Here’s What Happened at Practice 12 of Packers Training Camp
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Kicking in his first NFL preseason game, Green Bay Packers rookie Anders Carlson missed two extra points on Friday at Cincinnati. Both were wide right.
He missed an extra point during Monday’s practice inside the Don Hutson Center, too. That also was wide right, as was a 45-yarder later in practice.
While Carlson seeks consistency, at least the consistency of his misses is helpful.
“You don’t want to go right-left-right because then you’re kind of lost,” he said. “I like my mindset. I’ve just got to fix some technical things.”
Technically speaking, Carlson thought he needed to slow his tempo a bit. Mentally, though, Carlson is holding strong after slumping following a strong Family Night at Lambeau Field and joint practice in Cincinnati.
On the practice field, he’s made 71.2 percent of his kicks. He hit 5-of-7 attempts on Monday, including a 51-yarder during an end-of-game sequence.
“I think being a kicker is all about being consistent – mentally and physically,” he said. “Obviously, you want the results to be consistent, but before the results come, you’ve got to be personally level. So, I think for me it’s all about a consistent mindset no matter what the results are, whether it’s good or bad. I can’t control the past so it’s all about staying level-headed and approaching the next one with the right mindset.”
Carlson appreciates the steadfast support he’s received from the organization, including coach Matt LaFleur and special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia. There will be patience, with the expectation the talented but erratic Carlson will keep growing and improving.
“You’re either winning or you’re learning. That’s how I take it,” he said. “So, I have days that I like, days that I don’t like, so it’s just not freaking out and taking it one day at a time.”
Jordan Love’s Day
Coming off a strong day on Sunday, Love finished 8-of-12 passing with one interception.
Love threw a couple really good passes. On his second pass, he had immediate pressure in his face but zinged a shot downfield to Christian Watson for a gain of about 20. During his third sequence of plays, Love shook off a bad drop by Romeo Doubs by ripping a post to rookie Jayden Reed in front of safety Darnell Savage and then slinging one sidearm to tight end Luke Musgrave.
His final sequence was an unscripted move-the-ball period. First, he hit Watson over the middle – during a game, Watson would have been smoked by cornerback Rasul Douglas – before a short completion to Musgrave on play-action. A sprint-out to Reed converted a third-and-2 before Love’s lone blunder of the day. More on that in a moment.
Player of the Day
Just hang on a second before giving the No. 6 receiver job to undrafted Malik Heath over seventh-round pick Grant DuBose.
DuBose, who missed the rookie camp, OTAs and start of training camp with a back injury, had his best day.
With time running out on a one-on-one drill, he rushed to the line, beat hot-shot rookie cornerback Carrington Valentine by a step and made a tumbling catch on a bomb.
During team periods, Alex McGough ripped one with max velocity to DuBose for a gain of about 15 against good coverage by cornerback Kiondre Thomas. He added two more receptions during a move-the-ball period, first at the sideline against William Hooper before going over the middle for a gain of about 17.
Play of the Day
Once upon a time, back when the Packers held their training camp practices on the field along Oneida Street, there was the mythical All-Oneida Team. That “team” was devoted to under-the-radar players who had strong camps but sort of disappeared when the season began.
Nowadays, the Packers hold their practices on Ray Nitschke Field on Armed Forces Drive. Inside the Don Hutson Center – also located on Armed Forces Drive – seventh-round pick Carrington Valentine delivered a big play during a camp filled with big plays to cement his place on what could be called the All-Armed Forces Team.
On the final play of practice and with the offense approaching scoring position, Valentine read Jordan Love like a book, picked off a pass intended for Romeo Doubs and raced the other way for what might have been an 80-yard touchdown. It was the latest big play by a player who will have to watch Jaire Alexander, Rasul Douglas and Keisean Nixon once the season begins.
“Based off some stems of routes, you can anticipate,” Valentine said of the play. “I wouldn’t say I knew it was coming but I had a hunch.”
