Packers Practice Roundup: Day Two Of Scrimmages With The NYJ

Injuries struck the Jets during the second day of joint practices with the Packers, but the Packers apparently escaped unscathed.  

GENERAL/PERSONNEL:

QB Kurt Benkert said he has started one preseason game before back when he was with Atlanta in 2018. He is expected to start against the Jets Saturday night.  Silverstein

Benkert taking both the two and three reps.  Hodkiewicz

Redmond getting team reps today. He’s in with Black with the #2 safeties. Yiadom in at CB.  Herman  [There is some play at safety and lots of competition for the safety spots.  None too soon for Redmond to return.]

WR Randall Cobb and CB Brandon Echols tangled on a block and went to the ground. Surge of players joined but no punches thrown.  Silverstein

That’s it not only for joint practices with the Jets but also training camp practices open to fans. It goes 1:58.  Demovsky

DE Dean Lowry is back, NT Tyler Lancaster isn’t practicing. No sign of OLB Za’Darius Smith after returning from a back injury earlier this week. S Vernon Scott still out.  Also out: QB Jordan Love, WRs Devin Funchess, Juwann Winfree, Chris Blair and RT Dennis Kelly.  Silverstein

Devin Funchess and Dennis Kelly just came out to the field, not practicing but that’s usually a good sign for guys to be out here the NXT day.  Hodkiewicz

AJ Dillon (calf) is back practicing today.  Demovsky

 

QUARTERBACKS/WIDE RECEIVERS:

2-minute drill:  MVS drops what would have been about a 30-yard gain on 2nd and 3 at their own 43. Next play ball bounces off Lazard’s hands on a deep one down the seam and is picked off.  Silverstein

Valdes Scantling gets over the top of Jets secondary and Rodgers finds him for a 50 yard completion. Another big play during a big camp for MVS.  Hodkiewicz

Packers 2 minute drill: 12 throwaway; 12 to 18 for 13ish yards - Another scuffle; 12 to 81 for 9 yards - last timeout used.  12 to 83 for big play, dropped by 83.  12 to 13 up the seam, tipped by 13 on a tough catch attempt, picked off by Jets.  Herman

 

 

TIGHT ENDS:

Kurt Benkert ready for his start coming up Saturday. He just rolled right and unfurled a beauty deep to Josiah Deguara, who got behind Jets secondary. Showed some good zip on that pass.  Wood

Busted coverage. Long gain for Deguara. Beat Hamilcar.  Connor Hughes NYJ’s media

Play action rollout from Rodgers to Bronson Kaufusi. Jets bit hard on run action.  Hodkiewicz  [AR loves him some Kaufusi.]

Aaron Rodgers and Robert Tonyan have been on some groove together in camp. Rodgers just threads a pass past tight coverage from Jets LB Jarrad Davis for touchdown in red-zone drill. They look poised for a big season.  Wood

I didn’t know there was a window there. Rodgers found one, or made one, as Tonyan catches it over Maye’s head.  Connor Hughes [There are some other tweets about Tonyan catching everything even if he was not open - Herman IIRC and Wood at least.] 

 

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN:

Lucas Patrick starting at LG and Royce Newman at RG. Jon Runyan Jr. the odd man out today as Packers continue experimenting with guard combos.  Schneidman 

It’s actually Newman at LG all week, and today Patrick is at RG, where Jon Runyan was yesterday.  Demovsky  [This is confusing and I don’t think it is 100% correct.  Not sure who played where.]

Matt LaFleur says rookie fourth-rounder Royce Newman will start at right guard on Saturday. Did “a really nice job” in practice vs. Jets yesterday.  Schneidman [He also at least said he thinks King is as good as anyone when he presses, so….]

Jake Hanson back to taking second-team center reps today. But Ben Braden is taking second-team reps at right tackle. The more you can do. Just like Lucas Patrick taking second-team center reps yesterday. The Packers are trying to create some versatile depth.  Wood

Ben Braden workING RT with twos. Dennis Kelly was banged up yesterday  Hodkiewicz  [So, Braden at No 2 RT by default or for versatility?  I'm not sure.]

 

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN:

Wilson throws deep TD to Berrios over SJC, but it would’ve been disrupted by Previlon.  Schneidman

Kemp and Burks in on a run stop at the LOS.  2)  Previlon having a nice day. Nice run stop at LOS.  Herman  [One pressure, one run stuff for Previlon.]

