Packers Practice Roundup: August 23, 2022

Rasul Douglas takes reps at safety as the Packers reduce their roster to 79 with some releases.

 

GENERAL/PERSONNEL:

The Packers are trading OL Cole Van Lanen, a Green Bay native, to the Jaguars, a source said. It’s for an undisclosed draft pick..  2) Update: It's a seventh-round pick for the Packers from Jacksonville, and there are no conditions on it.  Demovsky

Potential winner of this trade - Caleb Jones.  Herman [Worth noting - Here's Paul Bretl tweet on his 53-,man roster predition:  "Given what we know now, I’d obviously remove Scott and add Caleb Jones as the 10th OL." As a note, Van Laanen is versatile whereas Caleb Jones can only play LT as far as we know.  TGR]

Two other roster moves: S Vernon Scott was waived injured (shoulder) and RB Kylin Hill has been moved to regular-season PUP (meaning he’s out at least the first 4 games). David Bakhtiari is getting a rest day. CB Rico Gafford (ankle) and TE Sal Cannella (knee) are out today.  WR Danny Davis, who had been injured, was also released.  Demovsky

[Due a 2018 rule change, the Packers had options with Scott.  They could have waived him injured, or placed him on season-ending IR in order to retain his 2023 rights.  Since Scott is seeking second opinions on his shoulder injury, no other team is likely to claim him, so he will pass through waivers and revert to IR.  The Packers can reach an injury settlement within 5 business days, or release him when he is able to pass a physical (as with Redmond last season).  Both result in Cap Melt - reductions in cap space.  If a settlement is reached, other teams can sign him but the Packers have to wait the number of weeks paid to him in the settlement plus 3 extra weeks, making such players more likely to never return to the team that waived them with a settlement.  2) That's a really tough break for Danny Davis.  I think he would have gotten a spot on the PS.  $207K in Green Bay is a pretty good payday.  TGR]

No team drills yet for Elgton Jenkins or Robert Tonyan.  Schneidman

Matt LaFleur said the top starters will NOT play in the preseason finale Thursday at KC. The same basic group who has played in the first two games will do so again. "Just the risk vs reward knowing it's a long season, having 17 games and early on we get stressed with travel."  2) Rookie WR Christian Watson may play. "With young players, if he's able to go he will go," LaFleur said. Watson has been doing more 11 on 11 this week.  Demovsky

 

QUARTERBACKS/WIDE RECEIVERS:

In red zone, Romeo Doubs cuts his route to the left sideline, and safety Shawn Davis slips. A tidy, 7-yard completion from Aaron Rodgers. Nice route for the rookie.  [Dan Orlovsky has a nice breakdown of Doubs properly adjusting his route based on the defensive configuration in a video.  TGR] 2) Aaron Rodgers steps up in the pocket and, while running upfield, lofts a no-look pass to Romeo Doubs before crossing the LOS. The ball was a bit behind Doubs, but he went up and caught it. The rookie’s welcome-to-playing-with-12 moment.  Wood

 

TIGHT ENDS:

Tyler Davis catches a slant route from Aaron Rodgers in back off the end zone. Used his size to shield Rasul Douglas.  Packers offense congratulated Davis, who is trying to rebound from a couple tough weeks.  2) Another goal-line TD for Tyler Davis, catching a stop in the end zone in front of ILBs Ty Summers and Ray Wilborn. Jordan Love put the ball low where only Davis could get it, and Davis got it.   [Well, two TD receptions plus another catch (described below) in practice is a start.  TGR] Wood

Beautiful throw and catch from Love to Tyler Davis with Carpenter in coverage. Love hit him in stride with perfect accuracy. Nice play.  2) Jordan Love to Marcedes for a touchdown and the entire team (even the defense) barks in celebration.  Herman

[Regarding Tyler Davis] I dunno - call me crazy but maybe it’s not such a bad thing to cheer for the players on your favorite team to get better and do well? It’s easy to say “cut him.” Can’t we just hope he figures it out and balls out? Talent is there.  Herman

OFFENSIVE LINE:

So with Van Lanen out, the Packers’ No. 2 O-line is: LT: Caleb Jones LG: Zach Tom C: Michal Menet RG: Sean Rhyan, RT: Rasheed Walker.  Demovsky  

