Lambeau Field on the eve of training camp (Photo by Bill Huber/Packer Central)

Live Updates: LaFleur, Gutekunst Pre-Training Camp Press Conferences

Here's what coach Matt LaFleur and general manager Brian Gutekunst had to say on the eve of training camp.

Author:
Bill Huber
Updated:
Jul 25, 2023 10:48 AM EDT
Original:
Jul 25, 2023

In this story:

GREEN BAY, Wis. – On the eve of training camp, Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur and general manager are addressing the media on Tuesday morning.

Here are live updates, with complete coverage throughout the day.

Packers GM Brian Gutekunst

- On not adding a veteran receiver: Excited about the young group and “how they’re going to grow together” with Jordan Love. Will monitor the veteran market.

- Says the third quarterback rule – a third active QB in addition to the usual 48 players – likely won’t make much of an impact on final roster decisions.

- On Love playing in the preseason: It’s a “double-edged thing.” Need to keep him healthy. That will be a “feel thing” for coach Matt LaFleur. Happy to have the joint practices vs. Cincinnati and New England. You can get a “live” look and “protect” your quarterbacks, but “the game’s not played that way. That’s where players probably learn the most.

- On adding a second kicker: “We’ll see how it goes. I think Rich would like 20 specialists.”

- On second-year jumps from Watson, Wyatt, etc.: For me, it’s the consistency. You see the flashes right away. Can you do it down in and down out … within the scheme? It’s one thing to flash and make plays off your natural ability, but can you take everything that’s been taught to you and make plays within the scheme.

- On the NFC North and not being chased: Every year’s a new year. “Who’s to say we won’t be? … We’re excited to get after it.”

- On Rashan Gary: “I won’t put anything past him” in making it back for Year 1. The team will take a cautious approach with a hugely important player who happens to be entering a contract year.

- On having a young team: “This is a young man’s game. You’ve got to be green and growing.” His job is to find players and develop them. You can get stagnant, otherwise.

- It’s exciting to be young but also “anxious” to be counting on so many young players. Defensive line – with zero players who’ve played a regular-season snap behind the starting three – is among those positions.

Packers Coach Matt LaFleur

- “Every year has its unique set of challenges. There’s a lot of excitement today,” LaFleur says of having a young roster.

- This will be a different training camp due to the youth. “You’ve got to be aware of your personnel. We are pretty young, especially on the offensive side of the ball. There’s a lot of excitement that comes along with that.”

- It will be a “fluid” approach to the preseason. He hasn’t decided if Love and Co. will play in the preseason, though joint practices against the Bengals and Patriots will help get them ready.

- Gary and Stokes: Hopeful both will practice in camp. They’ve done an “outstanding job,” LaFleur said. “They put the work in. It’s evident, you can see it.” They’ll eventually come off the PUP list is the plan.

- LaFleur calls it “exciting” that Love and the receivers were working together in California recently.

- LaFleur on the weather and air-quality issues: “I’m less concerned about the heat. It’s going to be very our guys to make sure they stay hydrated so we don’t have anybody go out there and overheat.” Being hot is “part of training camp. You don’t want it easy.” Team can’t control air quality.

- On Love: Wants him to get better “each and every day … You can’t give him enough reps. It’s about making incremental improvements. I’m really excited. He definitely has complete command of our offense.”

- Love will get a lot of reps but he won’t be overloaded to make sure his arm remains strong.

- On the safeties: Hoping two players separate themselves. “We feel like we’ve got a lot of capable guys.”

- It will be the same offense – with some of the usual tweaks. “It’s about the collective more so than just one person.”

- Love won’t get the free rein at the line of scrimmage that Rodgers had. That will happen “organically.” Doesn’t want him “paralyzed” by thinking about too much at the line.

- On the rookie tight ends: “We’ve never seen these guys with the pads on. That will be the ultimate test to see how they come off the ball in the run game. I feel like that’s a lost art in that position group. They’re talented guys. … they’ve got a lot to learn” because of the varied job description.

- On the second-year players taking a jump: Wants to see how fast they play and how quickly they can react.

- LaFleur won’t say whether it’s just right tackle that’s up for grabs between Yosh Nijman and Zach Tom or if Tom will battle Josh Myers. The goal is to find the best five.

- This training camp says it “feels like Year 1. It feels like we’re right back where we started” when he was hired. Says that’s exciting. Will coach the players hard and expect them to work hard.