Delontae Scott comes around the corner for a nice run stop.  Herman

Packers getting carved up the middle in the run so far. No Kenny Clark or Dean Lowry in team drills, though.  Schneidman

Previlon, Heflin and Kemp in on the DL and the Jets run right up the middle. way too much space and a big gain.  Another big run follows. Same group up front. Didn’t hold up well at all there.  2)  Big run for the Jets between Avery & Garvin.  Herman [So, Previlon and Kemp get individual positive tweets but the group overall does not hold up, at least during the drills period.  It can be difficult to get the gist of what happens at TC.]

 

 

LINEBACKERS:

Campbell in on another run stop. Nice day for him.  Herman [Apparently lots of problems with the run defense today, though.  Nevertheless, mostly positive tweets about Campbell since TC began.]

Chauncey Rivers sack on Mike White after two chunk runs through the right side by Semaje Perine. Rivers bursts through agains for a TFL on Perine. Impressive sequence there. 2)  Jets starting O gets nowhere in two minute. Chauncey Rivers pressure forces an incompletion. Kingsley Keke sack. Eric Stokes PBU that was a near-INT down left sideline.    3)  Oh my. Preston Smith just bull rushed George Fant and pushed him all the way back into Zach Wilson. Literally. Wilson took a bit of a tumble. Smith continues his strong joint practices.  4)  Willington Previlon and Preston Smith with back-to-back pressures that force Zach Wilson throwaways. De’Vondre Campbell has been around the ball, too.  Schneidman

Tipa Galeai sack on James Morgan in red zone. That fourth edge rusher spot coming down to him or Garvin.  Schneidman

Tipa exits the field late. Would have been too many men in the field. The play prior he did a nice job stopping a run.  Herman

Chauncey Rivers has obviously made an impression. With Z out and Gary on a snap count, Rivers getting snaps with the 1s in 2 minute drills.  2)  Rivers follows up his sack with a tfl on a run play. Can make a strong argument he’s been the 4th best edge since he got go camp.  Herman [Can Rivers do more than make the PS?  Dueling tweets by Herman and Schneidman, but with praise for both players?]

Campbell blows up a run in the backfield. His tape is all over the place (good and bad) for his career but there’s no denying he’s having a nice camp.  Nice coverage deep on a shot play. Checkdown that Burks shuts down pretty quick.  Herman

 

DEFENSIVE BACKS:

Davis beats Yiadom deep by a good margin but Zach Wilson overthrows him.  Ento making plays out here for Packers. Blew up a screen and had a nice PBU deep down left side intended for Cole.  2) Innis Gaines with a great PBU on pass downfield from James Morgan to D.J. Montgomery.  3)  Jaire Alexander picks off Zach Wilson short over the middle on the second passing play of the day.  Schneidman

Another fantastic pass breakup by Innis Gaines. Makes one every day.  Herman [Pretty sure Innis Gaines was Andy’s pre-camp crush.  Seems to be a reasonable emotion.  He’s made the PS, IMO., at least.]

Jeff Smith complete over the middle from Wilson with Stokes in coverage.  Jeff Smith gets Stokes again, only a quick 4-5 yard comeback though. No harm.  Herman

Packers' secondary airtight, but run defense under Joe Barry remains a work in progress.  Silverstein

Mike White dumps one off to Michael Carter in the flat and Chris Herndon takes out both Packers DBs Ka’dar Hollman and Christian Uphoff with a block to spring a TD.  Schneidman

WR Braxton Berrios gets behind the Packers’ rookie CB Shemar Jean-Charles, and Zach Wilson hits him for a long touchdown.  Wood

Book it. Ento is making the team. Another nice PBU against the Jets number 1 offense in 2 minute. He’s always around the ball.  Herman

Zach Wilson rolls out right and finds Corey Davis in the back corner for a TD. Ka’dar Hollman in coverage. Wilson then throws into double coverage for Tyler Kroft in the end zone. Amos should’ve picked it.  Schneidman

Packers defense contesting everything in 2 min drill. Looked like a coverage sack by Keke, then a tipped pass by Amos then a pass breakup by Stokes. Jets 2 minute drill does nothing. Packers defense wins.  2)  Darnell Savage just tipped away a pass that probably would have been picked by Amos. Both safeties playing well. Herman  [Same play on the Amos almost INT.]

Matt LaFleur says he's content to let Kevin King and rookie Eric Stokes compete for starting job through camp. LaFleur hasn't soured on King: "When he challenges guys at the line of scrimmage, I think he's as good as anybody."  Wood  [LaFleur knows more than I do, but ….]