We haven’t seen much of Rasheed Walker but he did a nice job there in pass pro against Jonathan Garvin. Hopefully he can play against the Chiefs this week.  2) Zach Tom opens up a hole for Williams blocking against Slayton. Nice run with vision for Dexter.  3) Nice block by Yosh sets up a big run by Dillon to the left side. Quay a step slow getting over - one of the first outside runs that’s worked for the offense during camp. Dillon showed nice patience on the next run as well and finally found a hole in the middle.  4) Oh hello starting lineup today: Rodgers Dillon / Jones Marcedes Watson/Doubs Yosh - JRJ - Myers - Hanson - Newman.  [Not sure if Watkins and Lazard are getting a rest day.  TGR] 5) David Bakhtiari is not practicing today after having two days on the field. The Packers say it is part his ramp-up plan, not a setback.  Herman

LaFleur said it's been a benefit to be able to play the same starting offensive linemen throughout camp even though "they've taken their lumps" at times. Two of them will be on the bench when Bakhtiari and Jenkins return, so he'll have some options.  Silverstein

 

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN:

TJ Slaton pressure inside for a potential “sack.”  Herman

 

LINEBACKERS:

Jordan Love gets defense to jump, free play, but throws a very interceptable pass to Krys Barnes who drops it. Lots of coaching points on that play.  Herman

 

DEFENSIVE BACKS:

New look from Packers defense!!!! Rasul Douglas at free safety - Keisean Nixon in the slot.  Herman  [Nixon was pulled from the punt, kickoff, and punt return teams per Justis Mosqueda in the game against New Orleans.  Nixon played just 4 ST snaps, which I pointed out in the snap count article.  Can Nixon make it as a pure CB?  Or does Rich Bisaccia already know what Nixon can do on STs and just wanted to look at other players?  TGR]

Rasul Douglas got a couple reps at safety. Packers DC Joe Barry said Douglas could handle any position in the secondary. He didn’t just mean cornerback.  2) Jordan Live throws his first pick of the day while rolling right, trying to find rookie WR Samori Toure stealing to the back, right corner of the end zone. Kabion Ento leaped into the passing lane and picked it.  [Ento was GB's highest graded ST player in the New Orleans game, per PFF.  TGR] Wood

Holy shit what a leaping one handed interception from Kabion Ento. Dude went UPPPPP for that and made the pick. That was awesome.  Herman [Same as Wood's #2 above, just more enthusiasm.  TGR]

Aaron Rodgers keeps comparing Rasul Douglas to Charles Woodson. "Again, reminds me of Charles...Rasul has a lot of the same characteristics with his ball-hawking ability, coverage skills, understanding of concepts, and his trash-talking...I love 29, he's a hell of a player."  Kruse [So, the comments about Rasul Douglas' football IQ make sense if he is going to play some safety, like another CB who moved to safety later in his career.  TGR]

 

SPECIAL TEAMS:

If you're worried about K Mason Crosby (knee) for Week 1, it sounds like you shouldn't be. Crosby: "This is six weeks out so that was kind of the goal was to be progressing and kicking more at this point. I hit a set inside today and felt really good."  Demovsky  [No offense, but I am still a little worried about Crosby's leg strength.  It might be better after the surgery, I suppose.  TGR]

Wouldn’t be surprised if Ramiz Ahmed makes the Packers' practice squad, assuming 1) Mason Crosby clears PUP and 2) Ahmed clears waivers. He’s been much better than his predecessor, who was released after SF. Ahmed just drilled a 52-yard field goal that would have been good from 60.  Wood

With the Packers releasing multiple players w/ injury designations, but not Dallin Leavitt, it seems extremely likely that they will keep him on the initial 53 and then place him on IR the next day opening up a roster spot to either re-sign a player or bring someone new in.  Herman  [This goes under ST and not the DB section because Leavitt isn't a defensive back, in my opinion.  Bias if you like!  TGR]

 

 

 

 

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6 points
 

Comments (26)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
Since'61's picture

August 23, 2022 at 10:36 pm

No losses in the Packer roster moves. Keep churning and burning the bottom third of the roster.
Good to read that MLF has decided to keep our key players out of the final preseason games. He and I on the same risk/reward page. Maybe he’s reading our posts. 🤯
Or maybe this is a sign of better decisions to come and learning from his past mistakes in the playoffs.

Rest of the roundup is excellent work as usual TGR!
Thanks, Since ‘61

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PhantomII's picture

August 23, 2022 at 10:40 pm

It's a sign of a very, very slow start on offense....just like every year. Hopefully the Defense is up to task.

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Coldworld's picture

August 24, 2022 at 10:39 am

My fear is that if LaFleur really believes this there wouldn’t have been discussions. I think this is more evidence that Rodgers is not coached but a co-equal. That’s not often a good thing in a QB and HC.