Carrington Valentine (Photo by Katie Stratman/USA Today Sports Images)
Injury Report
New Injuries: DT Kenny Clark (back).
Old Injuries: CB Eric Stokes (PUP list foot), LB Tariq Carpenter (back), RB Lew Nichols (shoulder), CB Corey Ballentine (stinger), S Innis Gaines (quad), RB Tyler Goodson (shoulder), OT Caleb Jones (ankle), OT Luke Tenuta (ankle), TE Tyler Davis (knee).
Returned From Injury: None.
Lineup Notes
- Left tackle David Bakhtiari got another day off. On Sunday, Rasheed Walker took the first-team reps. On Monday, it was Yosh Nijman. The front, from left to right: Nijman, Elgton Jenkins, Royce Newman, Jon Runyan and Zach Tom. Tom also worked in at left guard again, with Walker sliding in at right tackle.
- It was back to the same old, same old at safety with Darnell Savage and Jonathan Owens getting most of the first-team action. Tarvarius Moore got a few snaps with Savage, as well.
Potential Transaction
The Packers are scheduled to have three offensive tackles in for a workout on Tuesday.
Practice Highlights
- During an end-of-game sequence, the offense had the ball at the defense’s 45 with no timeouts and 12 seconds on the clock. With the starters, Aaron Jones ran for 9 yards and gave himself up. Jordan Love organized the offense and clocked the ball with 2 seconds to go. Anders Carlson drilled a 51-yard field goal.
- The backups’ end-of-game sequence was a disaster. Rookie Sean Clifford ran for a handful of yards on a quarterback draw, but two or three of the receivers ran way too far downfield. With no time to spike the ball to kill the clock, Clifford fired a desperation heave that fell incomplete.
- The No. 2 line, which has become watered down due to injuries, had a rough day. Even getting the snap to the quarterback was a challenge. Back in the day, Mike Holmgren or Mike McCarthy would have blown a gasket at such silly mistakes.
- Alex McGough’s quarterback keeper saw nothing but the “57” of outside linebacker Brenton Cox.
- During the backups’ move-the-ball period, Clifford’s pass on fourth-and-4 was broken up by Kiondre Thomas. Cox probably had a sack, anyway.
- While Justin Hollins came from the back side and had a “tackle” for loss against AJ Dillon, rookie tight end Luke Musgrave had a strong block at the point of attack.
- On a free play, Jordan Love went deep to Christian Watson but cornerback Shemar Jean-Charles stuck with Watson and made a leaping deflection. Jean-Charles needs more of those plays to make it to Year 3.
Packers Training Camp Schedule
We’re down to four practices that are open to fans, including two this week. After an off-day on Tuesday, the Packers will go against the New England Patriots for joint practices at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday. The teams will meet in the second preseason game at 7 p.m. Saturday at Lambeau Field.
“It’s a long week for sure,” coach Matt LaFleur said. “That’s one thing that we brought to the attention of our guys in terms of challenging them to stay focused, making sure they’re taking care of their bodies, getting the adequate amount of sleep, because that’s an important part of this. It’s going to be a long week for the guys.”
Quote of the Day
Christian Watson on the receivers’ blocking against Cincinnati:
“It’s exciting. I woke up the next day I think more sore than I would’ve been if I would’ve actually been playing. Jumping around the sidelines, getting excited for those guys. It was exciting. I think the young guys in our room right now have a different mentality and it’s a great mentality to have. Trying to dominate each and every play regardless of if it’s a pass or a run. I’m definitely liking the energy of the room right now.”
More Green Bay Packers Training Camp News
Monday LaFleur: Calm before the storm
Highlights From Practice 11 of Packers Training Camp
Is Emanuel Wilson complete and ready to compete?
Watch: Sunday’s offensive line drills (and state of O-line)
Watch: Sunday’s receiver drills (and Malik Heath’s block)
Watch: Sunday’s sights and sounds (and state of tight end)