Dominique Martin beat on about a 12-15 yard comeback.  SJC beat on about a 8 yard out to Berrios.  Herman

Adams on Eric Stokes: "He's the closest thing to Jaire as far as mentality and ability. The kid is fast as hell. He can get beat and recover like Sam Shields used to do.”  Hodkiewicz

Wilson with a very impressive throw for a td to Corey Davis. Hollman in coverage. Wasn’t terrible but not good enough.  Herman

 

SPECIAL TEAMS:

Molson makes all six FGs from between the 30 and 48 and that’s it for joint practices and open-to-fans practices for the summer.  Huber

 

NEW YORK JETS MEDIA:

Me: “I’m not sure why the Packers are playing their 2s defense against the Jets starters.”  Connor (Hughes): “To give the Jets a chance.”  Schneidman

Zach Wilson was 10 of 18 in the team period today. He had one touchdown, an interception and was sacked five times.  Hughes  [The pass rushers for the Jets’ opponents should have an asterisk after their sack totals this year.  Lousy OL.]

Rodgers just threw a TD to Adams from the five where he threw the ball on an out when Adams was still running forward.  Adams turned, ball right there, TD. I dunno how you defend that.  2)  Apparently you can’t because they just did it again for another score.  Red zone period over. All plays from the five. Rodgers 3 of 4 with 3 TDs. One throwaway  Connor Hughes

DE Carl Lawson tore his Achilles’ tendon, the team announces. His season is over.  2)  Aaron Rodgers nearly sacked. Quinnen Williams just checked in.  [Not sure who the responsible Packer was.]  3.  Sheldon Rankin left early with an apparent injury.   4)  Quinnen Williams will do some team drills today, Robert Saleh said.  [So, Packers not facing the most talented Def. Linemen with Williams limited, Rankins leaving practice, and Lawson carted off mid practice.]  Hughes

Sheldon Rankins (knee) and Denzel Mims (hip) are said to have minor injuries and are day-to-day.  2) It is a ruptured Achilles for Lawson.  Brian Costello

Safety Zane Lewis, who was carted off today, suffered a torn patellar tendon and a sprained ACL, sources said. He’ll have additional tests, but a serious injury for the Air Force product that puts his 2021 season in doubt.  Rapoport

One thing that joint practices have revealed is the Jets offense misses Elijah Moore.  First play was to Tonyan who almost scored. Cj Mosley forced a fumble.  2)  Handoff to MVS for a first before running out of bounce. [Huh!  Fumble?  Jet Sweep?  Didn’t see either of those anywhere else!]   Bien-Aime

Toss left to AJ Dillion but the Jets d line blows that up for no gain.  2) Kylin Hill runs right for a first down before Mosley hits him.  Bien-Aime 

 

 

 

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__________________________

9 points
 

Comments (18)

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

August 19, 2021 at 09:45 pm

I chose to use a photo of Preston Smith, not without some misgiving, but I can't deny that he had something like 4 sacks in the two scrimmages. Bear in mind that the Packers had at least 12 sacks during the two sessions.

MVS with perhaps his first drop. It is clear that he has had a good TC so far. Campbell as well. The thing is, Campbell has always been big and fast, but he hasn't really been able to lock down a starting role for his first two teams. Practices might be where he shines due to familiarity. Pretty quiet on Barnes. Martin was out for quite a while and only a few peeps about him since his return.

I feel some disquiet as to the Packers seem less than sound in the trenches. Starters on OL probably will be okay or better than that. No Clark or Lowry (yeah, I know I and others have been suggesting he could have been a cap casualty), and there has been some if not a ton of positive tweets on Keke. Slaton generally up though nothing today about him.

Safety looks like a real competition. Gaines looks like he will be on the Packers in some capacity, but Scott, Black, and Gaines now are clearly making Redmond's path to the 53 far from a certainty. Imhoff not much on, except STs. There is more clarity at CB, by which I don't mean that Stokes won't challenge King (who is being eased back in), but that Stokes has been up and down and isn't obviously better than King was last year, as far as I can tell. [I still really wanted Newsome to fall in the draft, but Stokes has time.] Probably some competition between Jean-Charles and Sullivan, but Sullivan probably is the starter while Jean-Charles has shown he belongs on the 53. Ento may have separated himself from Hollman, Yiadom and Martin.

Lotta TC left. No more open practices, though. We shall see if there is enough info about future practices to make a roundup possible.

