs. Javon Bullard forced a fumble when he punched the ball out from receiver Skyy Moore. Later in practice with the No. 2 defense, Jonathan Baldwin picked off a Tyrod Taylor pass over the middle. Baldwin is hoping to win a spot as Bullard's backup after spending last season on the practice squad. He played primarily safety last year but was glad to move back to the slot because "that feels like home to me," he said. "I played nickel my senior year of college, and that's when I made my most plays."
Bullard said he took up boxing in the offseason and believes that helped him force that fumble. "Whether it's football or basketball, hand-eye coordination correlates with so many other sports as well, not just boxing," Bullard said. "So that's what I did to work on it."
Micah Parsons, who remains on the physically unable to perform list while rehabbing from ACL surgery, did some post-practice conditioning with the defensive line group. He ran with the group across the width of the field and back.
Left guard Aaron Banks did not practice after doing individual drills Wednesday. Banks is recovering from a knee injury, and the team is trying to lighten his workload in camp. Rookie offensive lineman Jager Burton (hamstring) and receiver Brenden Rice (hamstring) were added to the injured group.
Linebacker Edgerrin Cooper was unable to finish practice, dropping out during a special teams period late in the session.
Other than three 25-yard field goals at walk-through speed by rookie Trey Smack, there has not been a competitive field goal period yet. Yes, Smack made all three, but there was no defense lined up. Long-snapper Matt Orzech (calf) remains on PUP, and coach Matt LaFleur said the team worked out long-snappers Thursday.
Wednesday, July 29
Without saying it exactly, general manager Brian Gutekunst admitted that the team did not always have the right players in the right spots on the offensive line last season. That could include Pro Bowl left guard Elgton Jenkins moving to center -- a move precipitated by Gutekunst signing Aaron Banks to play left guard -- or the coaches not playing former first-round pick Jordan Morgan at his natural left tackle position, Gutekunst didn't say.
Jordan Love to Tucker Kraft, Savion Williams and Jayden Reed. pic.twitter.com/wB458rcyVQ
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) August 2, 2026
"I think we've got some guys in places this year that make a little bit more sense," Gutekunst said of the offensive line before Wednesday's first practice of training camp. That included Morgan as the No. 1 left tackle for the first time since he was drafted at No. 25 two years ago. He played mostly guard in 2025.
The starting offensive line on Day 1 was, from left to right: Morgan, Jacob Monk, Sean Rhyan, Anthony Belton and Darian Kinnard. Two starters -- Banks and right tackle Zach Tom -- are still working their way back from injuries, but the goal this season is to have more continuity up front. Banks was on the physically unable to perform list for two days with an undisclosed injury but was on the field for some drills Wednesday. Tom, who had patellar tendon surgery in the offseason, never went on PUP and said he should be back in team drills soon. When asked if Week 1 was an option, Tom said: "It's not an option; I'm playing Week 1."
More observations:
Undrafted rookie Marlon Jones made one of the top plays of Day 1 when he picked off a Kyle McCord pass near the right pylon and returned it for a 99-yard touchdown. Jones, who two years ago was diagnosed with Stage 3 lymphoma, said afterward: "Going through chemo, having to take a year off of football, going to Vandy, I definitely took the scenic route to get here, but I don't regret any of it. I wouldn't change any of it. I think it's all made me who I am today."
Linebacker Zaire Franklin, acquired from the Colts in a trade this offseason, forced a fumble when he stripped running back MarShawn Lloyd after a short reception. Said Franklin: "You make plays in practice, you make plays in the game. ... It doesn't matter if it's July, May, August, middle of December, every time I'm on the field I'm playing like it's my last play and any time I can make a play to help the team."
The only surprise addition to the injury list was cornerback Keisean Nixon, who did not practice because of a hamstring injury. Nixon, who was not on PUP to start camp, was not available in the locker room after practice.
Rookie offensive lineman Jager Burton dropped out of practice before the first team period after he felt something in his hamstring. The fifth-round pick went inside briefly with a member of the training staff and then returned to the field to watch the rest of practice.
Gutekunst indicated a contract extension for tight end Tucker Kraft could happen soon, perhaps to coincide with his return to practice from last year's torn ACL. Kraft is on PUP but is expected to practice at some point during camp and be ready to play Week 1. "We have a little bit of time because he's just not there yet," Gutekunst said. "But I would expect hopefully that would get done."
Tuesday, July 28
The kicking competition has taken another turn. Enter Lenny Krieg of Germany. Exit Lucas Havrisik, the franchise record holder for the longest field goal. It all might be moot if rookie Trey Smack wins the job, as the Packers hope, after investing a sixth-round pick in him. But Smack is going to have to earn it -- just not against the competition he thought.
The Packers signed Krieg after working him out Monday, and they decided a three-man kicking competition would be counterproductive. Havrisik kicked in three games for the Packers last season while Brandon McManus recovered from a quad injury and made a 61-yard field goal against the Arizona Cardinals to break the previous team record of 58 yards set by Mason Crosby in 2011.
Krieg spent last season on the Atlanta Falcons' practice squad.
More observations:
While Krieg comes from Berlin and had never kicked in an American football game until he joined the Falcons last summer, he was not signed by Green Bay as part of the International Player Pathway program. Instead, the Packers used that spot to sign Australian tight end Thomas Yassmin. They released their previous international player, edge rusher Dante Barnett of England.
As expected, Micah Parsons joined the list of players on the physically unable to perform list. Parsons was officially placed on PUP on Tuesday, along with tackle Brant Banks, long-snapper Matt Orzech, defensive end Jordon Riley and defensive tackle Nazir Stackhouse.
Before the Packers' first practice of camp on Wednesday, general manager Brian Gutekunst will speak to reporters. It will be his first time taking questions from the media since the NFL draft in April.
Monday, July 27
In his first address to Packers shareholders as team president during Monday's annual meeting, Ed Policy offered some additional reasoning for his offseason decision to retain coach Matt LaFleur along with general manager Brian Gutekunst and vice president of football administration/player finance Russ Ball. Though Policy didn't mention Jordan Love, he suggested that his starting quarterback was one of the reasons.
"We had 10 head coach openings throughout the league this past offseason, and that caused a tremendous amount of chaos in a lot of organizations," Policy said. "I believe that players -- especially quarterbacks and championship-caliber teams -- develop best in an environment of continuity, not chaos."
The Packers have made the playoffs in each of Love's first three seasons as the starter but have won only one playoff game. It was Policy's first major decision since he took over for the retired Mark Murphy after last year's shareholders meeting. The Packers held this year's meeting on the eve of the players' reporting date for training camp.
More observations:
Any excitement over Micah Parsons not being on the physically unable to perform list Monday was quickly squashed with the word that the star edge rusher will be on PUP to start camp, most likely starting Tuesday. The Packers placed five players on PUP on Monday, but Parsons was not on the list because of what was described as procedural/timing. Players must be on PUP before their team's first training camp practice, which is Wednesday for the Packers, to be eligible to start the regular season with that designation. Parsons is not expected to be ready for the start of the season while he continues to rehab last season's torn left ACL.
Players placed on PUP on Monday were guard Aaron Banks, tight end Tucker Kraft, tight end Luke Musgrave, defensive tackle Javon Hargrave and cornerback Kamal Hadden. They all missed part or all of the offseason practices because of injuries. Running back Chris Brooks was placed on the non-football injury list.
One of the loudest cheers from the assembled stockholders Monday came when Policy said: "We are not selling the naming rights to Lambeau Field."