It’s the crescendo of the off-season program. The Green Bay Packers opened a three day, mandatory mini-camp on Tuesday, working out for nearly 90 minutes on a Chamber of Commerce weather day on Ray Nitschke Field. About 300 fans were scattered throughout the bleachers on the east side of the field for the first time this year.
Matt LaFleur opens mini-camp.
As for the all important roll-call, Head Coach Matt LaFleur declared “every player under contract is here as a full participant”, although a few remained off the practice field and in the rehab group. Players like David Bakhtiari, Robert Tonyan and Elgton Jenkins are still working (one longer than others) through significant knee surgeries. The only player not in town is wide receiver Allen Lazard who has not signed his restricted free agent tender offer of more than 3 million dollars for the 2022 season. Without his name on the dotted line, Lazard is not required to attend. That might become an issue when late July arrives.
Aaron Rodgers is among the campers and that dominated the storyline on opening day. I asked LaFleur what the on-field plan is for the league’s MVP this week and he also discussed the get acquainted time with his new playmaking cast and just the importance of having the team’s most important player here:
After practice was the first time reporters surrounded Rodgers’ locker for a Q and A since before the NFC Divisional Playoff loss to San Francisco. A lot’s happened since then, beginning with the mega-deal sending Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders, why he felt he needed to be a part of the week and getting up to speed with the likes of draft picks Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs and veteran free agent Sammy Watkins who was observed running routes for the first time.
Aaron Rodgers starts airing it out.
Watson said it was “amazing” catching balls from a player he idolized growing up. The second round pick also knows he has to move past the awe factor quickly and prove to the veteran he knows the plays and can be in the right place at the right time because Rodgers will get it there, “99.9 percent of the time.”
Watson also had an unusual hello with Jaire Alexander, taking him deep on a route in the first 11 on 11 period. When the ball was overthrown, Watson got away with a pretty obvious OPI trying to get to the ball. On the next snap, Watkins wrestled a ball away from Alexander on a tightly covered in route and the teammates didn’t hesitate to give the now very highly paid corner some business.
Jaire Alexander’s off-season debut.
Rodgers led the number one offense in one, 8 minute team period. The rest of the team snaps belonged to Jordan Love, Kurt Benkert and Danny Etling. Love showed some forgetfulness by throwing a pick six to Vernon Scott in an early team period but came right back on the next snap to hit a wide open Watson on a deep shot. The best and worst plays of the day? Love capped his two minute drill with a touchdown pass to Juwann Winfree who was well covered by Alexander and Darnell Savage in the end zone. De’Vondre Campbell had a sure interception ricochet off his chest into the hands of Watkins.
Something else caught my eye, Campbell and top draft pick Quay Walker were already paired together as the inside linebackers on the starting defense.
The team will have another public practice Wednesday morning at 11:20 and Thursday’s finale will be open only to the media.
Rodgers said he’s “mini-camp and out”, declining the final week of organized team activities. After winning his golf match with Tom Brady last week, Rodgers told a roundtable discussion he has though about retirement a lot but now that he’s in for 2022, he’s in.
I sought out another opinion on what’s in store for the offense and the team this fall. Tight end Marcedes Lewis is entering his 17th NFL season. It was great to be able to mosey up to the Big Dog’s locker and chat for the first time two years. I asked him about how the dynamic is shifting with Rodgers aging and Adams in Silver and Black but I started by acknowledging retirement is something that’s not on his radar, yet.
Marcedes remains the wise old sage of the locker room.