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4EVER's picture

August 24, 2022 at 03:28 am

“In short, the Clinton campaign created the Trump-Alfa allegation, fed it to a credulous press that failed to confirm the allegations but ran with them anyway, then promoted the story as if it was legitimate news,” the board continued. “The campaign also delivered the claims to the FBI, giving journalists another excuse to portray the accusations as serious and perhaps true.”

“Most of the press will ignore this news, but the Russia-Trump narrative that Mrs. Clinton sanctioned did enormous harm to the country,” the board wrote. “It disgraced the FBI, humiliated the press, and sent the country on a three-year investigation to nowhere. Vladimir Putin never came close to doing as much disinformation damage.”
WSJ editorial board.

Welcome to reality - Since’61 “but it’s a true story”!
Don’t worry, I will not be sticking around.
4EVER

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PatrickGB's picture

August 24, 2022 at 09:06 am

Yah 4, but Do you think they will make it to the practice squad?

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Coldworld's picture

August 24, 2022 at 10:41 am

Keep this stuff out of here please. Irrespective of party or creed, just not healthy for CHTV.

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jont's picture

August 24, 2022 at 12:01 pm

Absolutely

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LLCHESTY's picture

August 23, 2022 at 10:51 pm

Thank you TGR. Totally down with Douglas' use as an occasional FS(not a lot of other acceptable deep options). Savage also wants to play some nickel and was very good at it in college (I'll see if I can find that info). Douglas playing FS means they can mix things up without having guys leave the field.

Theoretically if an offense wants to play a speed WR(Savage), a big WR(Douglas) or a TE(Campbell or Walker) in the slot the Packers have options without having to switch up players out of their 2-4-5. I hoped when they resigned Douglas they would put him at nickel and leave him there this offseason and he would continue to be a film buff and grasp the position easily. Rodgers certainly believes that to be the case.

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LLCHESTY's picture

August 23, 2022 at 11:15 pm

I couldn't find the tidbit about Savage playing slot at Maryland but I did find he played in the slot 332 snaps as a Senior, more than FS and SS combined. PFF compared him to Bob Sanders which no luck there, for good and bad.

https://twitter.com/TheSportsTerp/status/1278494097972629508?t=MLST5mpfv...

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LLCHESTY's picture

August 23, 2022 at 11:24 pm

Hey TGR, I don't know if you saw this from the game thread on Acme but I thought you might like this comedy show from Kyle Kinane recorded in Madison a couple years ago that he just released on YouTube. He's definitely an odd duck but my kind of odd duck. It won't let me double link but search Trampoline in a Ditch on YouTube. Should pop up. The saddest song in the world bit is a good representation of his stuff.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

August 24, 2022 at 01:22 am

I saw your comment. Short on time lately. These roundups take 2 to 3 hours to write and I unfortunately have yet to retire. There is no practice on Wednesday, but I will do a snap count article on Friday. There is a rule that requires three day off for the players after the third preseason game, so no practices on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. LaFleur said he would have practices on Monday and Tuesday, and final cut down is on Tuesday the 30th. These recent roundups getting longer on opinions and less on actual plays made or not made during practice now that they are closed to the public.

As a note, I have seen some media articles mentioning that training camp ends on August 30. That's wrong: camp ends I believe on Sept. 5 or 6. Not a big deal but some technical issues, like continuing to get per diems rather than salary.

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LLCHESTY's picture

August 24, 2022 at 06:50 am

Definitely seems like it's going to be a more intense cutdown day than usual. That or they are mostly forgotten when the season starts. Or maybe my memory isn't as good.

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Coldworld's picture

August 24, 2022 at 03:39 pm

I think we’ve had true competition in this camp, more so than in several years. I normally don’t much care who is waived because I generally see both material ability and potential limited to the 53. This year I do have concerns. That’s good In the sense that it means the standard has been higher.

I also think we’ve got some divisive types (not them personally but among us chatteratti) about whom people have strong opinions both ways. Some of these may be waived or cause others to be if they aren’t. That get the juices going.

It’s been a good camp. It would be great to stay healthy and get a strong showing from a few on the cusp. It would be particularly good to see T Davis redeem himself, a S reassure us in coverage and the OLB depth produce a clear winner or two.

Looking forward to seeing Watson, how they use him and how long for.

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marpag1's picture

August 24, 2022 at 01:38 am

The Packers cut Danny Davis? Shocker, I say! Shocker!!!!

