Matt LaFleur didn’t exactly build a reputation as a trick-play merchant in Green Bay, which is why Sunday’s non-padded practice turned heads so fast. Out of nowhere, the Packers’ head coach dusted off a hook-and-ladder concept - the kind of play most people associate with Ben Johnson.
The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman reported from practice, and the design was exactly what it sounded like: a quarterback completes the pass, then the receiver immediately laterals it to another player. It’s a rare call, and when it hits, it can leave a defense flat-footed.
Johnson didn’t invent the idea, of course. The Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs have had success with it too. But Johnson has made a habit of dialing up hook-and-ladder looks at big moments, including late in the fourth quarter of the Lions’ 20-16 win at Lambeau Field in January 2023, Aaron Rodgers’ final game in Green Bay.
So LaFleur borrowing that lane is notable. Even better for Packers fans, there’s a clean date circled for the first real chance to use it: Week 5 in Green Bay against Johnson’s Bears on October 11.
That matchup carries its own edge because Johnson has already made this thing personal. In his introductory press conference with Chicago, he didn’t go after the Packers as a whole, but LaFleur specifically.
Then came the icy handshake after Green Bay beat Chicago at Lambeau Field in Week 14. Johnson pushed it further after the Bears’ wild-card win in January, shouting "F--- the Packers" in the locker room.
Xavier McKinney later called Johnson a "troll."
If LaFleur wanted the perfect response, this would be it: beat the Bears at their own game.
The Packers have the pieces to make a hook-and-ladder dangerous. Matthew Golden, who has possibly the safest hands on the team, could take the first catch and flip it to Christian Watson, whose speed could turn the whole thing into a touchdown if the defense bites.
Jayden Reed, one of Green Bay’s best yards-after-catch threats, would also fit. MarShawn Lloyd could be another option.
LaFleur has shown flashes of creativity before, but he hasn’t lived in the deep end of the trick-play pool. One of the clearest examples came in Week 3 of Jordan Love’s first season as the starter against the New Orleans Saints.
Love threw to Emanuel Wilson, who was supposed to turn and throw back to Love before Love hit a wide-open Dontayvion Wicks down the left sideline. The design was there.
The execution wasn’t. Wilson’s return pass fell short, Love had to scoop it off the ground, slipped, and barely missed Wicks anyway.
That’s the balance here. LaFleur doesn’t need to become Ben Johnson or Dan Campbell and start calling fake punts like it’s a video game. But the Packers can absolutely use more creativity in the biggest moments.
A hook-and-ladder comes with some risk, since a bad lateral turns into a fumble. Still, it’s not a complicated play to run, and the payoff can be huge if it’s saved for the right moment. Defenses are usually already collapsing toward the first catch, and that split-second lateral can leave them chasing ghosts.
LaFleur adding that wrinkle is a win. The smart move now is to keep it shelved until Week 5.
In Other News...
Packers Suddenly Have An Intriguing QB Trade Option Behind Jordan Love
The Packers have made a habit of finding value in quarterbacks other teams have given up on, and that reputation gives them a natural lane to keep watching the market behind Jordan Love. With veteran Tyrod Taylor in place as an emergency option, Green Bay is at least covered in the short term, but the organization has also shown it can turn a developmental passer into a useful piece if the fit is right.
Will Levis is the latest name to surface as an intriguing possibility. The former Titans starter has been pushed down the depth chart in Tennessee, and his situation now looks unstable enough that a trade conversation does not feel far-fetched. For a Packers team that has long prized patience and QB development, Levis would be the kind of project worth monitoring if the Titans decide their path is heading somewhere else. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Tight End Injuries Are Forcing Another Tough Roster Decision
Injuries at tight end have started to squeeze Green Bays depth chart, and the Packers are down to just four healthy players at the position, with one of them not counting against the roster limit. It is the sort of mid-summer roster problem that can snowball quickly, especially for a team trying to keep its practice reps organized while also protecting itself from a further setback.
McCallan Castles is back in the picture as a possible answer, after spending time with the Packers before being waived ahead of the 2026 draft. He has not played in an NFL regular-season game yet, but he does bring a longer college rsum, with stops at Cal, UC-Davis and Tennessee, and Green Bay now has to sort through how best to make room if it wants more insurance at the spot. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Kicker Battle Is Already Putting One Offseason Bet In Doubt
The Packers spent much of the offseason sticking with Brandon McManus, even after a rough playoff finish, while also bringing in rookie Trey Smack as a possible answer if they decided to move on. It was a fairly clear signal that Green Bay wanted some protection at the position, especially with camp offering the first real chance to see whether the rookie could push the veteran or at least make the competition interesting.
Early training camp reports, though, have not exactly calmed those questions. Smack has already missed several kicks, and the concern now is less about theory and more about whether he can steady himself before the preseason gives the Packers a bigger decision to make. If the inconsistency keeps showing up, Green Bay could be forced to look at more competition or adjust its plans sooner than expected. [Read more 🡒]