Eleven Key Stories for Packers Minicamp

From quarterback to kicker, here’s what we’ll be watching when the Packers conduct their minicamp on Tuesday and Wednesday.

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers will hold their mandatory minicamp on Tuesday and Wednesday. Following a team-building activity on Thursday, the players will go their separate ways until training camp begins in late July.

Here are 11 story lines, one at each position group, that we’ll be monitoring.

(Note: In a change from past seasons, fans will not be allowed to attend.)

Quarterback

Jordan Love had a couple strong days at OTAs but that came against a secondary that featured the likes of Corey Ballentine and Shemar Jean-Charles running with the No. 1 defense. Starting cornerbacks Jaire Alexander and Rasul Douglas, who were not present for the voluntary workouts, will pose a much stiffer challenge. If Love can make plays against Alexander and Douglas, even in June, it would build a lot of momentum.

Running Back

Patrick Taylor (Photo by USA Today Sports Images)

Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon form the standout one-two punch. Who will be the No. 3 back? Steady incumbent Patrick Taylor gets lost in the shuffle compared to the explosiveness of Tyler Goodson and potential of seventh-round pick Lew Nichols III. There’s only so much a running back can show in a shorts-and-helmets setting. Catching the ball and making a defender miss in the open field is a good starting point. That’s where Goodson should have a leg up.

Receiver

Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs will be the top dogs. Who will man the slot? It’s a wide-open battle between Samori Toure, who remade his body during the offseason, and Jayden Reed, the second-round pick who has seen some first-team action but not made many plays when reporters were present. Obviously, the starting job won’t be won in two practices this week but can either gain some trust with Love that they can carry into camp?

Tight End

Same as with slot receiver, no starting jobs will be won during this week’s practices, but second-round pick Luke Musgrave vs. third-round pick Tucker Kraft will be a battle to watch throughout the summer. Both players figure to get ample playing time as rookies, but will either be quick to gain chemistry with Love? It’s an incomplete sample, with reporters allowed to see three of the nine OTAs, but Musgrave has delivered more impact plays.

Offensive Line

Through OTAs, the big battle appears to be at right tackle between incumbent starter Yosh Nijman and versatile second-year blocker Zach Tom. Even without the pads on, the pass rush will be relatively real. Run blocking is important but nothing is more important than keeping the pass rush out of Love’s face. What happens the next two days could set the table for training camp.

Defensive Line

Devonte Wyatt (Photo by USA Today Sports Images)

If Devonte Wyatt really is going to be a breakout player, it would be nice to see him in the backfield. That hasn’t happened much, with the caveat that, for the umpteenth time, reporters saw only three of the nine OTA practices. Athletic defensive linemen should have the advantage this time of year. The athleticism of rookies Colby Wooden and Karl Brooks, on the other hand, has been evident, though that’s generally come against the backup offensive line.

Outside Linebacker

Asked last week about rookies who have shown up when reporters weren’t present, LaFleur mentioned undrafted rookie Brenton Cox. Cox was a five-star prospect when he arrived at Georgia. If he’s not the “knucklehead” that got bounced from Georgia and Florida, he’s got a chance to make the roster and earn a role.

Inside Linebacker

De’Vondre Campbell and Quay Walker will start and Isaiah McDuffie and Eric Wilson should be the top backups and stalwarts on special teams. What about Tariq Carpenter? A seventh-round pick as a safety last year, Carpenter has been moved to linebacker. He’s learning everything, from the playbook to the techniques, on the fly. “Still feeling like a fish out of water,” he said last week. “It’s on me. I’ve got to spend my time in the playbook. It’s a whole new language.”

Cornerback

Carrington Valentine (37) and Jeff Cotton (Photo by USA Today Sports Images)

It’s easy to notice the big plays – both the good and the bad. Rookie cornerback Carrington Valentine had a pair of the good ones on back-to-back plays at OTAs last week in preventing completions from Love to Doubs. Valentine’s got the “length” and the “quick twitch,” Kentucky defensive coordinator Brad White said. There are no starting jobs up for grabs, but you can never have enough good corners, as the Packers learned when losing Jaire Alexander and Eric Stokes to injuries the last two years.

Speaking of Stokes, LaFleur said he could see some work during individual drills. He’s been sidelined since sustaining a Lisfranc foot injury that required surgery at Detroit in November.

Safety

Darnell Savage will be one starter. How about the other? Rudy Ford has taken most of the No. 1 reps but Jonathan Owens seems like he’ll be a viable challenger in training camp. Both players have helped limit the explosive passes from Love. The other facet to safety play is tackling; Owens was superb in that regard with the Texans last season. “It’s competition. You love it,” he said. “It brings the best out of you every day. We all push each other.”

Kicker

Reporters were allowed to watch three days of OTAs. The Packers lined up for more than a dozen field goals during those practices but only practiced the snap, hold, protection and congratulatory high-fives. Presumably, rookie Anders Carlson – the only kicker on the roster – will kick this week. He won’t officially replace Mason Crosby with a good practice but it’d obviously be a positive development heading into the six-week break.

More Green Bay Packers News

#Packers minicamp begins on Tuesday. The level of competition will be raised for Jordan Love.https://t.co/FJZsUCFbv3

— Bill Huber (@BillHuberNFL) June 12, 2023

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