Surely, this is just creating space to bring in Janis, right?

Good thing they still have Travis Fulgham and Ishmael Hyman on the roster or we'd all be screwed!

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Coldworld's picture

August 24, 2022 at 03:43 pm

Janis might be our best gunner still if we did.

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stockholder's picture

August 24, 2022 at 05:15 am

#2 OL. Caleb Jones played RT in college. I understand versatility. But Rhyan hasn't moved. I could see why Danny Davis was cut. Toure has better separation and footwork. If they put him on the PS. Kiss him good bye. TE- Davis just doesn't make me confident. Ento looks good to me. Douglass to Safety, is a No Brainer. Ahmad is ready. GB has their replacement for Crosby.

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T7Steve's picture

August 24, 2022 at 08:23 am

I asked this earlier (didn't have Ahmad at the time) but, do you think they could make Ahmad active on game days to just kick off? I think he could get a touchback every time. Don't you think they had them kick short in the game to look at the cover guys? Also N.O. ran it out from 5 yards deep, which they probably wouldn't do in the regular season.

Even for our STs I'd like to see a touchback. Every other return, it seems, there's a penalty so it's just not worth it to risk injuries unless you're confident you have someone that can take it to the house.

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wildbill's picture

August 24, 2022 at 10:41 am

Until we show improvement plenty of teams will run it out five yards deep, just saying

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Coldworld's picture

August 24, 2022 at 03:47 pm

It’s another roster spot. That’s the problem. I can see them carrying two kickers if Crosby is not clearly fully healthy. If so, I think he would be initially. I’d certainly like a kick off specialist in theory. Crosby has struggled for years.

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PatrickGB's picture

August 24, 2022 at 09:15 am

Stock, “Ahmad is ready.” Of all the kickers the team has brought in to compete with Crosby or fill in for him, this kid seems to be the best. I love and appreciate Mason but it may be time to let him go. Better a year early than a year late.

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stockholder's picture

August 24, 2022 at 03:24 pm

Correct!

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Roadrunner23's picture

August 24, 2022 at 07:50 am

Thanks for all the training camp round ups TGR, appreciate ya!

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jont's picture

August 24, 2022 at 12:07 pm

Nor suprise that GB is thinking about Rasul at safety. He's got the skills and football IQ. He won't be bad; let's hope he can do well enough to add something.

And it's not just Woodson who went back there a few times, if I recall correctly Tramon WIlliams filled in a few times as well.

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Coldworld's picture

August 24, 2022 at 03:51 pm

Williams was an injury solution and was ok at S. Woodson played everywhere for us at times. I’m fine with occasionally or in an emergency, but I want my best player in the slot and I don’t want to go into the season with Douglas as my second or third best option really. If he gets hurt then we are in big trouble. We need to have a cover capable back up on the roster at S.

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Swisch's picture

August 24, 2022 at 05:15 pm

I'd still like our head-coaching tandem of Matt LaFleur/Aaron Rodgers to explain the risk/reward of the starters playing in the final game of the past regular season against the Lions.
After all, at that point the offense already had 16 games of the regular season behind it to get its act together for the playoffs; whereas, with no preseason work, the offense will start this season against the Vikings not having played since last January.
Last year, after no preseason work for the starters, the offense bombed in the first game of the regular season against the Saints. Later, in the first game of playoffs against the 49ers, despite the starters going against the Lions in that last game of the regular season, the offense bombed again.
A dysfunctional team, due to an arrogant quarterback usurping power and a head coach (and GM) groveling before him, is a disaster waiting to happen -- but, hey fans, enjoy (and even enable) our diva owning the Bears in autumn before he breaks our hearts by letting us down when it counts in winter.
If we don't even question the practices of the past, we'll be watching another team representing the NFC in the Super Bowl again . . . for how many seasons now?
P.S. An indication of the problem with the Packers is the fawning interview by our television announcers of Rodgers on the sidelines during the last preseason game. It was cringeworthy in treating our QB with obsequious deference: Oh Aaron, thanks so much for deigning to speak with us from your exalted position. We promise to lavish you with adulation and not dare to say anything that may upset you.
Ugh!

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jont's picture

August 25, 2022 at 11:23 am

Love your passion but I've got to respond to a couple points. There is no evidence at all of a dysfunctional team-- 13 wins is a team that works together pretty well-- and the fawning interviewer was John Kuhn, 12's friend for many years, so nobody should expect tough questions.

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