The Packers’ weekend work brought a little bit of everything: Tucker Kraft back in team drills, Keisean Nixon sounding irritated about his role, and a secondary that kept cashing in on mistakes.
The biggest development was Kraft’s return. For the first time since coming back from his torn ACL, he took part in team periods, and he made it count right away with a touchdown on Sunday. Kraft said he expects to be on restricted reps for the first part of the season, but he’s clearly ready to get involved again.
Sunday also belonged to the defensive backs. The Packers’ secondary came up with multiple interceptions against both the first- and second-string offenses, with Kitan Oladapo picking off Jordan Love from the slot, Brandon Cisse intercepting Love as well, and Jaylin Simpson taking away a throw from Tyrod Taylor.
The offense answered with a few highlights of its own. Rookie J. Michael Sturdivant had several strong moments, including a 40-yard touchdown on a crossing route where he simply ran away from the defense.
Up front, the defensive line continues to look deeper than it did at the end of last season. Matt LaFleur pointed to the competition there, saying, ‘We’ve got a heck of a competition’.
Nixon’s situation remains worth watching. He seems unhappy about where he stands on the depth chart, though that reaction is a little puzzling considering he has only rotated out of the starting lineup a handful of times in practice.
As Jason Wilde noted, there have only been a couple of times all summer when Nixon hasn’t been on the field with the number one defense. Whether he needs more clarity or is just using the slight as fuel, he’s making sure the issue is heard.
One lingering question from Kraft’s return is how the Packers handle the snaps behind him. He barely came off the field once he won the starting job, so the team may need an in-line tight end capable of filling in for about 20 snaps per game.
In Other News...
Packers Just Got A Reminder How Fast Quarterback Depth Can Change
Quarterback depth can look settled right up until a preseason snap changes the conversation, and the Packers saw a reminder of that in their game against Pittsburgh. A reserve passer who entered as the third quarterback immediately made the most of the opportunity, hitting a 74-yard strike on his first attempt and giving the Steelers a jolt of momentum in a game that quickly became about more than roster trimming.
The performance only sharpened the competition behind the top of the depth chart, where Mason Rudolph still sits as Aaron Rodgers' primary backup. For Green Bay, it was another example of how quickly a fringe quarterback can turn one showing into real noise, and why those final spots are never as secure as they seem in August. [Read more 🡒]
Matt LaFleur Just Sent A Clear Message About Protecting Jordan Love
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Loves importance hardly needs spelling out after signing his four-year, $220 million deal in 2024, and the stakes around his development remain obvious. He has played well enough to keep belief high, but he is also being asked to take another step, especially with accuracy and timing still central to his growth. For Green Bay, keeping him upright is part of the equation, but so is making sure the moments in practice are helping him sharpen the details that matter most. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Suddenly Have A Jordan Love Problem They Cant Ignore
Jordan Love got the preseason opener start for Green Bay, and while the box score was brief, the larger concern was what came after him. Love finished 3 of 5 for 18 yards, a quiet enough night on its own, but the Packers were also trying to get a look at the rest of the quarterback room after the loss of Malik Willis left the depth chart thinner than it was before camp opened.
Tyrod Taylor was the main backup and looked limited in his debut, while Kyle McCord also showed the kind of growing pains that can make a team uneasy if it needs someone ready sooner than later. For a Packers group that wants to feel secure behind Love, the next question is whether the answer is already in house or whether the front office needs to keep an eye on possible roster moves to find more help. [Read more 🡒]