6 points
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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

August 19, 2021 at 09:59 pm

I am a little surprised that Herman and Wood think OLB #4 is between Tipa and Rivers. Going into TC, I thought Ramsey and Garvin would fight for that. Garvin falling behind is interesting. The Tipa tweets have not been that numerous, and Rivers is a pretty recent addition, though he has gotten a lot of tweets. Garvin: 11 ST snaps, Rivers 9 and Tipa 7. Hmm.

Wilborn has gotten some positive reviews and he played a whopping 17 (63%) of ST snaps. Hmmm.

4 points
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Since'61's picture

August 19, 2021 at 10:26 pm

Great job again TGR! Hopefully we’ll get something from the closed practices. Good to know the Packers came through both joint practices injury free.

Hopefully Funchess is back soon.
Any update on Love’s shoulder or Bak’s recovery?

Thanks, Since ‘61

6 points
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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

August 19, 2021 at 11:09 pm

There is video of bath working. Today there's a clip of him running through um tires is as close as I can get. Looks pretty spry. Wears a brace.

Finches and Kelly on the sidelines which might be a good sign.

4 points
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Todd's picture

August 19, 2021 at 11:02 pm

Good stuff! Thanks!

3 points
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Roadrunner23's picture

August 20, 2021 at 08:19 am

Thanks for the round up James

From what I have been tracking it sounds like:

Edge: C. Rivers is a tough dude who just has a knack for making plays, he’d be tough to cut.

S: Gaines makes plays every day and makes plays on Special Teams as well. When was the last time we had this much depth a Safety? Um 😶 never!

CB: High praise from Davante on Stokes. It sounds like the kid is competing!

ILB: Campbell has had a good camp, he’s got to be better than Kirksey, right?

DL: The Packers seem to like Previlon and Heflin. Most likely PS for both guys though.

OL: Royce is making a push for playing time, we may have a player in that kid, he looks the part. Some of the shine is off Myers but we knew the kid was going to have his rough patches.

WR: MVS is balling, Lazard has been just ok, Cobb has been Cobb, Davante has been unstoppable.

TE: the Packers better get Tonyan locked up, he good! Degura is going to be a huge part of the offense.Sternberger just doesn’t seem to fit, future trade possibility?

RB: Hill is going to contribute this year! A steal! Taylor most likely to PS, Dex probably the odd man out. Dillon will ball out in games, he needs to carry the ball more to get rolling.

QB: Rodgers is going to kill it this season! He is locked in and loaded for bear(s). Benkert can sling it and is a really likable kid, reminds me of the Magic Man (same number too).
Love, looked better than I thought he would his first time out of the garage. Gotta stop babying him though, this is football man, a gladiator sport. Take the kid gloves off and let him play!

K: Molson has a strong leg

P: Can we get a real punter, please and stop wasting draft choices on punters, if you can scout you can pick them up during cut downs!

That is all….

ND

1 points
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greengold's picture

August 20, 2021 at 08:45 am

Man, TGR, can’t thank you enough for putting this stuff together. Had a rough couple weeks after losing two dear family members. Haven’t been able to keep up, but, this really helps.

I like Ento a lot. Gaines as well. While I liked what Uphoff brings from size/speed/KR/ST abilities, he’s from a small school, and suspect he finds PS. I’ve considered Redmond replaced by Gaines most offseason. I think he’ll prove a far better play maker at S.

Right with you on Garvin/Tipa/Rivers. Seems all have been playing well and may be one of the tightest camp battles, besides WR. Campbell may find himself an important player in this D, and seems really happy to be here, and it shows in his play to this point. Barnes looks to have upped his game nicely. Good to see that level of positive development within the system.

Kamal Martin has to get it together health-wise. Big disappointment thus far.

Thought Heflin might be making a move up, but now I want to see how Gutekunst addresses DL to truly help our run D. Band-Aids there are too much of a risk. If the Packers are going “all-in” they have to add a legit interior DL run stopper. Do they have any wiggle room, TGR, to pull off a trade?

Love Davante’s comments on Stokes!

You mentioned Wilborn, who I like a lot too. I hope he makes it, as he’s got size, speed, and great coverage abilities. I’d easily take him over Martin at this point.

WR is going to get really interesting. Thinking Begelton sneaks in on the 53. Solid pure slot with toughness, good routes & hands.

GPG

5 points
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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

August 20, 2021 at 09:06 am

I pretty much agree. On my phone so that's a problem.

On the OLBs and everywhere, really, keep an eye on who they are making plays against. I like Wilson but he runs with third-stringers. So, PS at best until they try him against No 2s. Nub

3 points
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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

August 20, 2021 at 09:10 am

W-i-l-b-o-r-n. Darn autocorrect is like my teenager: it corrects me even when I am right in the first place.

4 points
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greengold's picture

August 20, 2021 at 01:16 pm

Hilarious. Agree on what players do vs. top talents. Kind of like what Jonathan Garvin did to Mekhi Becton, twice in 1st joint practice. Blew right by him for sacks. I do believe those kinds of impact plays ring louder.

What I like about Ray Wilborn, is he played both S and ILB. About as hybrid as it gets, with exceptional coverage skills. 6-4, 224. 78 3/8” wingspan. Lowest passer rating allowed in MAC Conference last year with 71.0. Team first kind of guy, who contributes on STs.

Hard hitter. Wrap up tackler. Good speed faster than his 40, and moves well in every direction. I think his ceiling is high. Smart, coachable player, too. Might provide good cap savings when weighing against another player at roster cuts.

I’m interested to see how he finishes TC competitions.

0 points
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Roadrunner23's picture

August 20, 2021 at 10:05 am

Thoughts & prayers for you and your family GG
ND

1 points
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greengold's picture

August 20, 2021 at 12:55 pm

Thank you kindly, my brother! Yeah, big, tough ones. Life does go on, but, wow.

0 points
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murf7777's picture

August 20, 2021 at 08:32 am

Looks like DB’s Gaines and Ento have a great chance to make this team, they just seem to have good plays every practice and pre season game so far.

3 points
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Swisch's picture

August 20, 2021 at 11:47 am

So we had practice scrimmages with a team just before we are to have a game with the same team.
Maybe someone can explain that to me.
We hold our breath in the practice scrimmages that there are no injuries and no fights, but still think it's a good idea? Help me out here?
We ask players on both teams to fight hard for a job but not too hard?
I think Aaron Rodgers is right about these scrimmages, and this is an area where he has a right to speak out strongly. It seems this is the place in which he has a right to not participate. It all seems so dangerous, without much upside. It all seems so stupid.
***
I would much rather the Packers play hard in the three preseason games with real game conditions and real referees. That would seem much more orderly and much less dangerous.
Don't tell 30 of your players to not even put on a uniform; don't put out a makeshift offensive line to start the game with little experience together; don't allow both sides of the ball to get pushed around by a subpar team like the Texans.
In this upcoming game against the Jets, play the starters for the first quarter (as I think the Patriots did last night). Play some hard football. Show some dignity. Show some love of the game.
I would think that players would love to play football, and would be eager to get out there even for an exhibition game. It seems we're coddling these guys and fostering a softness with the Packers.
It's one thing to be duly cautious about injuries, another to be afraid of them. It seems that a team that is delicate about injuries is one that is most likely to become widely injured.
I'm sensing a wimpiness worming its way into the Packers, and it's revolting. At some point a team like the Bucs is going to smash us in the mouth and push us around.
After all, it happened twice last season against the Bucs. One would think maybe a change in attitude is urgent.

-3 points
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3
flackcatcher's picture

August 20, 2021 at 01:52 pm

Rodgers has a point here. From Lafleur's point of view any edge in evaluating his players is a good one. While the veteran players hated it, that fourth preseason game was really important in seeing how the team was coming together prior to the start of the regular season. Subbing the scrimmages for what would be the third preseason game is not a prefect solution for Lafleur, but giving the NFL/NFLPA contract it's the best he has to work with.

0 points
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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

August 20, 2021 at 03:09 pm

I tend to agree with AR. That said, the Jets Were a good choice. Lafleur is very good friends with the Jets' head coach Saleh and Lafleur's own brother, Mike Lafleur, is the OC for the Jets.

The downside is that overall the Jets lack talent.

2 points
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Fubared's picture

August 20, 2021 at 11:33 am

Thanks. Very good. Too bad to think King is a pet favorite of the coach. Did he not see the end of the half in the playoff game, or the fact teams were picking on King as the weak sister you can beat.

-1 points
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1
flackcatcher's picture

August 20, 2021 at 02:11 pm

Thanks TGR. With what both teams are sifting though, media reports are going to be shaky at best. Neither the Packers nor the Jets beat reporters know the other team. Just the nature of the beast. Lafleur and his coaches won't know until they review the video after practice. It's the old saw: 'Watch what they do. Not what they say'. If anything, Lafleur has become more prissy in his language. The pressure he is feeling even this early must be enormous. (I would point out that McCarthy would revert to full scale "coach speak" when the heat from the media got to be a little too much. The infamous phase "Pad level too high" came from a presser where his O-line got run over)

0 points
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